twists and turns
Winding road features
Twists and turns describes a path, route, or sequence of events that changes direction frequently and unpredictably.
A winding mountain road has literal twists and turns, while a mystery novel or political scandal has figurative ones.
The phrase emphasizes complexity and the difficulty of anticipating what comes next.
The investigation took many twists and turns before the truth emerged.
We followed the twists and turns of the canyon trail for hours.
Suspenseful unresolved ending
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
red herring · subplot · arc · climax · denouement · conflict · resolution · thriller
Smooth, angleless line
- bendCurve or flex
- zigzagAngled back-and-forth path
- hairpinU-shaped fastener for tresses
- switchbackReversing mountain path
spiral · coil · loop · meander · winding road · mountain pass · corkscrew · snake
Path from A to B
- pathRoute for traveling
- detourAlternate path around obstruction
- mazePuzzle of passages
- labyrinthIntricate passage network
crossroads · fork · junction · wayfinding · directions · landmark · signpost · dead-end
Extremely complex and winding
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- tangledTwisted confusedly together
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
serpentine · meandering · tortuous · complicated · knotty · byzantine · circuitous · sinuous
cliffhanger
Suspenseful unresolved ending
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
foreshadowing · red herring · subplot · arc · climax · denouement · conflict · resolution · thriller · whodunit
curve
Smooth, angleless line
switchback · spiral · coil · loop · meander · winding road · mountain pass · corkscrew · snake · slalom
route
Path from A to B
labyrinth · crossroads · fork · junction · wayfinding · directions · landmark · signpost · dead-end · roundabout
labyrinthine
Extremely complex and winding
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- tangledTwisted confusedly together
winding · serpentine · meandering · tortuous · complicated · knotty · byzantine · circuitous · sinuous · entangled
twists and turnsstraight line
Undeviated continuous path
direct path · straight shot · beeline · as the crow flies · direct route
twists and turnslinear progression
Movement in one direction only
straight line · smooth sailing · straight path · foregone conclusion · plain sailing
twists and turnspredictability
Capacity to be anticipated
foregone conclusion · inevitability · straightforwardness · certainty · transparency
turn, twist, twisted, turning, twisting, twisty, untwist, twists, twister