Turn one's words around

Hi,

Her's the general idea.

His words were positive.

She interpreted them in a way that made them seem negative.

Usually , it means she then became angry at him for being negative.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive usually , it means she then became angry at him for being negative.

Hi Clive,

Do you mean she turned his words around because she is angry at him?

Thanks a lot.

Hi, Could someone please answer my question above? Thanks!

It's impossible to say why someone would turn someone else's words around.

It simply means that the person assumes a different meaning than what the speaker intended, or that the person deliberately applied a different meaning, knowing what you did intend.

Thank you very much, GG for your explanation. Does it have anything to do with negative or positive?

Thanks a lot.

Usually it would refer to a situation in which you said something positive or neutral and the person applied a negative meaning to it.

It's possible you said something neutral or negative and the person put a postive meaning to it, but that's not what I would think of.

Let's say I come to a party and you look really, really nice, but you say to me that I look nice. I'm surprised

Grammar GeekDo you see how this person has turned my words around?


Hi, GG

I reckon it is similar to "she put words in your mouth", isn't it ?

Thanks !

Not exactly. In my example, those were my exact words.

If you put words in someone's mouth, you say or assume that they would say something that they did not say. This isn't always underhanded, and it's often said in the negative:

Not to put words in your mouth, but would you say this is a good choice for us?
Not to put words in his mouth, but I got the general impression

Hi GG, thanks very much again.