Turn Over a New Leaf
A lot of people try to set their goals and to change their lives when the New Year begins, right? “Turn over a new leaf” means to decide to do something different for a better life. This idiom dates back to the 16th century. At the very beginning of the printing industry in Western countries, people used to call the pages of books “leaves.” Turning a “leaf” at that time, thereby, meant someone turning over a new page and seeing what is written on that side. This idiom now signifies a major change in our life or behavior.
Example 1: I used to be a evening person before coming to an MIT. I really turned over a new leaf and now wake up at 6 AM!
Example 2: My New Year’s resolution was to “turn over a new leaf” and start eating healthier; it’s only February, and I can’t remember the last time I cooked.
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