about-turnn.
/əˌbaʊtˈtəːn/, U.S. /əˌbaʊtˈtərn/ 1. A turn made so as to face in the opposite direction, spec. in infantry drill; = about-face n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > [noun] > changing to face different direction or turning > to opposite direction
inverting1573
reverse1589
round turn1611
reversal1648
controversion1684
contraversion1706
volte-face1819
turnabout1833
about-turn1912
U-turn1915
about-face1930
U1971
heel turn1983
1912 E. G. D. Lardner Soldiering & Sport in Uganda xxii. 254 Almost immediately they took what the drill sergeant calls an ‘about-turn’.
1940 T. H. White Ill-made Knight vii. 45 The sentries made smart about-turns, their mail ringing on the stone floor.
1942 C. S. Lewis Broadcast Talks 1. v. 29 If you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road.
1977 D. Williams Treasure by Degrees vi. 55 The Dean's violent about-turn led him straight into the arms of Amelia Hatch.
1991 J. Archer As Crow Flies (BNC) 69 He took a pace backwards, saluted, did an about-turn and marched out of the tent.
2. figurative. A complete reverse in fortune, opinion, policy, etc. = about-face n. 2. Cf. U-turn n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > change of opinion > [noun]
change of hearta1400
change of mind1572
round turn1611
mentimutation1650
about-turn1919
changeover1920
1919 Times 10 Feb. 7/1 (headline) About turn in Finland. From anti-ally to pro-ally.
1959 Times 3 June 8/1 Congregation to-day executed a graceful about-turn on the question of retaining the classical languages as compulsory subjects for candidates taking Responsions.
1989 M. Brown Richard Branson (BNC) 298 Faced with the prospect of chaotic and unpleasant scenes at airports if ticket-holders were asked to pay a surcharge, the Transport Secretary, Nicholas Ridley, performed an about-turn.
1997 Independent 7 Apr. 18/2 What was wrong with yesterday's about-turn on privatisation, however, was not the fact of it, which is a welcome development, but the timing.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
about-turnv.
/əˌbaʊtˈtəːn/, U.S. /əˌbaʊtˈtərn/ intransitive. To turn round so as to face in the opposite direction. Originally Military, as a command in infantry drill.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > orders > order [interjection] > face specific direction
face(s) to (also on) the right (or left)1613
right about face!1793
about-face1804
about-turn1893
the world > space > direction > point or lie in a direction [verb (intransitive)] > turn round or to face a direction > turn to opposite direction
turnc1225
bewenda1300
to turn aboutc1330
returna1470
wheel1639
face1644
to turn on one's heel1669
to turn around1756
to turn round1787
about-face1896
about-turn1927
U-turn1931
U1971
1625 G. Markham Souldiers Accidence 58 To the right hand about turne.]
1893 Infantry Drill (rev. ed.) ii. 59 The instructor will then give the command About—Turn. By the Right. Quick—March.
1911 Times 1 Aug. 10/1 Forlorn hopes are far more easy to lead and really require less pluck than to give the order ‘About turn’ to an army..in order to fight at a better time and position.
1927 Daily Express 12 Dec. 11/3 The students, seeing the preparations of the peasants, promptly about-turned, re-entered the train, and departed.
1937 J. A. Lee Civilian into Soldier 32 This is the army, not the Salvation Army. About Turn!
1960 Guardian 7 July 7/6 The whole party about-turned on the steps.
1988 J. Cartwright Interior vii. 84 Suddenly he about-turned and came back and saluted again with his free hand.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1912v.1893