U-turn

English

A car making a U-turn.

Alternative forms

• u-turn

Etymology

U + turn, from the similarity to the shape of the letter U.

Noun

U-turn (plural U-turns)

1. (literally) A turn in a vehicle carried out by driving in a semicircle in order to travel in the opposite direction.
2. (figuratively) A reversal of policy; a volte-face, a backflip

   The government have done a U-turn and are now supporting greater European integration instead of opposing it.

Usage notes

• Often used in the phrases do a U-turn or make a U-turn.

Synonyms

• uey (Australian & US, colloquial), U-ie (Australian & US, colloquial), Uwey (Australian & US, colloquial),

Translations

semi-circular turn

• French: demi-tour (fr) m, volte-face (fr) f, retournement (fr) m

reversal of policy

• French: demi-tour (fr) m, volte-face (fr) f

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

• Chinese:

  Simplified (mainland China): 掉头 (1)

  Traditional (Taiwan): 迴轉 (1), 迴車 (1)

• Dutch: rechtsomkeert, draai van 180 graden

• Finnish: U-käännös (1, 2), takinkääntäminen (2)
• Portuguese: reviravolta
• Spanish: cambio de sentido (es) m

See also

• three-point turn
• y-turn
• hook a uey hook a U-ie
• flip a bitch
• moonshiner's turn
• hang a Louie
• hang a Ralph