turn over

give someone or something to a person in authority

B2

What does "turn sb/sth over" mean?

To turn something over to someone means to formally give up possession or control of it, transferring it to another person or organisation — often one in a position of authority. This typically happens in official or legal situations, such as handing evidence to investigators, transferring documents to a regulator, or surrendering a suspect to law enforcement. The key feature of this phrasal verb is that it always involves a specific recipient: the transfer goes *to* someone. Both voluntary and compelled transfers count — a witness might willingly turn over records, or a court might order a company to do so. It appears frequently in news reports, legal language, and business contexts, making it a useful and versatile expression at this level.

Examples

How to use it

turn + object + over to + recipient

This is the core construction — the object being transferred sits between 'turn' and 'over', and the recipient follows 'to'. This is the most common word order with noun objects.

The lawyer turned the documents over to the judge before the hearing.

turn + pronoun + over to + recipient

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'turn' and 'over' — this placement is not optional.

Officers found the fugitive and turned him over to federal agents.

turn over + noun phrase + to + recipient

With longer or more complex noun phrases, it is also natural to keep 'turn over' together and place the full noun phrase after it.

The firm agreed to turn over all internal communications related to the dispute to the regulators.

object + be turned over to + recipient

The passive form is very common in this sense, especially in journalism and official language, when the focus is on what was transferred rather than who did it.

The seized assets were turned over to the government following the court's ruling.

be ordered / agree / refuse to turn over + object

This phrasal verb often appears after verbs that describe willingness or compulsion, since transfers are frequently either negotiated or legally required.

The tech company refused to turn over user data to the foreign government.

Common Collocations

evidencedocumentscontrolcustodythe suspectrecords

Common Mistakes

Missing 'to + recipient'

Without 'to [recipient]', the phrase is very likely to be read as the physical flipping sense (like turning over a card). Always include the recipient to make the surrender meaning clear.

✗ The police asked him to turn over the files.
✓ The police asked him to turn over the files to the department.
Pronoun placed after the particle

When the object is a pronoun such as 'it', 'him', or 'them', it must go between 'turn' and 'over', not after 'over'.

✗ They decided to turn over it to the investigators.
✓ They decided to turn it over to the investigators.
Confusing 'turn over' with 'turn in'

'Turn in' is used when the focus is on reporting or delivering someone to authorities, and it doesn't require a 'to' phrase. 'Turn over' emphasises the transfer of possession or control and almost always needs 'to [recipient]' to carry this meaning.

✗ She turned over the stolen goods. (no recipient — meaning unclear)
✓ She turned the stolen goods over to the police.

Usage

Most common in legal, journalistic, and official contexts. The pattern 'turn [object] over to [recipient]' is the standard construction; pronoun objects must go in the middle (turn it over to them, NOT turn over it).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'turn over' in this sense always need 'to' and a recipient?

Almost always, yes. The 'to [recipient]' phrase is what signals the surrender meaning — it tells you who receives the thing being transferred. Without it, most listeners will interpret 'turn over' as physically flipping something. You can occasionally omit the recipient if it's already very clear from context, but it's safer to include it.

Can 'turn over' be used for transferring control or responsibility, not just physical things?

Yes — it works well for abstract transfers too, such as handing over control, authority, or responsibility. For example, a CEO might turn over operational control of a company to a new management team, or a government might turn over power to an elected body. The same grammar applies: 'turn [it] over to [recipient]'.

Is 'turn over' more formal than 'hand over'?

'Turn over' tends to sound slightly more formal and is particularly common in legal, journalistic, and official contexts. 'Hand over' is a near-synonym but has a broader, more everyday feel. In a news report about a criminal investigation, you'd be more likely to see 'turned over to prosecutors'; in casual conversation, 'hand over' fits more naturally.

Is it natural to say 'I am turning over the documents right now'?

It's grammatically possible but uncommon. This phrasal verb is rarely used in the present continuous because it describes a specific, completed act of transfer rather than an ongoing process. You'd more naturally say 'I'm handing over the documents right now' or use a simple present or simple past form.

Can a person be the object — for example, turning a suspect over?

Yes, people are very common objects in this sense. Law enforcement, for example, regularly 'turns suspects over' to another agency or jurisdiction. The same grammar applies: 'They turned the suspect over to federal authorities' or, with a pronoun, 'They turned him over to federal authorities'.

Related Phrasal Verbs

hand sb/sth over

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