turn over,knock over, flip over, overturn

Question

Hello,Here's a sentence: "An oncoming truck crashed into my car and it knocked it over." I am trying to convey the idea of my car being turned upside down as a result. Flip over and overturn are probably possible substitutions. Why is it impossible to say "...and my car (was) turned over.? I was told that knock over doesn't make sense in this context. Is that true? Can't one vehicle knock another one over?Thank you

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Gene93Flip over and overturn are probably possible substitutions.

Those are good choices.

Gene93Why is it impossible to say "...and my car (was) turned over.?

That is not impossible at all; it merely lacks excitement.

Gene93 was told that knock over doesn't make sense in this context. Is that true? Can't one vehicle knock another one over?

Not really; it is simply a poor collocation. Smaller things are knocked over, I think.

Gene93 · Answer

Mister MicawberSmaller things are knocked over, I think

Smaller things such as pedestrians and cyclists? This is a British expression, however.

Mister MicawberThat is not impossible at all; it is merely lacks excitement.

I heard that overturn was a better choice. Are their meanings actually different? Overturn seems to be more formal than "turn over". I think they have the same meaning in this context, but I am probably wrong.

I have been thinking of "roll over", but I think that its meaning is slightly different. I think that if an oncoming vehicle crashes into my car and it rolls over, it will land on its four wheels in the end. Just like a gymnast/acrobat.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Gene93Smaller things such as pedestrians and cyclists?

Or bottles of beer.

Gene93This is a British expression, however.

I don't think it is limited to BrE at all. Why do you think that?

Gene93Are their meanings actually different? Overturn seems to be more formal than "turn over"

It's not that simple or true, I'm afraid, though I follow your logic.

Gene93 I think that if an oncoming vehicle crashes into my car and it rolls over, it will land on its four wheels in the end.

Only in the luckiest case.

Gene93 · Answer

I realize I am just a learner and my opinion is either meaningless or unneeded, but roll over doesn't suggest to the that the vehicle will turned upside down in the end. It could roll in the air/on the road/highway/etc a few times and go into a ditch, but yet, that doesn't mean that its hood will be touching the ground. This is the only reason I think "roll over" doesn't work here.
If I am terribly wrong, please excuse my stupidity

.

Mister MicawberIt's not that simple or true, I'm afraid, though I follow your logic.

How would you differentiate between overturn and turn over?

Mister MicawberI don't think it is limited to BrE at all. Why do you think that?

Macmillan Dictionary defines knock over and knock down as British.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Gene93 roll over doesn't suggest to the that the vehicle will turned upside down in the end. It could roll in the air/on the road/highway/etc a few times and go into a ditch, but yet, that doesn't mean that its hood will be touching the ground

It doesn't mean that it will not be, either. The term carries no hint of the final position.

Gene93How would you differentiate between overturn and turn over?

They collocate with different situations.

Gene93Macmillan Dictionary defines knock over and knock down as British.

That is surely in some specific uses only; the terms are common in AmE.

Gene93 · Answer

Let's make it simple and say that "turn over " sounds odd in this context. Could you tell me what makes "turn over" sound odd in this context?

I think that the Brits say "knock down/over" instead of "run over". I have spent quite some time in Essex, but others might use run down.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Gene93Could you tell me what makes "turn over" sound odd in this context?

I already have. Why do you make me repeat myself instead of paying attention?—

"That is not impossible at all; it merely lacks excitement."

Gene93I think that the Brits say "knock down/over" instead of "run over"

That is not the meaning under discussion, however. One car has not run over the other.

Gene93 · Answer

Mister MicawberThat is not the meaning under discussion, however. One car has not run over the other.

I was referring to people, not cars.

It lacks excitement. What is so exciting about a car flipping over/turning over/overturning/rolling over/etc? I find it rather tragic.

turn over,knock over, flip over, overturn

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions