about-face

plural about-faces · alternative about face

1. governmentAn abrupt turn to face the opposite direction.

   The soldier did an about-face and marched off.

   1 more example

   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

2. figurativelyA reversal in direction; a reversal of attitude or opinion.

   When Luke heard the news, he did an abrupt about-face on the policy.

   4 more examples

   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

   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

   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

   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

present singular third person about-faces · participle present about-facing · participle past about-faced · past about-faced · alternative about face

1. intransitiveTo turn 180 degrees to face the opposite direction.

   The soldiers would about-face immediately after the order was given.

2. To change opinion or attitude drastically.

   A politician will about-face at the drop of a hat if he thinks there are votes in it.