Turn to means to go to someone or something for help, advice or support: turn to a friend, turn to the internet. The second meaning is to start doing something harmful during a difficult time: turn to crime means to start breaking the law, and turn to drink means to start drinking heavily.
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turn to + person/thing + for + help/advice/support; have no one to turn to; turn to + crime/drink/gambling
- When I lost my job, I turned to my parents for advice.
- She moved abroad alone and at first had no one to turn to.
- After his café closed, he turned to gambling and soon lost his savings.
What changed
First versionWhen I had problems with grammar, I addressed to my teacher for advice.
RevisionWhen I had problems with grammar, I turned to my teacher for advice.
Address can look like a good fit here, but it means to speak to people formally or to deal with a problem (address an issue), and it isn't used for going to someone for advice. When you go to a person for help or advice, you need turn to.
Ask for help simply means to request help, even with carrying a bag. Turn to is used when someone is your source of support or advice, often in a difficult situation: In a crisis, she always turns to her older brother.
Your turn
I couldn't work out the new software, so I ___ a colleague for help.
Show the answer
turned to — You couldn't figure out the software and went to a colleague for help: turned to a colleague for help. Addressed to isn't used in this sense: address means to give a speech to people or to write an address on a letter.
Write about someone you go to for advice. Use turn to, name the person and the topic you go to them about.
Whenever I need to choose a new laptop, I turn to my cousin, who works in IT.
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