phrasal
or turn one's back upon
1. : to put behind one : depart from
with this month of March we turn our backs on winter — Faith Baldwin
Eskimo turn their backs abruptly on the sea … up a valley from the shore — C.D.Forde
2. : reject , deny
my conscience will not let me turn my back upon a call to service — F.D.Roosevelt
would be turning one's back on history — Pius Walsh
often : to reject unceremoniously or treat with contempt
3. : abandon , forsake , desert
turning our backs upon the rest of mankind and refusing to enter the cooperative scheme — Stephen Duggan
turned his back on his own people