Turn-away

A 'turn-away' signifies the act of preventing someone or something from entering or being accepted. It describes a situation where access or inclusion is denied, often due to factors like exceeding capacity, unmet requirements, or discrimination. It can refer to individuals, customers, resources, or opportunities. The term emphasizes the exclusion or rejection, highlighting a failure to provide service or grant entry. The severity of a turn-away can range from a simple inconvenience to a significant obstacle, depending on the context and the value of what is being denied. This action creates disappointment, frustration, and a lack of opportunity for the rejected individual or item, and has implications for those that are 'turned-away'.

Turn-away meaning with examples

• The concert venue experienced a high demand. Due to overcrowding concerns, the security staff had to implement a complete turn-away, leaving many ticket holders outside and frustrated. This meant potential concert goers were unable to enter, despite having purchased valid tickets. Management apologized and explored compensation options for those denied entry, but the turn-away underscored the event's popularity and associated safety concerns. Several people made complaints about the lack of information about the turn-away.
• During the holiday season, many food banks experience a sharp rise in demand for services. Unfortunately, due to limited resources, the food bank was forced to turn-away several families seeking assistance. Volunteers faced the difficult task of explaining that there wasn't enough food and other supplies available to satisfy every request, highlighting the ongoing struggle against poverty and food insecurity. Volunteers tried to offer alternative resources and dates for the families.
• The popular restaurant was forced to turn-away customers on Saturday nights. Its small kitchen and lack of seating meant there was a limited capacity. Guests who did not make a reservation were often denied entry, leading to long queues and disgruntled diners waiting for a table. This policy, while unpopular with some, helped to maintain the restaurant’s service quality and manage the number of people in attendance, also forcing management to make tough choices.
• In a competitive hiring process, companies can find themselves in a position to perform a turn-away. Some candidates, no matter how qualified, may not be offered a role. The employer must decline to offer employment to some candidates because of the limited number of openings. The process involves careful assessment and, ultimately, tough decisions to determine which candidate is best suited for the vacancy. Each declined applicant experiences their own form of turn-away.