the worm has turned

the worm has turned

A person or group of people is retaliating or refusing to put up with agitation or mistreatment. With the dictator in hiding and the oppressed population taking control, it seems that the worm has turned. I used to get awful verbal abuse from my last boss, but the worm has turned and now I'm starting up my own rival company.

See also: turn, worm

the worm turns

Even quiet, submissive people will get angry if you continually agitate them. Sweet little Janine is going to snap at you if you keep bugging her—the worm turns.

See also: turn, worm

the worm has turned

You say the worm has turned if someone who has accepted a lot of bad treatment from other people without complaining suddenly decides that they are not going to accept the situation any longer. Then my mother came home and started bossing us around. She said, `The worm has turned. Things are going to be different around here.'

See also: turn, worm

the ˌworm ˈturns

(informal) even a patient, calm person will get angry if they are repeatedly badly treated: He’s often rude to his secretary and she doesn’t say anything — but one day the worm will turn.

See also: turn, worm