about-face en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/ (US)
- (US) audio
Etymology
From about + face, first attested in 1861, used in the imperative in the military.
Meanings
-
An abrupt turn to face the opposite direction.
Deciding that he hasn't had enough action for one day, Captain Evans of the Johnston orders another 180-degree about-face to give gunfire support to the new arrivals, this time picking on the heavy cruiser Tone.
2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 22:11 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 03 Nov 2022:The soldier did an about-face and marched off.
-
(figuratively) A reversal in direction; a reversal of attitude or opinion.
In yet another about-face decision on speech, Mr. Zuckerberg announced that Facebook was planning to de-emphasize political content in the News Feed because, he said, “people don’t want politics and fighting to take over their experience on our service.”
2021 July 8, Sheera Frenkel, Cecilia Kang, quoting Mark Zuckerberg, “Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg’s Partnership Did Not Survive Trump”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:But just a day later, Trump abruptly did an about-face, telling reporters that he had received assurances that Iranian authorities would not execute anyone, walking back from military intervention in Iran, at least temporarily.
2026 January 18, Deepa Parent, William Christou, “‘He hoped Trump’s help would arrive’: why protesters in Iran feel betrayed”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:Sidney Powell does an about-face on her Stop the Steal claims [title]
2021 March 23, David Von Drehle, “Sidney Powell does an about-face on her Stop the Steal claims”, in Washington Post, →ISSN:When Luke heard the news, he did an abrupt about-face on the policy.
His [Jake Angeli's] about-face is such that he is even taking his case back to court to ask his guilty plea to be reversed. And he is far from the alone in changing his mind about the events at the Capitol.
2023 July 15, “The ‘QAnon Shaman’ and other Capitol rioters who regret pleading guilty”, in BBC News:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| about face | alternative | lexicographic | |
| about-faces | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Translations (33)
hu hátraarc (reversal of direction or attitude) · hu hátra arc (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · ru круго́м (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · es virazón (reversal of direction or attitude) · hu pálfordulás (reversal of direction or attitude) · fr volte-face (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · it voltagabbana (reversal of direction or attitude) · hu pálfordulat (reversal of direction or attitude) · pt meia-volta (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · fr revirement (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · es media vuelta (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · gl media volta (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · fi täyskäännös (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · fi täyskäännös (reversal of direction or attitude) · hu száznyolcvan fokos fordulat (reversal of direction or attitude) · nl rechtsomkeert (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · tl harap sa likod (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · th กลับหลังหัน (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · it dietrofront (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · fr demi-tour (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · pl zwrot o 180 stopni (reversal of direction or attitude) · cs čelem vzad (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · es media vuelta (reversal of direction or attitude) · pt reviravolta (reversal of direction or attitude) · de Kehrtwende (reversal of direction or attitude) · nl koerswijziging (reversal of direction or attitude) · es cambio de rumbo (reversal of direction or attitude) · it dietro front (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · pl zwrot w tył (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · nl ommezwaai (reversal of direction or attitude) · it voltafaccia (reversal of direction or attitude) · es cambio de rumbo (military: abrupt turn to face the opposite direction) · it banderuola (reversal of direction or attitude)