- 1 [countable] the action of turning something with your hand, or of turning a part of your body She gave the lid another twist and it came off. He gave a shy smile and a little twist of his head. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivelittle, slight, quick, … verb + twistgive something prepositiontwist of, twist to See full entry unexpected change
- 2 [countable] an unexpected change or development in a story or situation the twists and turns of his political career The story has taken another twist. The disappearance of a vital witness added a new twist to the case. By a curious twist of fate we met again only a week or so later. a bizarre twist to the tale Wordfinderplotdialogue, ending, flashback, plot, narrate, scenario, scene, storyline, tension, twist Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivefinal, latest, added, … verb + twistgive something, have, offer, … twist + nounending prepositionin a twist, with a twist, twist in, … phrasesa twist in the tale, a twist of fate, twists and turns, … See full entry See related entries: Film plots, Elements of a story in road/river
- 3 [countable] a sharp bend in a road or river The car followed the twists and turns of the mountain road. They approached a twist in the path. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivesharp prepositiontwist in phrasestwists and turns See full entry See related entries: Features of roads shape
- 4[countable] a thing that has been twisted into a particular shape mineral water with a twist of lemon dance
- 5 the twist [singular] a fast dance that was popular in the 1960s, in which you twist from side to side Word OriginOld English (as a noun), of Germanic origin; probably from the base of twin and twine. Current verb senses date from late Middle English.Extra examples A twist in the hose was stopping the water coming out. Give the cap another twist—it’s not on properly. Give the lid another twist. He finished him off with a quick twist of the knife. I added my own twist to the whole thing. I find this latest twist in the tale most intriguing. I thought it would be an interesting twist on the zombie movie. In a bizarre twist to the evening the police came at eleven and arrested our host. That adds a slight twist to this battle The movie gives this old legend a real modern twist. The movie has some unexpected twists. The scandal has taken a new twist this week. The story has a twist in the tail—six months later she married the husband of her victim. The writer takes well-known fairy tales and gives them an ironic twist. a cruel twist of fate a sharp twist in the road a wry twist to her lips classic French dishes with a twist horror movies with twist endings the latest twist in the saga of high-level corruption the twists and turns in the economy They approached a sharp twist in the path.Idioms
noun jump to other results
BrE BrE//twɪst//; NAmE NAmE//twɪst//
Features of roads, Film plots, Elements of a story(British English, slang) to become angry, confused or upset
(informal, especially British English) crazy She's gone completely round the twist. See related entries: Describing strange traits
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