right about face

American  

[rahyt-uh-boht-feys] / ˈraɪt əˈboʊtˈfeɪs /

Or rightabout-face,

noun

1. Military.

   1. a command, given to a soldier or soldiers at attention, to turn the body about toward the right so as to face in the opposite direction.

   2. the act of so turning in a prescribed military manner.

2. rightabout.

3. any complete reversal, as of conduct or opinion.

---

Etymology

Origin of right about face

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

Aunt Rachel turned right about face with an almost military precision, and passing her arm through Ruth's led the girl away, leaving Reuben shaken back into internal chaos.

From Aunt Rachel by Murray, David Christie

"Now right about face and back-track uptown," ordered the officer.

From Oh, You Tex! by Raine, William MacLeod

Alma only smiled, then, with a little toss of her head, made a right about face, marched off, chin up, to brave the battery of glancing eyes and whispering tongues alone.

From Nancy of Paradise Cottage by Watkins, Shirley

We cannot arbitrarily turn right about face and pull one policy up by the roots and cast it aside, while we plant another in virgin soil.

From Woodrow Wilson as I Know Him by Tumulty, Joseph P.

See de grand bird how he wheel right about face up to de sun, and hear de moosic ob de merry little fellow!

From The Lost Hunter A Tale of Early Times by Adams, John Turvill