volte-face

[volt-fahs, vohlt-, vawlt^uh-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