moonshiner's turn

English

Etymology

Used by moonshiners to evade authorities during Prohibition.

Noun

moonshiner’s turn (plural moonshiners' turns)

1. (colloquial, US) A rapid illegal U-turn performed by putting the car in neutral and applying the hand brake, thereby producing a controlled skid, with the car still moving backwards when forward power is again applied.

   Did you see the moonshiner’s turn he pulled in that chase scene?

Synonyms

• bootlegger reverse, handbrake turn