Roll over in his grave

Posted by Aka Darrell July 30, 2010 at 18:54In reply to Roll over in his grave posted by Victoria S Dennis on July 30, 2010 at 15:41:

Where did the saying "roll over in his grave" come from?

The usual form is "turn in [one's] grave, and it has been discussed before here: www.phrases.org.uk bulletin_board 19 messages 1118.html (VSD)

1858 "'He's been there every day, in the most open manner, my dear,' continued Mrs. Speers. 'Enough to make poor Mr. Pendennis turn in his grave,' said Mrs. Wapshot." - The History of Pendennis - His Fortunes and Misfortunes, His Friends and His Greatest Enemy by William Makepeace Thackeray, page 154.