Meaning trap
turn to
resort to (negative)
to begin doing something undesirable, harmful, or morally questionable, especially as a way of coping with difficulties or when other options have failed
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to begin doing something undesirable, harmful, or morally questionable, especially as a way of coping with difficulties or when other options have failed
'turn to' also has the more basic meaning 'to go to someone for help or advice'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
After losing his job, he turned to gambling as a way to escape his problems.
When people face prolonged unemployment, some may turn to crime as a means of survival, highlighting the need for effective social support systems.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: She turned into crime.
Say: She turned to crime.
'Turn TO' (resort to), not 'turn into' (become).
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Turn to' something harmful is the idiomatic way to describe resorting to it; 'resorted to as a coping mechanism' is clinical.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
turn to + vice
- to drink
- to crime
- to drugs
- to gambling
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- turn to (to go to someone for help or advice) — 'turn to' also has the more basic meaning 'to go to someone for help or advice'; this is the advanced sense.