about-face
about-face — noun
1. a quick turn that leaves a person or group facing the opposite way
a quick turn that leaves a person or group facing the opposite way
At the sergeant's shout, the new soldiers made an about-face and marched back.
collocation: make an about-face
Seeing the broken bridge, Roya did an about-face and led the hikers downhill.
pattern: do an about-face + action
The patrol's about-face sent the whole line back toward the harbour gate.
One whistle from the coach brought an about-face from every runner on the track.
- about-turn
British term for the same physical turn, especially in military settings
- turnabout
broader and less tied to a sharp, single movement
文法句型
make/do an about-face
用法筆記
Most often used for people or groups turning back together in one sharp movement. In everyday speech, many speakers use plainer verbs such as 'turn around' unless the action feels sudden or formal.
常見錯誤
2. a sudden switch to the opposite opinion, plan, or way of acting after an earlier
a sudden switch to the opposite opinion, plan, or way of acting after an earlier position seemed settled
After months of cuts, the mayor made an about-face on library funding.
collocation: about-face on + issue
Jin's about-face on remote work surprised the team that had packed to move.
The company performed an about-face after parents complained about the unsafe toy.
Pedro called the vote an about-face from the promises heard in April.
- reversal
more neutral and less vivid than about-face
- U-turn
common in news and politics, often with a more public or critical tone
- backtracking
suggests retreating from an earlier statement step by step, not one clean switch
- consistency
keeping the same view or course instead of reversing it
文法句型
an about-face on something
an about-face from X to Y
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'on' when you name the issue, or 'from ... to ...' when you contrast the old and new positions. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about changing views or behaviour, not physical direction.