turn one's back

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turn one's back (third-person singular simple present turns one's back, present participle turning one's back, simple past and past participle turned one's back)

1. (intransitive) To cease paying attention to something.

   As soon as I turned my back, he started writing on the wall.

2. (figuratively, transitive with on) To forsake, to abandon; to ignore.

   He got off to a strong start, only to turn his back on the project two months later.

3. (intransitive) To turn away, as when fleeing or in contempt.

• tergiversate
• turn one's coat