about-face
[noun uh-bout-feys, uh-bout-feys; verb uh-bout-feys]
- Military. a turn of 180° from the position of attention.
- a complete, sudden change in position, direction, principle, attitude, etc.: They've done an about-face in their foreign policy.
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- to execute an about face.
- to turn in the opposite direction.
- to switch to an opposite opinion.
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Origin of about-face
An Americanism dating back to 1860–65
about face
- (used as a military command to perform an about-face).
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Origin of about face
An Americanism dating back to 1860–65
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for about-face
Contemporary Examples
Asked to explain the about-face, Bush blamed the shifting political sands.
Yet such an about-face seems unlikely, at least according to one rank-and-file Brotherhood member.
Deaths of Gaber Salah, Islam Masoud Signal Egypt’s Dangerous DivisionsAlastair Beach
November 27, 2012
But such an about-face by the stubborn government seems unlikely.
Areheart thought this about-face happened because Jackson suddenly felt “terribly exposed,” in a way he had never done before.
In eight months, you have done an about-face and taken this country in a much more sane direction.
Historical Examples
For answer, Phil caught her by the arm and turned her about-face.
The Spoilers of the ValleyRobert Watson
She had a strong desire to about-face and return to Harlowe House.
Grace Harlowe's ProblemJessie Graham Flower
He had sternly informed her that she must about-face and do better.
Marjorie Dean, High School JuniorPauline Lester
We did an about-face at 12th Street and double-timed back to the folks.
A strong desire possesses us to about-face and back to the woods again.
The New NorthAgnes Deans Cameron