about-turn

IPA/əˌbaʊt ˈtɜːn/
IPA/əˌbaʊt ˈtɜːrn/

about-turn — 名詞

1. a movement in which a person, group, or vehicle turns right round to face or go

1.名詞B2
釋義

掉頭轉向

轉到相反方向前進或面向

a movement in which a person, group, or vehicle turns right round to face or go the opposite way

例句

Christopher made an about-turn on his bike when the lane ended.

Christopher 騎車時發現車道到底了，便立刻掉頭轉向。

collocation: make an about-turn

The captain ordered an about-turn, and the hikers headed back downhill.

隊長下令全隊掉頭轉向，登山客便往山下走回去。

pattern: order an about-turn for a group

同義詞
  • about-face

    more common in American English and strongly linked to military language

  • U-turn

    used more often for vehicles on roads than for people on foot

文法句型

do an about-turn

make an about-turn

用法筆記

More common in British English than in American English. In the literal sense, it often describes soldiers, walkers, or drivers changing direction at once.

常見錯誤

❌The bus made an about-turn to the station.
✅The bus made an about-turn at the station.
💡use 'at' for the place where the turn happens, not 'to'.

2. a full switch to a different opinion or way of acting after first choosing the o

2.名詞B2
釋義

立場大轉彎

把原本立場或做法整個改掉

a full switch to a different opinion or way of acting after first choosing the opposite

例句

After weeks of support, the mayor made an about-turn on parking fees.

支持了好幾週後，市長在停車費政策上來了個立場大轉彎。

pattern: about-turn on [policy issue]

Elena's about-turn on moving abroad surprised everyone at dinner.

Elena 在是否搬到國外這件事上的大轉彎，讓晚餐桌上的大家都很意外。

同義詞
  • reversal

    more neutral and formal, without the image of a sudden swing

  • U-turn

    common in news English for policy changes, often with a critical tone

  • about-face

    American English; stresses how complete the change is

文法句型

an about-turn on something

an about-turn over something

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about opinions, plans, or behaviour, not a physical turn. It often appears with 'on' or 'over' plus the issue that changed.

常見錯誤

❌The minister made an about-turn to the tax plan.
✅The minister made an about-turn on the tax plan.
💡the figurative sense usually takes 'on' or 'over', not 'to'.