U-turnU-turn /ˈjuː tɜːn $ ˌjuː ˈtɜːrn/ noun [countable] 
He made a quick U-turn and sped away.2a complete change of ideas, plans etcmake/do a U-turn Critics accused the government of doing a U-turn on its promise to increase education spending.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The government was forced to do a U-turn after angry protests about their taxation policy.
- The party lost all public support after a series of U-turns and policy failures.
- But the decision would be seen by Labour as another U-turn.
- He also once made a U-turn on the Golden Gate Bridge and crashed his patrol car.
- I started my car and did a U-turn, pulling up next to him.
- The road soon snakes to the east, giving the impression of a gigantic U-turn.
- The Supreme Court, once a champion of efforts to mix black and white, has performed a U-turn.
THESAURUSa great change
noun [countable, uncountable] a change in which something or someone becomes completely different: · There has been a complete transformation in his attitude since he became a father.· her transformation from shy local girl to famous movie actress
noun [countable] a complete change in ways of thinking or working: · The 1970s saw the beginnings of a new technological revolution.· Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity started a revolution in scientific thinking.
noun [countable] a situation in which a lot of changes are very quickly made in a system or organization in order to make it more effective: · The department has not performed well and is badly in need of a shake-up.· The Administration is planning a thorough shake-up of the welfare system.
noun [countable] a complete change in the plans of a government or political party so that it decides to do the opposite of what it originally said it would do: · The government was forced to do a U-turn after angry protests about their taxation policy.
Longman Language Activatora change from one thing to another · After a number of career changes, she settled into a job with a major bank.change of · The police must be notified of any change of address.· There are even more broken promises with every change of government.change to · If you are thinking about a change to a different part of the country you will need to use your vacation to look for accommodation.change from something to something · French people were asked how they felt about the change from the franc to the Euro.
a complete, and usually sudden, change from one thing to another: switch to: · A switch to completly different new foods may cause stomach upsets.switch from something to something: · The switch from political activity to family life was hard to handle.switch of: · His sudden switches of mood are difficult to deal with.
a change from one job or type of work to another: · Let's face it -- going from an academic life to the world of business is never an easy move.move to: · It's probably time to think about a move to a new job.· This picture marks the move to the big screen of some of our best television comedians.
a change to an opposite process or effect: · The profits of supermarkets declined until 1975 when a reversal began.reversal of: · This appears to be a complete reversal of government policy.· The Second World War saw a dramatic reversal of traditional attitudes towards women.reversal
a complete change in the plans of a government or political party so that it decides to do the opposite of what it originally said it would do: · The party lost all public support after a series of U-turns and policy failures.do a U-turn: · The government was forced to do a U-turn after angry protests about their taxation policy.
WORD SETSaccelerate, verbaerodynamic, adjectiveaerodynamics, nounairfreight, nounaisle, nounarr., baggage room, nounboard, verbboarding, nounBOL, booking office, nounbrake, nounbrake, verbbrake light, nounbrake shoe, nounbreakdown clause, bulk freight, C&F, cable car, nouncable railway, nouncargo, nouncarriage, nouncarrier, nouncart, nounCFR, change, verbchange, nounchassis, nounchopper, nounCMR, compartment, nounconcourse, nounconductor, nouncongested, adjectiveconnect, verbconnection, nounconsolidator, nouncontainer, nounconveyance, nounconvoy, nouncouple, verbcoupling, nouncourier, nouncourier, verbcrash, verbcrash, nouncrew, nouncrewman, nouncruise, verbcutting, noundead reckoning, noundelivery date, departure, noundestination, noundispatch rider, noundistribution channel, diverge, verbdouble-book, verbdrop-off, noundrop-shipping, nounelevated railway, nounengine, nounengineer, nounETA, nounfare, nounfeeder, nounfirst class, nounfirst-class, adjectivefloating insurance, flow, verbFOB, FOB airport, fogbound, adjectiveFOR, fork, nounfork, verbfree of particular average, adjectivefreighter, noungangway, noungross weight, Gro t, gyroscope, nounHague Rules, nounhelmet, nounhigh-speed, adjectivehijack, verbhijack, nounhitch, verbhub airport, ICAO, intercity, adjectiveinternational airport, interstate, adjectivekph, LGV, line, nounloading, nounluge, nounluggage, nounluggage rack, nounmachine, nounmarine insurance, mileage, nounmilepost, nounmotion sickness, nounmph, mudflap, nounnavigate, verbnavigation, nounnet weight, one-way, adjectiveopen insurance, outride, verbovertake, verbpackager, nounpannier, nounpart shipment, passenger, nounpayload, nounportage, nounporter, nounpropulsion, nounramp, nounreceiving office, red-eye, nounregional airport, re-route, verbreturn, nounreturn, adjectivereverse logistics, ride, verbroller, nounround-trip, nounround-trip, adjectiveroute, nounroute, verbrun, verbrun, nounschedule, nounsecond class, nounservice, nounship, verbshipload, nounshipment, nounshipper, nounshipping, nounshuttle, nounshuttle, verbsingle, adjectivesingle, nounski, nounskid, verbskid, nounstabilizer, nounstaging post, nounstall, verbsteering wheel, nounstopping distance, nounstowage, nounsubsonic, adjectivesupersonic, adjectivesurface transport, tailwind, nountanker, nounticket, nountime machine, nountimetable, nountourist class, nountowrope, nountrack, nountrack, verbtraffic, nountranscontinental, adjectivetransfer, verbtransfer, nountransit visa, nountransportation, nountransship, travel insurance, troop carrier, nountruckload, nountunnel, nountwo-seater, nountyre, noununderway, adjectiveU-turn, nounviaduct, nounwheel, nounwheel, verbwreck, nounyaw, verbyield, verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He made a quick U-turn and sped away. Critics accused the government of doing a U-turn on its promise to increase education spending.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
1a turn that you make in a car, on a bicycle etc, so that you go back in the direction you came frommake/do a U-turn He made a quick U-turn and sped away. Critics accused the government of doing a U-turn on its promise to increase education spending.· She made a U-turn and drove away, her son still crying.· He picked out something from the shelves and made a clattering U-turn.· He also once made a U-turn on the Golden Gate Bridge and crashed his patrol car.· I made a quick U-turn in hopes of getting home sooner.· She glanced behind her, then made a U-turn, and we began retracing the 45 minute drive to the hospital.
He made a quick U-turn and sped away.2a complete change of ideas, plans etcmake/do a U-turn Critics accused the government of doing a U-turn on its promise to increase education spending.