"It's Time to Kill the Turtle" is the eighth episode of the first season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. The episode was written by Nathan Jackson and producer Nancy M. Pimental, and directed by Scott Frank. It originally aired on Showtime on February 27, 2011.

The series is set on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, and depicts the poor, dysfunctional family of Frank Gallagher, a neglectful single father of six: Fiona, Phillip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam. He spends his days drunk, high, or in search of money, while his children need to learn to take care of themselves. In the episode, Frank decides to stay sober to win $3,000, while Kevin and Veronica take in a foster kid.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.92 million household viewers and gained a 0.4/1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances, themes and character development.

Frank falls unconscious on the street while drinking. He wakes up two days later at the hospital, where the doctors are amazed by his alcohol levels. They offer him $3,000 if he can stay sober for two weeks, which Frank accepts. For this, Frank gets an ankle monitor that will detect any alcohol in his system.

Wanting to prove themselves as ideal parental figures, Kevin and Veronica take in a teenage foster kid, Ethel, who originates from a polygamous sect where she was stuck in a predatory marriage with an adult man. Ethel wants to act as a servant to Kevin and Veronica, insisting on doing chores around the house. Veronica is initially cold towards Ethel, having only agreed to foster to receive money from the state, but she grows more sympathetic upon learning of Ethel's hardships. Lip is given a tour by Professor Hearst at the university, although this prompts Karen to question her relationship with him; Lip states they are solely friends with benefits. Ian continues having sex with Mickey, though he does not tell Kash nor Mandy.

Frank tries to find ways to distract himself to avoid alcohol. He tries to hang out with Sheila, but grows bored, leading Sheila to believe he does not find her attractive. Encountering Debbie, Frank starts eating candies, leading him into a euphoric state. This also causes him to hang out more often in the house, and helping Fiona in taking care of Debbie and Carl. Fiona is in the process of finding a new job, and after failing to complete a Microsoft Office course, is forced to work at a bar where she is sexually harassed by the customers. Fiona also grows suspicious of Steve after he receives a text from a woman named Candace; Steve insists that Candace is a colleague. Later, Steve visits his wealthy family in Lake Forest, and it is revealed that his real name is Jimmy Lishman.

When Frank takes the kids to bowling, Lip warns Debbie and Carl that Frank's sobriety isn't going to last, as Frank will return to drinking once he receives the money. He later confides in Fiona that Frank previously applied the same strategy to him years earlier for a bet, and that it hurt him because he thought he would have a good father for once. When Frank demolishes a wall for renovations, Fiona and Lip decide that they must stop him, and Debbie offers to help. They taser Frank and force booze down his throat, alerting the doctors and losing him the money. By the next day, the family has returned to their status quo in the house. Frank returns to Sheila's house, much to her delight.

The episode was written by Nathan Jackson and producer Nancy M. Pimental, and directed by Scott Frank. It was Jackson's first writing credit, Pimental's second writing credit, and Frank's first directing credit.