take a turn for the worse

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take a turn for the worse (third-person singular simple present takes a turn for the worse, present participle taking a turn for the worse, simple past took a turn for the worse, past participle taken a turn for the worse)

1. (idiomatic) To start to become worse; to worsen.
   • 1983 April 12, “Pilgrimage”, in Murmur, performed by R.E.M.:

     Rest assured, this will not last.
     Take a turn for the worse.
     Your hate, clipped and distant.
     Your luck, [a] two-headed cow.

   • 2011 September 24, Aled Williams, “Chelsea 4 - 1 Swansea”, in BBC Sport‎^[1]:

     But Torres's afternoon was to take a turn for the worse for a second week in succession as he was shown a straight red card by referee Mike Dean for a two-footed challenge on Gower.

• take a turn for the better