about-faced

Did a 180

About-faced is the past tense of about-face, meaning to reverse direction or position completely.

In military contexts, it describes the physical act of turning 180 degrees: The sergeant barked an order and the recruits about-faced in unison.

More commonly, it describes a complete reversal of opinion, policy, or stance: The company about-faced on its return policy after customer complaints.

The sudden, decisive quality of the military turn carries over into the figurative use.

reversal

pivot

Point of rotation

u-turn180-degree driving reversal
flip-flopSudden change of position
backtrackReverse one's position

volte-face · about-turn · switchback · retraction · reconsideration · change of heart · reversal · rethink · recant · withdraw

military

drill

Hole-boring device

commandAuthoritative instruction given
formationCreation or arrangement
paradeCeremonial public procession

salute · maneuver · march · inspection · cadence · attention · halt · turn · pivot · regiment

surprise

shock

Violent sudden disturbance

astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
stunnedShocked into speechlessness
unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand

startled · blindsided · caught off guard · disbelief · jaw-dropping · whiplash · double-take · gobsmacked · flabbergasted · taken aback

Opposites

directional change

about-facedpressed ahead

Continued despite resistance

stood fast · kept going · veered

stance/position change

about-facedstood pat

Refused to alter position

persisted · doubled down · dug in · fine-tuned · tweaked

Family

turnaround, about face, about-face, about-faces

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G