Turn over a new leaf
Meaning
To make a fresh start or to change one's behavior for the better, often after a period of poor conduct.
Origin
The imagery of a 'leaf' in this idiom is not from a tree, but from a book. In early printing, a 'leaf' was a folio, a single sheet of paper printed on both sides, forming two pages in a bound volume. When you 'turn over a new leaf,' you literally progress to the next page, leaving the previous text—and by extension, the past mistakes or bad habits—behind. This literary metaphor, which gained traction in the 17th century, beautifully captures the idea of abandoning old narratives for a fresh start, promising a clean slate and a new chapter in one's life.
Examples
- After a series of bad choices, Mark decided it was time to turn over a new leaf and focus on his education.
- She promised her family she would turn over a new leaf and manage her finances more responsibly.