A turning point
Meaning
A significant moment or event that causes a crucial change in a situation, often leading to a completely new direction.
Origin
Imagine a winding road, stretching endlessly before you. At one specific bend, the entire vista shifts, revealing a new landscape, a different direction. This is the essence of a 'turning point,' a phrase born from the literal act of changing direction during a journey, whether on foot or by horse. Over time, this physical pivot point transformed into a powerful metaphor for life's significant moments—a decisive event or decision that irrevocably alters the course of one's destiny, much like a ship altering its bearing in uncharted waters. It captures that singular, often dramatic instant when the past definitively gives way to a new future.
Examples
- The invention of the internet was a major turning point in human communication.
- After years of struggle, her decision to start her own business proved to be the turning point in her career.