(chiefly in military contexts) a turn made so as to face the opposite direction.
'Their chests swelled with pride as they saluted the general, did an about-face, and marched away exuberantly.'
'He took me by surprise by reaching out and squeezing my hand before making a complete about-face and heading into the nearest elevator.'
'Marching stiffly across the room he performed a perfect about-turn before slapping his tiny sandalled foot on the clay floor and saluting.'
'Brakes squealed as the few cars that happened to travel down that road screeched to a stop and promptly did an about-face, quickly driving in the opposite direction.'
'He turned a sharp about-face and strode forward.'
'It would mean officers arrive at the station, complete their pocket book and do an about-turn to go straight back out onto the streets.'
'the government made an about-turn over the bill'
'Tewkesbury borough councillors have done an about-turn and withdrawn their support for the county council's controversial one-way system in Tewkesbury High Street.'
'The sale of the marine shipping assets represents an about-face in direction for BC Rail in recent years.'
'Either way it is an accurate account of what happened to Orwell's thinking: this was an about-face, a real or metaphoric overnight conversion.'
'There is nothing intrinsically wrong with politicians doing an about-face, even when the reversal is as stunning as this one.'
'More important than his about-face in the context of my analysis is Rethel's awareness of his own position as artist.'
'I simply say to the member opposite that he has done an absolute about-face.'
'Lil looked up, surprised by the complete about-face he had just done.'
'That one was so outrageous that it antagonized the entire civilized world, and undoubtedly contributed to the Europeans' about-face on lifting military sanctions against China.'
'In an about-turn, Justice Humphrey Stollmeyer ruled in favour on Friday of the four policemen, and ordered that each receive $100,000 in damages.'
'In Germany, the food scare has sparked an about-face on agricultural policy.'
verb
Turn so as to face the opposite direction.
'He saw Stella, blushed and twirled his hair around with a pencil, and then about-turned sharpish back out of the room.'
'He glanced around for a moment to make sure no one was around, then about-faced and began walking away.'
'I about-faced, marched from the porch and started for the road.'
'It's bad enough that a company which had previously welcomed Matthew's efforts about-faced and got nasty.'
'The customary smirk returned to Trey's lips and he about-faced, coming closer to the nervous young man.'
'Hugh about-turned, and headed in the opposite direction to be met with a similar fate.'
'Peterson sneered, then about-faced and walked back into the Oval Office.'
'I was ready to about-face and let him drag me home when I noticed an imposing shape in the distance.'
'With that she about-faced and led me out of the room.'
'The big dog otter probably got as much of a fright as he did, about-turned and leapt into the water.'
exclamation
A military command to make an about-turn.
noun
1.
Military. a turn of 180° from the position of attention.
2.
a complete, sudden change in position, direction, principle, attitude, etc.: They've done an about-face in their foreign policy.
verb (used without object), about-faced, about-facing.
3.
to execute an about face.
4.
to turn in the opposite direction.
5.
to switch to an opposite opinion.
Examples:
"There can be about-face backs." "about-faces can be for organizations." "about-faces can be over tolls." "about-faces can be on fundings." "about-faces can be on dates." "about-faces can be for people/places/organizations." "about-faces can be on extraditions." "about-faces can be in sessions." "about-faces can be in policies." "about-faces can be in offices." "about-faces can be in markets." "about-faces can be from tightenings." "about-faces can be from predictions." "about-faces can be from members." "about-faces can be from ideas." "about-faces can be from dates." "about-faces can be for places." "about-faces can be for ministers." "about-faces can be for governments." "about-faces can be for attractions." "about-faces can show people with policies." "about-faces can show people as opportunists." "about-faces can rob people of things." "about-faces can threaten with frosts." "about-faces can show with policies." "about-faces can show as opportunists." "about-faces can rob of things." "about-faces can be for governments." "about-faces can be against uses."
Origin:
Late 19th century (originally as a military command): shortening of right about turn.
