“turn over a new leaf” 是一个常用的英语习语,字面意思是“翻到新的一页(书页)”,引申为 “改过自新”“重新开始”“洗心革面”(指彻底改变旧习惯、坏习惯,开启新的生活或行为方式)。
该短语的主体通常是人(因为涉及主动改变),强调“从过去的错误/坏习惯中走出来,做出积极转变”。常见搭配和语境如下:
用于决定/承诺改变的场景:
After failing the exam, she decided to turn over a new leaf and study harder.
(考试不及格后,她决定改过自新,更加努力学习。)
用于描述他人的转变:
My brother used to be lazy, but now he’s turned over a new leaf and gets up early every day.
(我弟弟以前很懒,但现在他洗心革面,每天早起。)
He turned over a new leaf after his health scare.
(经历健康危机后,他决定重新开始。)
She promised to turn over a new leaf because she didn’t want to disappoint her parents anymore.
(她承诺改过自新,因为她不想再让父母失望。)
Has he really turned over a new leaf, or is this just a temporary change?
(他真的洗心革面了吗?还是只是暂时的改变?)
Don’t believe him—he never turns over a new leaf.
(别信他——他从来不会改过自新。)
start fresh(重新开始)
make a fresh start(开启新的篇章)
turn over a new page(与原短语几乎同义,更直白)
该短语不能用于描述“物体的变化”,只能用于“人的行为/习惯的转变”;
它强调“彻底的、主动的改变”,而非临时调整。
总结:“turn over a new leaf” 是一个形象的习语,用来描述人告别过去的不足,主动寻求积极改变的状态,常见于日常对话、励志语境或叙事中。