about-face
about-face · about-faces · about-faced · about-facing
Kehrtwende machen
To turn 180 degrees to face the opposite directionTo turn 180 degrees to face the opposite direction.
US/əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/
Meaning
2 senses(intransitive)To turn 180 degrees to face the opposite direction.
The soldiers would about-face immediately after the order was given.
Kehrtwende machen
turn, usually 180 degrees
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.
Translations
5 languagesDeutsch
By meaning 1
to turn 180 degrees:
Origin
From about + face, first attested in 1861, used in the imperative in the military.From about + face, first attested in 1861, used in the imperative in the military.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
about-faces, about-facing, about-faced, about-faced| Base form | about-face · to about-face |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | about-faces |
| Present participle | about-facing |
| Past simple | about-faced |
| Past participle | about-faced |
regular · Lesson
Word family
4 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle