# turn one's coat

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/turn-ones-coat
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To turn against a previous affiliation or allegiance.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.