turn turtle

• Virar de cabeça para baixo ou emborcar, geralmente usado para barcos, navios ou veículos; também usado em sentido figurado para descrever alguém ou algo que ficou indefeso ou inativo.

To turn upside down or capsize, typically used for boats, ships, or vehicles; also used figuratively to describe someone or something that becomes helpless or inactive.

1. Capsize or overturnB2informal

   To turn upside down or capsize, typically used for boats or vehicles.

   Virar de cabeça para baixo

   • The small boat turned turtle in the stormy sea.
   • The car hit a patch of ice and turned turtle on the road.
   • The kayak turned turtle when he lost his balance.

2. Become passive or inactiveC1informal

   To become passive, withdraw, or stop being active, like a turtle retreating into its shell.

   Encolher-se

   • After the argument, he turned turtle and refused to speak.
   • The company turned turtle during the economic crisis.
   • She turned turtle and avoided all social events.