turn over a new leaf
To engage in self-improvement; to begin a good habit or shed a bad habit.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He decided to turn over a new leaf and quit smoking.”
“I turn over a new leaf today by eating more vegetables.”
“You turn over a new leaf when you start exercising every morning.”
“After getting a warning at work, she turned over a new leaf and started arriving on time every day.”
“My brother finally turned over a new leaf by cleaning his room every weekend and helping with the dishes after dinner.”
“The neighbors turned over a new leaf and apologized for their loud music after we talked to them about the noise.”
“After failing his first exam, the student turned over a new leaf and spent every afternoon studying in the library.”
“Fresh out of prison and determined to rebuild his life, he turned over a new leaf, cutting ties with his old crowd and enrolling in night classes.”
The expression employs the same figurative metaphor as turn the page, using leaf in its earlier sense of a page in a book. While modern usage refers to personal reform, the imagery is that of a reader advancing to a blank sheet to begin a new entry.
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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.
- 02
dawn of a new day
A new beginning; a fresh start; an important, promising turning point.
- 03
emperor's new clothes
Something obvious and embarrassing that is politely ignored or that goes unacknowledged.
- 04
everything one touches turns to gold
Everything someone uses or does succeeds or becomes better.
- 05
everything one touches turns to shit
Everything someone uses or does fails or becomes worse.
- 06
good turn
A good deed; a thoughtful or selfless act.
- 07
left turn
An unexpected change from the way things seemed to be going.
- 08
new dawn
A new beginning; a fresh start; an important, promising turning point.
Last updated August 10, 2026