Meanings
- alternativeAlternative form of 180.
Saying one thing one day and then doing a complete 180° the next is signature Gemini.
2019, Chinggay Labrador, “Gemini”, in Practical Magic: Your Guide to Everyday Astrology, Mandaluyong: Summit Publishing Co., Inc., →ISBN, chapter 2, “Signs” section, page 374 more examples
Recent holdings are now doing a "180°" and eroding the public policy which was the catalyst for strict products liability.
(Can we date this quote?), California. Court of Appeal (4th Appellate District). Division 1. Records and Briefs: D016318, Appellant’s Opening, page 20Although on the surface, doing a 180° may seem like a bizarre strategy, the technique has been around for a millennium. Every parent, whether consciously or not, has used this method at some time or other: “Don’t you dare eat those peas.” […] Paula immediately replied, “He would expect us to get angry, […] or make him promise he’ll be home on time.” At first, Dave suggested that, since they knew about his plan, not commenting on it would be a 180° for them. […] They realized that a real 180° would be for them to encourage him to break curfew.
1995, Michele Weiner-Davis, “Do a 180°”, in Change your Life and Everyone in It: How to Transform Difficult Relationships, Overcome Anxiety and Depression, Break Free from Self-Defeating Ways of Thinking, Feeling, and Acting in One Month or Less, New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, →ISBN, pages 163 and 165These incredible dervishlike turnarounds are known as “doing a 360°.” It’s like doing a 180°, but twice.
1998, Luke Sullivan, “Only the Good Die Young: The enemies of advertising”, in “Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This.” A Guide to Creating Great Ads (Adweek Books), New York, N.Y.: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., →ISBN, page 162“You like me, don’t you?” she asked, “I’ve had many boyfriends in my life, I think I know when one has fallen for me.” / “Woman, you’re delirious, we better get you home before your grandfather has my head,” William said doing a complete 180°.
2009, Susan Withrow, “Smitten”, in Faith's Genesis, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, part 1 (When the Moon is the Seventh House), page 184
Cite this entry
180°. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/180%C2%B0
“180°.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/180%C2%B0. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “180°,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/180%C2%B0.
Source: 180° on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.