(v) force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings, Syn. drive off, drive away, drive out, dispel, turn back, run off, Example:Drive away potential burglars; drive away bad thoughts; dispel doubts; The supermarket had to turn back many disappointed customers
(v) hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of, Syn. hold back, arrest, stop, contain, turn back, Example:Arrest the downward trend; Check the growth of communism in South East Asia; Contain the rebel movement; Turn back the tide of communism
(v) change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense, See Also: turn away, turn back, turn to, Example:Turn towards me; The mugger turned and fled before I could see his face; She turned from herself and learned to listen to others' needs
[复古 / 復古, fù gǔㄈㄨˋ ㄍㄨˇ] to return to old ways (a Confucian aspiration); to turn back the clock; neoclassical school during Tang and Song associated with classical writing 古文; retro (fashion style based on nostalgia, esp. for 1960s), See Also: 古文#7278
[义无反顾 / 義無反顧, yì wú fǎn gùㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄈㄢˇ ㄍㄨˋ] honor does not allow one to glance back (成语 saw); duty-bound not to turn back; no surrender; to pursue justice with no second thoughts#20340
[倒行逆施, dào xíng nì shīㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄋㄧˋ ㄕ] to go against the tide (成语 saw); to do things all wrong; to try to turn back history; a perverse way of doing things#55672
[逆行倒施, nì xíng dǎo shīㄋㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄠˇ ㄕ] to go against the tide (成语 saw); to do things all wrong; to try to turn back history; a perverse way of doing things#950327