volte-face
See also: volte face
English
WOTD – 15 July 2011
Etymology
Borrowed from French volte-face.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /vɒltˈfæs/, /-ˈfɑːs/
Noun
Synonyms
- (a reversal of policy, attitude or principle): about-face, U-turn
Translations
a reversal of policy, attitude or principle
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French
Etymology
Italian volta-faccia, itself from voltare (“to turn”) + faccia (“face”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /vɔlt.fas/
Noun
volte-face f (plural volte-face or volte-faces)
- U-turn; about face (act of turning round 180 degrees)
- (figuratively) U-turn; volte-face
Further reading
- “volte-face” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
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