turn one's coat
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.05 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
2
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To turn against a previous affiliation or allegiance.
verb
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see turn, coat.
Example Sentences
- "To meet the exigence of the moment, a considerable army was raised under General Baillie, a Presbyterian officer of skill and fidelity, with whom was joined in command the celebrated Sir John Urrie, a soldier of fortune like Dalgetty, who had already changed sides twice during the Civil War, and was destined to turn his coat a third time before it was ended."
- "Bruce would scarcely have found this sufficient cause to turn his coat."
- "He also knew that here, in Connecticut, the chance of finding rebels who would turn their coats was far greater than it was in Boston which, for over two years now, had been the epicenter of the unrest that threatened peace with Britain."
Etymology
From the practice of turning one's uniform coat inside out in order to hide the colors reflecting one's allegiance.