turn back

go back, or make someone go back, the way they came

B1

What does "turn (sb) back" mean?

To turn back means to stop going forward and return to where you started, or to make someone else do this. It often describes a specific moment when someone decides — or is forced — to stop a journey. For example, bad weather might force hikers to turn back before reaching the top of a mountain, or border guards might turn travellers back at a checkpoint. The key idea is that forward progress stops at a particular point and the direction reverses. You can also use it in the fixed phrase 'there's no turning back', which means it is too late to change your decision.

Examples

How to use it

turn back (intransitive — no object)

Used when a person decides to return by themselves, without anyone forcing them.

The path was flooded, so we had to turn back and find another route.

turn + object + back (transitive, separated)

Used when an authority or external force makes someone return; separation is very common with short noun phrases and pronouns.

The security guards turned the protesters back before they reached the gate.

turn + pronoun + back

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'turn' and 'back'.

We tried to enter the festival, but they turned us back at the entrance.

be turned back (passive)

The passive is natural and common, especially in news or formal writing about people being refused entry.

Several vehicles were turned back at the checkpoint due to missing documents.

forced / told to turn back

Commonly used with verbs like 'force', 'tell', or 'have no choice but' to explain why someone turns back.

The climbers were told to turn back because of the worsening conditions.

Common Collocations

turn back at the borderforced to turn backno turning backturned back by bad weatherturn the refugees backtell someone to turn back

Common Mistakes

Confusing intransitive and transitive meaning

'We turned back' means we chose to go back ourselves, while 'They turned us back' means someone stopped us and made us return. These are both correct but have very different meanings, so the subject matters a lot.

✗ The border guards turned back, so we couldn't cross.
✓ The border guards turned us back, so we couldn't cross.
Confusing 'turn back' with 'turn around'

'Turn around' means to rotate or face the opposite direction, while 'turn back' means to abandon a journey and return to the starting point. Use 'turn back' when the key idea is going all the way back to the origin.

✗ The storm was too strong, so we turned around and went home.
✓ The storm was too strong, so we turned back and went home.
Wrong pronoun position

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'turn' and 'back', not after 'back'.

✗ The official turned back them at the border.
✓ The official turned them back at the border.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both formal writing and casual conversation. The fixed phrase 'there's no turning back' is very common in everyday English and means it's too late to change your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'turn back' be used in the passive?

Yes, and it's very natural. You'll often see it in news reports or official contexts: 'The convoy was turned back at the border.' It's a common way to describe people being refused entry or stopped from continuing.

What does 'there's no turning back' mean?

This is a fixed expression meaning that a point of no return has been passed — you can no longer change your decision or undo what has happened. For example: 'We've already paid for the tickets, so there's no turning back now.' It's very common in everyday English.

Can I use 'turn back' to talk about going back in time or in a story?

Only in a very limited way. 'Turn back the clock' is a separate fixed expression meaning to return to how things were in the past. But 'turn back' on its own is mainly about physical journeys — stopping forward movement and returning to where you started.

Is 'turn back' used more in some situations than others?

Yes — it's especially common in two contexts: outdoor and travel situations (like hikers or drivers being forced back by bad weather or road closures) and news or official contexts (like people being turned back at borders or checkpoints). It works equally well in both.

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