turn back

verb7

1. •
   To reverse direction and retrace one's steps.

   • Realising he had forgotten his briefcase, he turned back and re-entered the office.
2. •
   To cause to reverse direction and retrace one's steps.

   • The barrage of machine-gun fire turned back the encroaching soldiers.
3. •
   To prevent, or refuse to allow, passage or progress.

   • The soldiers turned back all the refugees at the frontier.
4. •
   To return to a previous state of being.

   • He stopped drinking for a couple of years, but now he has turned back to his old ways.
   • Once we take this decision, there's no turning back.
5. •
   To adjust to a previous setting.

   • In Autumn we normally turn the clocks back one hour.
   • I love that song: turn back to it!
6. •
   To fold something back; to fold down.

   • When you make the bed, please always turn the sheet back over the blanket.
7. •
   (no longer used) To give back; to return.

   • We turn not back the silks upon the merchants, When we have soiled them; nor the remainder viands. — 1602