U-turn
/ˈjuːtəːn
/noun
1The turning of a vehicle in a U-shaped course so as to face in the opposite direction: the car made a U-turn and headed back at high speed...
- He turned the flashers on just before he made a U-turn, heading back in the direction he'd come.
- I made a U-turn on the taxiway and headed back to the line to get it checked.
- Faith slammed on the brakes, and made a U-turn in the middle of the empty street.
Synonyms
one-eighty;
British about-turn;
North American about-face
informal U-ey
1.1A change of plan, especially a reversal of political policy: another U-turn by the government...
- Public anger has forced members of the powerful council cabinet to do a U-turn over plans to slash the budgets of the town's community centres.
- The public inquiry could be called off, however, if councillors accept the officers' advice and do a U-turn on their previous decision.
- It was good to see the Government do a U-turn on that matter.
Synonyms
reversal, reversal of policy, volte-face, about-face, sea change, shift, change of heart, change of mind, turnaround, turnround, turnabout, rowback, backtracking, retraction, eating one's words, change of plan
informal one-eighty
British about-turn