serve the turn
To suffice for one's immediate purpose or need.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“This small table will serve the turn for now.”
“I forgot my screwdriver, but this butter knife should serve the turn to tighten the screw.”
“Although the makeshift shelter was far from ideal, it served the turn during the storm until they could reach a safer location.”
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Buggins's turn
A humorous, disparaging term for the appointment of a person by rotation or promotion, on the basis of length of service (it being that person's "turn") rather than merit or level of qualification.
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everything one touches turns to gold
Everything someone uses or does succeeds or becomes better.
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everything one touches turns to shit
Everything someone uses or does fails or becomes worse.
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first come, first served
One will be dealt with in the order in which one arrives.
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good turn
A good deed; a thoughtful or selfless act.
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left turn
An unexpected change from the way things seemed to be going.
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poacher turned gamekeeper
A person now charged with protecting what they formerly preyed upon.
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serve notice
To fire; to terminate one's employment or formal association.
Last updated August 10, 2026