[Idiom] turn something to account

[sitifan]

Then we would have him turn this training to account in situations quite apart from geometry.
(Basic Geometry, by Birkhoff et al.)

What does the phrase "turn something to account" mean?

 

[tedmc]

It is suggesting that the person who is specialised in geometry be asked to make use of his training and expertise to explain things in other fields.

 

[probus]

Have you even bothered to google it, sitifan? I don't think so. Number one hit for me.

 

[sitifan]

It is suggesting that the person who is specialised in geometry be asked to make use of his training and expertise to explain things in other fields.

Is the word "account" a verb or a noun?

 

[GoesStation]

Is the word "account" a verb or a noun?

We don't use "in" after the infinitive "to account".

 

[Rover_KE]

Then we would have him turn this training to account in situations quite apart from geometry.
(Basic Geometry, by Birkhoff et al.)

What does the phrase "turn something to account" mean?

Please note that I've added a line break for clarity. You haven't got the hang of that yet, have you?