about-face
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See also: about face
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
- First attested in 1861.
- First used in the imperative in the military.
- about + face
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
about-face (plural about-faces)
- (military) An abrupt turn to face the opposite direction.
- The soldier did an about-face and marched off.
- A reversal in direction; reversal of attitude or opinion.
- When Luke heard the news, he did an abrupt about-face on the policy.
- 2021 July 8, Sheera Frenkel; Cecilia Kang, quoting Mark Zuckerberg, “Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg’s Partnership Did Not Survive Trump”, in The New York Times[2], ISSN 0362-4331:
- In yet another about-face decision on speech, Mr. Zuckerberg announced that Facebook was planning to de-emphasize political content in the News Feed because, he said, “people don’t want politics and fighting to take over their experience on our service.”
Translations[edit]
military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction
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reversal of direction or attitude
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Verb[edit]
about-face (third-person singular simple present about-faces, present participle about-facing, simple past and past participle about-faced)
- (intransitive) To turn 180 degrees to face the opposite direction
- The soldiers would about-face immediately after the order was given.
- 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[edit]
to turn 180 degrees
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to change opinion or attitude
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