This Baby Can Turn on a Dime and Get Nine Cents Back

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, my name is Sam Marshall, and I live in Kerrville, Texas.

Hey, Sam, we’re glad to have you. What’s on your mind today?

Well, I listen to the radio a lot in my work, and I kept hearing turn on a dime over and over and over again.

And just recently, and I remember hearing that as a kid and started thinking, where did that come from?

Turn on a dime in what context?

Well, usually they’re talking about something changing quickly.

Like somebody’s attitude turns on a dime or the traffic turns on a dime.

Something changes quickly.

Grant, it seems like it’s been a long time since I’ve even seen a dime.

Yeah.

So much is paid for by card, but the expressions will hang on, right?

I wouldn’t be surprised if we go cash-free in 100 years and we’re still talking about turning on a dime, meaning to either literally turn in a short space like a car or a horse or to figuratively do it.

Like you said, Sam, this idea that you changed goals or tactics just suddenly.

Yes.

Yes.

Yeah.

I was just curious where that came from.

Yeah.

Well, it’s this idea.

It did start before automobiles were a thing.

And it was often about horses or horse racing or wagons.

And it’s the idea that the dime is a very small coin.

And so it’s a tiny space.

And instead of needing a large turning radius where it takes you, you know, the entire street to turn around, this idea was if you could turn on a dime, it meant that you had really great control of a very manipulable vehicle, you know, very nimble.

And it’s just a real, it’s an asset in horse racing.

It’s an asset in automobiles.

And so it’s a real good thing to have to be able to turn on a small space.

But, you know, the earliest use I find, it’s from 1870s, turn on a five cent piece.

And in Australia and the UK, they say different things.

Australia may say turn on a cabbage leaf.

And in the UK, they say turn on a six pence, which I don’t think is a coin anymore in the UK.

I see.

Okay.

Well, I happen to be a hospice nurse.

And we, you know, people, they come on service or family, not everybody’s on the same page at first.

It takes a while.

And then, boom, you know, they turn on a dime.

They just, all of a sudden, they get it or they understand or they accept.

So that phrase had been coming up lately a lot.

Sam, have you heard the extended version of it, which is, boy, they can turn on a dime and give you back change.

Or turn on a dime and get nine cents back.

I love it.

That’s very clever.

Well, we’re not going to have pennies soon, so there you go.

It’s extended outside the English-speaking world.

They also use coins in Norway and Finland, Russia, and Quebec.

And I don’t know who got it from whom, but the idea is out there in all these other languages.

But, you know, in German, they pivot on a plate instead of turn on a dime.

And in Dutch, they turn on a beer coaster.

And in Italian, probably my favorite of all, two in Italian, one in Italian, one in Hungarian.

In Italy, they turn on a handkerchief.

And in Hungary, they turn on a pocket square.

And that just sounds classy to me.

Oh, my gosh.

Oh, my gosh.

Well, thank you.

That’s what I wanted to know.

Where did that come from?

Yeah, sure.

So I appreciate it.

So it’s turning around on a really small space really fast.

Yeah.

Mm—

Well, thanks, Sam.

Makes sense.

Really appreciate it.

Well, thank you very much.

You all have a great day.

I appreciate your show.

Thanks a lot.

You too.

Take care now.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Well, a penny for your thoughts.

Call us 877-929-9673 or send your thoughts about language to words@waywordradio.org.