Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

1 In most places around the world, frowning and turning one�s back to someone shows anger.

2 He turned his back to us and saw the woman.

It seems that "turn one's back to sb." has two opposite meanings. What i want to ask is if we turn our back to sb, should we face somebody directly or with our back facing them.

In other words, in the former case, should we say "turn our back on someone" instead?

Thanks.

[pugachevV]

If you turn your back on someone, you ignore or reject them.
This would be considered to be a rude, or unfriendly gesture.
If you turn your back to someone, you merely turn away from them so they are looking at your back.
It is not necessarily a rude gesture.