2

In many contexts, "turn around" is used for cases when you "transform" something completely. E.g. "He turned around his life." I want a synonym for "turn around" in such contexts, but something which is stronger than "transform". Here is the sentence for which I need the synonym:

This prospect turned out to be a key element that turned around our business.

Now, here "turn out" and "turn around" are giving a repetitive sound. Hence, I am looking for a synonym for "turn around".

Or else, if someone can suggest some other changes to this sentence, which would make the sentence more lively, please do so.

Improve this question
11
  • You've already "defined" to turn X around as to transform X in your first sentence. Why doesn't transform answer your needs?
    – FumbleFingers
    Dec 12, 2019 at 13:19
  • @FumbleFingersReinstateMonica Actually, I am looking for a stronger word than "transform". "Transform" doesn't sound as strong as "turn around". I've edited my question and mentioned the same requirement there.
    – shivams
    Dec 12, 2019 at 13:25
  • I'd say claiming to have transformed a business is an exceptionally "strong" usage. Opinions may differ, obviously, but to my mind, turning a business around might mean little more than shifting from gradually declining annual profits to gradually increasing (or even just "static, stable") profits. But a small local company could be transformed into a global multinational, as we've seen often enough in recent decades.
    – FumbleFingers
    Dec 12, 2019 at 13:33
  • 1
    If you want to emphasise that particular metaphoric allusion, just say something like ...that completely turned our business around. Note that with or without the intensifying adverb, [He] turned around the business is relatively non-idiomatic (compared to [He] turned the business around).
    – FumbleFingers
    Dec 12, 2019 at 13:54
  • 1
    To really focus on that specific allusion, how about We turned the business around 180 degrees in the last six months.
    – FumbleFingers
    Dec 12, 2019 at 13:58

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

We would generally use the following word order:

He turned his life around.

Here are some alternatives that you could use:

This propsect was the key insight resulting in our reinventing our business.

This prospect allowed us to rethink and reformulate our business model.

This prospect revolutionized our business.

We augmented our business model with this prospect and it allowed us to break new ground and make forward strides.

We turned over a new leaf with this prospect, and reinvigorated our business.

There are plenty of other ways to say this, as well!

Improve this answer
1

You could also consider

This prospect turned out to be a (pivotal) turning point for our business.

The idiomatic phrases are pivotal point/moment and turning point, but I have come across pivotal turning point, too.

A pivot is "a shaft or pin on which something turns" (Merriam Webster) and pivotal is used mostly figuratively to mean:

central and important: e.g. a pivotal figure/role/idea

A turning point is

the time at which a situation starts to change in an important way:

  • The organization called the new regulations a turning point in the campaign against smoking. (Cambridge)

or

a time at which a decisive change in a situation occurs, especially one with beneficial results.

Therefore, "a (pivotal) turning point" is a point in the development of that business after which nothing is the same, everything has changed for the better.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .