I am doing research for an upcoming sermon and would like to know if the saying "turning over a new leaf" is figurative or literal? Does something happen when you turn a leaf over? Is there a reason for doing it? Any info you can provide would be great.

I thought that turning over a new leaf was related to books... as in turning over the leaf (page) of a book. To turn over a new leaf was to start fresh on a new page of the book.

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Originally Posted by Inquisitive Pastor

I am doing research for an upcoming sermon and would like to know if the saying "turning over a new leaf" is figurative or literal? Does something happen when you turn a leaf over? Is there a reason for doing it? Any info you can provide would be great.

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Also, think about what a new leaf looks like when it is turned over? You see the freshness of the leaf, the new anchors of the leaf - still strong and vibrant - the youthfullness of this new leaf. Take a mental picture of what Spring looks like - from that I am sure you can build a beautiful sermon.

I am closer to Synnen, what a pastor does part way through his sermon. I am somewhat familiar with gardening and nature, and I can't think of new leaves turning over. New leaves my leaf out, but don't turn over except when the tree is trying to conserve water.

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Originally Posted by Inquisitive Pastor

I am doing research for an upcoming sermon and would like to know if the saying "turning over a new leaf" is figurative or literal? Does something happen when you turn a leaf over? Is there a reason for doing it? Any info you can provide would be great.

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Thank you for your responses. They have helped tremendously. Why I didn't think about the new page in a book before. I guess when you hear a word your mind goes to a specific item and gets stuck there.
Triple L I really appreciate your comment and I will also use your response in my sermon. It has helped to get my creative juices flowing again. Thanks again!