right about face

or right·a·bout-face, right-a·bout-face

[ rahyt-uh-boht-feys ]

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 ( def 2 ).
3. any complete reversal, as of conduct or opinion.

Word History and Origins

Origin of right about face¹

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

It is the refusal to right-about-face and to march at the public word of command that would be the difficult thing.

From Project Gutenberg

He would make a right-about-face, travel for a year on a sailing vessel, see the world.

From Project Gutenberg

If he found Señor Miraflores among the passengers of the Amazon, it was his intention to right-about-face, and return south again.

From Project Gutenberg

Let them as speedily perform a strategic right-about-face, and follow the truth wherever it leads.

From Project Gutenberg

For our next battue we turned right-about face, the beaters coming from the other side; but we had bad luck.

From Project Gutenberg