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.

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Etymology

Origin of right about face

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

right about face

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

Far out in the lake he turned right about face and pulled rapidly toward the Winnebago dock.

From The Camp Fire Girls in the Maine Woods Or, The Winnebagos Go Camping by Frey, Hildegard G. (Hildegard Gertrude)

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

"All right, then; right about face, march!" commanded Ned.

From Boy Scouts Mysterious Signal or Perils of the Black Bear Patrol by Ralphson, G. Harvey (George Harvey)

"There's only one thing to do," said Frank decidedly, "and that is to right about face and try to find the place where we turned off."

From Army Boys on German Soil Our Doughboys Quelling the Mobs by Randall, Homer