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turncoat .

a disloyal, untrustworthy person

TRANSLATION

turncoat = Wendehals, Abtrünniger, Überläufer

STATISTICS

IN THE PRESS

“Nuclear engineer Arnie Gundersen was an expert witness during the investigation of the 1979 Three Mile Island accident and has studied the catastrophic failure at Chernobyl in 1986. He has critics aplenty — primarily from inside the nuclear industry who see him as a TURNCOAT.”

Forbes Magazine

Did you
know?

turncoat
noun

- one who switches to an opposing side or party

Merriam-Webster


ORIGIN

“Turncoat” traces its origins back to the mid-16th century and referred to persons who turned their coats inside out to hide the badge of their party or leader.

During the English Civil War in 17th century, the siege of Corfe Castle was won by Oliver Cromwell’s soldiers when they turned their coats inside out to match the colours of the Royal army.


TURNCOAT TO "FUR COAT"

When the Soviet Union system collapsed in the 90s, many party “apparatchiks” abandoned communism in order to embrace capitalism. With the money they made, turncoats transformed into being called “fur coats.”


SYNONYMS

back-stabber, Brutus, conspirator, defector, deserter, double-crosser, false-friend, Judas, limb of Satan, lowest of the low, rat, renegade, snake, supervillain, traitor, TURNCOAT, two-timer


PRACTICE OWAD in an English conversation, discuss something like:

“Given its negative historical associations, take care using the word TURNCOAT.”


THANKS to Jacky for suggesting today’s word


HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

Paul Smith

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