turf

A grass-covered layer of ground, or a surface made to look like grass.

• The players ran across the turf.
• We laid fresh turf in the garden.
• The school replaced its grass field with artificial turf.

Similar words: sod, grass

Common phrases: artificial turf, lay turf, on the turf, fresh turf

An area that someone considers theirs or controls.

• This neighborhood is their turf.
• The two departments fought over turf.
• The gang refused to let rivals enter its turf.

Similar words: territory, domain, patch

Common phrases: someone's turf, home turf, turf war, on someone's turf

A piece of partly decayed plant material dug from wet ground and burned as fuel.

• They burned turf to heat the house.
• He stacked the cut turf beside the shed.
• A turf fire warmed the small cottage.

Similar words: peat

Common phrases: cut turf, burn turf, turf fire

To remove someone from a job or task.

• The company turfed its manager.
• Several staff members were turfed after the takeover.
• They turfed him off the project without warning.

How to use it: turf someone out of something (The new owner turfed him out of his job.); turf someone off something (They turfed her off the committee.)

Similar words: fire, dismiss, sack

Opposites: hire

Common phrases: turf someone out, turf someone off, turf someone

To stop a project or drop plans for a product.

• They decided to turf the project.
• The company turfed its plans for a new phone.
• Why was the proposed product turfed?

Similar words: scrap, cancel, abandon, drop

Common phrases: turf a project, turf a product, turf the plan