overturn
noun
Overturn — an upset victory so improbable it reverses every expectation
Definition
An improbable and unexpected victory; "the biggest upset since David beat Goliath"
In depth
An overturn, in this sense, names an improbable and unexpected victory, one that completely reverses the anticipated outcome of a contest, much as the word's more literal meaning describes something flipped entirely upside down. The word emphasizes total reversal rather than mere narrow or surprising success.
Origin
The word combines 'over,' suggesting completeness or excess, with 'turn,' from Latin tornare, to turn on a lathe. That image of complete rotation, turning something entirely over, underlies the word's sense of total reversal, whether applied to an unexpected sporting victory or the formal overturning of an established legal ruling.
Usage examples
"The election's overturn stunned pollsters who had confidently predicted the opposite result for months."
"Sports commentators called it one of the great overturns in the tournament's long history."
"The verdict's overturn, after years of appeals, finally vindicated a man who had spent decades insisting on his innocence."
How to use it
Overturn in this sense of unexpected victory is somewhat less common than its more frequent use describing the reversal of a legal decision or established practice, and writers should rely on context to clarify the intended meaning.
Related concepts
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