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turn upon

C1 formal inseparable transitive
In simple words

Suddenly attack someone who trusted you, or everything depends on one thing.

Literal meaning: To physically rotate so as to face upon someone.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic formal

To suddenly attack or speak angrily to someone who was previously a friend or ally.

"The crowd, once supportive, turned upon the speaker when his lies were exposed."

"The dog turned upon its master without warning."

— Traditional cautionary expression; widely used in 19th-century literature
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 idiomatic formal

To depend or hinge entirely on a particular factor or point.

"The success of the entire negotiation turned upon a single clause in the contract."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Largely literary or archaic. In modern English, 'turn on' is far more common in both senses. 'Turn upon' appears frequently in 19th-century fiction and formal rhetoric.

Commonly used with

question outcome master ally hinge result

Forms

Base
turn upon
I/you/we/they
3rd person
turns upon
he/she/it
Past simple
turned upon
yesterday
Past participle
turned upon
have + pp
-ing form
turning upon
continuous

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Synonyms

turn on round on attack hinge on depend on pivot on

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