about face: Meaning and Definition of

about' face'

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. (used as a military command to perform an about-face).

a•bout-face

Pronunciation: (n.u-bout'fās", u-bout'fās'v.u-bout"fās'), [key]
— n., v., -faced, -fac•ing.
—n.
  1. a turn of 180° from the position of attention.
  2. a complete, sudden change in position, direction, principle, attitude, etc.: They've done an about-face in their foreign policy.
—v.i.
  1. to execute an about face.
  2. to turn in the opposite direction.
  3. to switch to an opposite opinion.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.