an about-face

an about-face

A sudden, complete turn or change of direction. This phrase can describe one's physical movement or a change in concept. She did an about-face and walked back up the steps once she saw that the subway wasn't running. Based on the reactions we got from test audiences, we need to do an about-face with the movie's plot.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

* about-face (on someone or something)

Fig. a reversal of attitude or action. (*Typically: do ~; have ~.) She did an about-face on her rule about not eating in the living room. Now we can do it if we want.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • about-face
  • do an about-face
  • go through the change
  • scenery
  • a change of scenery
  • change of scenery
  • a change of scene
  • change of scene
  • change of scene, a
  • the change of life
References in periodicals archive
The personal trainer was said to be dead against plastic surgery - before having an about-face.
KATIE JOINED AT NIP & TUCK
In an about-face, Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj admitted on Thursday that its so-called air strike in the Balakot area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa did not cause any casualties - military or civilian.
India backtracks on its claim of killing 'very large number of terrorists' in Balakot strike
Duterte's recent statement was an about-face from his December 2018 remark urging people to kill bishops.
CHR welcomes Duterte's call not to kill bishops, priests
The desire to define the new you is the reason why so many empty-nesters and the like decide to do an about-face and head for sleek and contemporary interiors that normally would be perfect for young homeowners.
Mature pads tend to be contemporary in nature
Is it the same Nick Forbes who predicted riots in the streets, then did an about-face when he couldn't handle the protests resulting from his plans to obliterate funds to cultural projects - yet dares to suggest that extending the programme for shared services between North Tyneside and Newcastle would damage our culture and heritage?
Many faces of Nick Forbes; Letters
She said: "Yanukovych made it clear to me that he intends to sign the association agreement." Signing would be an about-face for Mr Yanukovych since his rejection of the deal last month made it clear he sought closer links with Russia instead.
President of crisis-torn Ukraine: I'll sign EU deal
Russia's Gazprom does not expect to use the Japanese Crude Cocktail (JCC) as a benchmark for pricing gas deliveries to China, the firm's export chief said, in an about-face from an earlier stated preference for the oil-linked benchmark.
Gazprom excludes JCC for China gas
When interest or economic wealth in one country wants, brand manufacturers must be prepared to do an about-face and shift to another more profitable region or product line.
About face
Once the trams are up and running, opposition melts away or does an about-face.
Metro extension needed; views
The move follows an about-face by the report's author.
Israel Calls on UN to Retract Gaza War Crimes Report
Thiruvananthapuram The Communist Party of India Marxist yesterday did an about-face and decided to field Kerala chief minister and veteran leader V.S.
CPM allows Achuthanandan to contest elections
The Palestinian Authority has apparently done an about-face, and is expected to oppose the Goldstone report in a UN vote Friday.
PA About-Face, Opposes Goldstone Report
You could have almost predicted that the next piece of confusing information was going to be an about-face on that advice.
Letter: Confusion is bad for your health
This represents an about-face on the part of North Korea, which in the past has insisted that the abduction issue was settled.
Japanese editorial excerpts -2-
The Commerce Department said Friday it will impose duties on imports of coated paper from China, in an about-face from a decades-old policy of not applying duties to subsidized goods from non-market economies.
U.S. to slap import duties on Chinese paper products