ill turn

/'il'tə:n/
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ill turn

He meant to help, but his advice was an ill turn.

Definition

Noun: - An unkind or harmful action done to someone, often one that causes them difficulty or harm. It typically refers to a specific deed that negatively impacts another person. - (American English) A downturn or decline in health, fortune, or condition.

Usage

The term "ill turn" is used to describe a singular, often deliberate, act that causes harm or trouble for someone else. It is a formal or literary way to say someone has done a bad deed to another.

Examples

  • General Harm:

    • He did me an ill turn by spreading those rumors. (He harmed me by spreading those rumors.)
    • I never expected such an ill turn from a friend. (I never expected such a harmful act from a friend.)

  • American English Usage (Decline):

    • The business took an ill turn last quarter. (The business experienced a downturn last quarter.)
    • Her health has taken an ill turn. (Her health has declined.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to do someone an ill turn": This is the most common phrase. It means to perform a harmful action against someone.
    • By revealing the secret, she did him a great ill turn. (By revealing the secret, she caused him great harm.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Disservice (n): An action that is unhelpful or harmful. This is a close synonym, though a "disservice" can sometimes be unintentional, while an "ill turn" often implies more deliberate harm.
    • He did them a disservice by giving bad advice.
  • Ill will (n): Unfriendly or hostile feelings. This is related but refers to the feeling, not the action.
    • She bore him no ill will despite the argument.
Synonyms
  • Wrong: An unjust or immoral act.
  • Injury: Harm or damage.
  • Misdeed: A wrong or illegal act.
Related Phrases
  • A nasty trick: A mean or unpleasant action intended to deceive or harm.
    • Playing that nasty trick was a real ill turn.
  • A bad turn: A less formal synonym for "ill turn."
    • He did his neighbor a bad turn by complaining to the landlord.
Related Idioms
  • To return the favor (with an ill turn): To respond to someone's action, but with a harmful one instead of a kind one.
    • After he sabotaged her project, she was determined to return the favor with an ill turn.
ill turn

He meant to help, but his advice was an ill turn.

Noun
  1. an act intended to help that turns out badly
    • he did them a disservice

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