volte-face

[ volt-fahs, vohlt-; French vawltuh-fas ]

noun

, plural volte-face.

1. a turnabout, especially a reversal of opinion or policy.

volte-face

/ ˈvɒltˈfɑːs /

noun

1. a reversal, as in opinion or policy
2. a change of position so as to look, lie, etc, in the opposite direction

Word History and Origins

Origin of volte-face¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from French, from Italian voltafaccia, equivalent to volta turn ( volt ² ) + faccia face

Word History and Origins

Origin of volte-face¹

C19: from French, from Italian volta-faccia, from volta a turn + faccia face

Example Sentences

It leaves out only the actual reason for her abrupt, 11th-hour volte-face.

From The Daily Beast

They turned tail with screams and fled to a distance, more than one falling in the sudden volte-face.

From Project Gutenberg

She destroyed whatever chance there was of a sudden volte-face on its part—and oh, the glorious uncertainty of this class of cat!

From Project Gutenberg

And for all their talk of freedom, Lennan could see the volte-face his friends would be making, if they only knew.

From Project Gutenberg

The Commune in Paris caused a complete volte face of the liberal bourgeoisie in Denmark, as elsewhere.

From Project Gutenberg

Bulgaria's present volte-face is no chance product of panic, but a logical step in her national policy.

From Project Gutenberg