What does it mean to roll over in one's grave? Help with this idiom please.?

Question

Ex. Somewhere George must be rolling over in his grave.

Thank you everyone! Your answers have been very helpful.

Answer 1

It means that the dead person would not have agreed with something. For example, if Bob loved his tree in the front yard and after his death his widow has it cut down, someone might say "I can't believe they cut down Bob's tree, he must be rolling over in his grave."

Answer 2

The answers above are correct.

But it stems from something darker. Before modern-day embalming practices were used (this excludes ancient embalming, such as mummification, of course), people were just buried. Sometimes the tragic event happened where someone was buried alive. This got to be such a fear that some tombs were equipped with a bell on the ground's surface, with a rope down to the corpse's hands, so that if the "dead" woke up and found themselves buried alive, they could ring the bell and wait for help.

But I digress.

"Rolling in one's grave" is comes from graves being uncovered to show the skeleton lying face-down--where the person had been buried alive and moved around.

Answer 3

Hitler for example, is rolling over his grave: Why? Because of the equality of rights to all colors and races in Germany and the disappearing blond blue eyes race. Meaning, he would not put up with it if he were alive today. So instead, he rolls over in his grave.

Answer 4

Daniel is right, the phrase is almost never associated with someone actually being near death, it is normally used as black humour, for example "I'm too old for climbing hills like that, I've got one foot in the grave, you know!", or "Look how grey my hair's gone, I've got one foot in the grave now!". It was the title of a long-running BBC sitcom about a couple in their 60s, obviously having many years to live, but facing some of the issues of age.

Answer 5

Basically, it means that if George were alive right now, he wouldn't like the situation at all...but since he's dead, the best he can do is roll over in his grave.

Answer 6

this means that whatever the action is, someone wouldnt be pleased about it.

example: Bobby gets arrested with drugs. he is a shame to his family. his mother tells him "if your father knew what you were up to, hed be rolling over in his grave right now"

it usually refers to someone who has passed away but everyone still has reverence for.

Answer 7

That means that someno would be so upset about something that has been said or done.

e.g. if 50 cents compared himself to Mozart, Mozart would roll over his grave. Actually, he would roll over back and forth several times. lol

Answer 8

the last two answers are the most accurate...
you know when Bush once said "we are at war with the MUSLIM FASCISTS' .people said 'Hitler has probably just rolled over in his grave' which means that Bush has no idea what fascism is all about and it would offend Hitler if he ever heard such statement.

Answer 9

what roll over in one's grave means that when some one remenices or talks bad about him he wakes and turns in his coffin.

Answer 10

Disappointment at some person's actions or behavior