handbrake turn

British  

noun

1. a turn sharply reversing the direction of a vehicle by speedily applying the handbrake while turning the steering wheel

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Example Sentences

That matters because when parties suffer a very large defeat, as Labour experienced in 2019 for example, it can often be a moment of reckoning - a point of reflection about whether the party needs a total handbrake turn of direction, purpose - and, usually, of leader.

From BBC

One shadow minister said that while today's announcement felt like a bit of a handbrake turn, it was nonetheless inevitable and sensible.

From BBC

But many investors do view the UK's handbrake turn as a potential gamechanger.

From Reuters

Handbrake turn from No 10 on this afternoon's Labour motion asking government to disclose security advice on Lord Lebedev: Tory MPs are now being whipped to abstain rather than vote it down.

From The Guardian

"Doing so now reduces the risk of a handbrake turn - for borrowing costs and the economy - down the road, with all of the disruption this would entail for our jobs and finances," he said.

From BBC