turn the turtle

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Would you tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence

The canoe turned the turtle with them.

…I was suddenly awakened at five o’clock by a violent shaking of the ship. At first I thought that she, being almost empty, was “turning turtle”. (Foster’s “Pages from a Worker’s Life”)

turn the turtle = overturn, capsize,

Thank you for your efforts.

2

Yes, in the case of the second one.

As the expression for capsizing is ‘to turn turtle’ (no direct article), the first example sounds as if it is more literal. It sounds as if the turtle was near the canoe in the water, and when the canoe turned to one side, it pushed the turtle forcing it to turn as well.