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turn over a new leaf

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus 0.01 sec.
turn over a new leaf
Fig. to begin again, fresh; to reform and begin again. (Fig. on turning to a fresh page. The leaf is a page—a fresh, clean page.) I have made a mess of my life. I'll turn over a new leaf and hope to do better. Why don't you turn over a new leaf and surprise everyone with your good characteristics?
See also: leaf, new, turn

turn over a new leaf
to start behaving in a better way Apparently he's turned over a new leaf and he's not drinking any more.
See also: leaf, new, turn

turn over a new leaf
to start behaving in a different way Apparently he's turned over a new leaf and he's not drinking any more.
Usage notes: usually suggesting an improvement in behavior
Related vocabulary: turn the page
See also: leaf, new, turn


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? References in classic literature
And after supper he talked to him about temperance and such things till the old man cried, and said he'd been a fool, and fooled away his life; but now he was a-going to turn over a new leaf and be a man nobody wouldn't be ashamed of, and he hoped the judge would help him and not look down on him.
Besides, I want to turn over a new leaf completely now.
Godfrey didn't turn over a new leaf, he might say "Good-bye" to Miss Nancy Lammeter.
 
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