about turn

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Word: About Turn

Definition: "About turn" is a noun that means to turn around completely, usually by pivoting 180 degrees. This term is often used in military contexts to describe a specific movement where a soldier or a group of soldiers turns to face the opposite direction.

Usage Instructions:

• "About turn" is typically used in a military or formal context, but it can also be used in everyday language to describe a significant change in direction or opinion.

Examples:

1. Military Context:

   • "The drill sergeant shouted 'About turn!' and the soldiers quickly pivoted to face the opposite way."

2. Everyday Context:

   • "After thinking about it, she made an about turn on her decision to move to another city."

Advanced Usage:

In a broader sense, "about turn" can refer to a complete change in attitude or opinion. For example: - "The company made an about turn in their policy after receiving feedback from customers."

Word Variants:

There are no direct variants of "about turn," but it can be used in different forms: - "To make an about turn" (verb phrase) means to change direction or opinion.

Different Meanings:

While "about turn" primarily refers to the physical act of turning around, it can also metaphorically mean changing one’s mind or reversing a decision.

Synonyms:

• Turnaround
• U-turn (especially in informal contexts)
• Reversal

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Make a U-turn: This is a common idiom that means to change direction or opinion, similar to "about turn." Example: "The mayor made a U-turn on his stance about the new law after public protests."

Summary:

"About turn" is a term used to describe a complete turn around, often used in military situations but also applicable in everyday language to indicate a change of mind or direction.

Academic

Noun

1. act of pivoting 180 degrees, especially in a military formation

Synonyms

• about-face