about-face

• about face

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

• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/

about-face (plural about-faces)

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

   The soldier did an about-face and marched off.

   • 2019 February 27, Drachinifel, The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?‎, archived from the original on 3 November 2022, 22:11 from the start:

     Deciding that he hasn't had enough action for one day, Captain Evans of the Johnston orders another 180-degree about-face to give gunfire support to the new arrivals, this time picking on the heavy cruiser Tone.

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

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

   • 2021 March 23, David Von Drehle, “Sidney Powell does an about-face on her Stop the Steal claims”, in Washington Post‎, →ISSN:

     Sidney Powell does an about-face on her Stop the Steal claims [title]

   • 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, →ISSN:

     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.”

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.

• about turn (UK)
• arse about face
• backpedal
• heel/face turn
• turnabout
• turn around
• volte-face
• 180