Turning a new page
Meaning
To make a fresh start or move on from a past situation, often a difficult one, to embrace a new beginning.
Origin
The image of 'turning a new page' draws its simple yet profound power directly from the act of reading a book. Imagine a story unfolding, perhaps a difficult chapter or a completed journey; when you physically turn that page, you leave the previous words behind and encounter a fresh, blank space awaiting new text. This literal transition in literature has been beautifully absorbed into our language to represent a metaphorical one: the conscious decision to move past an old situation, often a challenging one, and to embrace a new beginning. It's an active, deliberate choice, much like a reader choosing to continue the story, leaving what's done in the past.
Examples
- After the rough year, Sarah decided it was time to turn a new page and focus on her well-being.
- Finishing college felt like turning a new page, opening up countless possibilities for the future.