about-face
about-face — 名詞
1. a quick turn that leaves a person or group facing the opposite way
向後轉
突然轉身或轉向面對反方向
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.
聽到中士一聲喝令後，新兵們立刻向後轉，往回行進。
collocation: make an about-face
Seeing the broken bridge, Roya did an about-face and led the hikers downhill.
Roya 看到斷橋後立刻掉頭，帶著健行客往山下走。
pattern: do an about-face + action
The patrol's about-face sent the whole line back toward the harbour gate.
巡邏隊這次向後轉，讓整排人馬都朝港口大門折返。
One whistle from the coach brought an about-face from every runner on the track.
教練一聲哨響，跑道上的每位跑者都立刻向後轉。
- 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
大轉彎
立場、計畫或做法忽然完全翻轉
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.
在連續數月刪減預算後，市長在圖書館經費上突然大轉彎。
collocation: about-face on + issue
Jin's about-face on remote work surprised the team that had packed to move.
Jin 在遠距工作政策上的大轉彎，讓已經打包準備搬家的團隊很吃驚。
The company performed an about-face after parents complained about the unsafe toy.
家長抱怨那款玩具不安全後，公司來了個大轉彎。
Pedro called the vote an about-face from the promises heard in April.
Pedro 說這次表決和四月聽到的承諾相比，根本是一次大轉彎。
- 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.