turn the boat

• turn the boat around

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turn the boat (third-person singular simple present turns the boat, present participle turning the boat, simple past and past participle turned the boat)

1. (idiomatic) To make a major change in behavior, strategy, topic under discussion, etc.
   • 2014 June 11, Doug Gillon, “Meg Ritchie's long-playing records tell a tale of power and prowess”, in The Herald Scotland, retrieved 22 August 2017:

     "It will take a very special person to turn the boat and effect the required culture change."

   • 2017 June 14, Erich Reimer, “Ed Gillespie’s Virginia Win Is A Victory For Conservatism”, in The Daily Caller, retrieved 22 August 2017:

     The results were that instead of many voters wanting to turn the boat, they were soothed . . . into supporting Gillespie’s message.

   • 2017 August 14, Mark Cohen, “Macy's And The Department Store Genre Are Not Too Big To Fail”, in Forbes, retrieved 22 August 2017:

     A little over a year ago I assessed the company's troubles and what it must do to turn the boat around.