turn turtle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The same terrific force gave the steamer a lurch, and she threatened to turn turtle.

From The Boys of the Wireless by Webster, Frank V.

Our machinery might break down, we might drift for weeks without being sighted, we might collide with an iceberg in the fog, we might even turn turtle.

From By Right of Conquest A Novel by Hornblow, Arthur

For one giddy moment Mr. A. Bubble appeared to be uncertain whether to turn turtle or go on the way he was headed.

From The Automobile Girls at Chicago or, Winning Out Against Heavy Odds by Crane, Laura Dent

If they found their prize not seaworthy, they would take her to some small sand island and careen, while the crew helped the Indians to turn turtle, and to procure bull's flesh.

From The Monarchs of the Main, Volume I (of 3) Or, Adventures of the Buccaneers by Thornbury, Walter

In this nasty sea we were afraid she might turn turtle, as another steamer had done some months ago.

From Two Years with the Natives in the Western Pacific by Speiser, Felix