about-face

Wikipedia

English

Alternative forms

• about face

Etymology

• First attested in 1861.
• First used in the imperative in the military.
• about +‎ face

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/

Noun

about-face (plural about-faces)

1. (military) An abrupt turn to face the opposite direction.

   The soldier did an about-face and marched off.

2. A reversal in direction; reversal of attitude or opinion.

   When Luke heard the news, he did an abrupt about-face on the policy.

Translations

military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction

• Finnish: täyskäännös
• French: (literal) demi-tour (fr) m; (figurative) volte-face (fr) f, revirement (fr) m

• Portuguese: meia-volta f
• Russian: кругом (ru) (krugóm)

reversal of direction or attitude

• Finnish: täyskäännös

Verb

about-face (third-person singular simple present about-faces, present participle about-facing, simple past and past participle about-faced)

1. (intransitive) To turn 180 degrees to face the opposite direction;

   The soldiers would about-face immediately after the order was given.

2. To change opinion or attitude drastically.

   A politician will about-face at the drop of a hat if he thinks there are votes in it.

Translations

to turn 180 degrees

• Finnish: tehdä täyskäännös

• French: faire demi-tour (fr),

to change opinion or attitude

• Finnish: tehdä täyskäännös

• French: faire volte-face

See also

• about turn (UK)
• turn around
• 180