turn one's coat
To turn against a previous affiliation or allegiance.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He turned his coat and joined the rival political party.”
“You turn your coat when you betray your friends for a better offer.”
“After years of supporting the company, the manager turned his coat to work for their biggest competitor.”
“The lead developer turned her coat during the lawsuit, testifying against her own team to protect her career.”
“Soldiers who turn their coat during a war often face harsh punishment if their original army catches them.”
“The senator was accused of turning his coat when he abandoned his long-held principles to secure a position in the new administration.”
The expression derives from the military necessity of reversing one's uniform coat to conceal the colours that identified one's faction. By turning the garment inside out, a soldier could effectively mask his previous allegiance and adopt a more convenient neutrality or a new loyalty entirely. The physical act of inversion served as a practical, if somewhat obvious, method of political or tactical repositioning.
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abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026