| Front | volte-face \vawlt-FAHSS\ |
|---|---|
| Back | noun An about-face; a reversal, as in policy or opinion. ["Volte-face" came to English by way of French from Italian "voltafaccia" (from "voltare," Italian for "to turn," and "faccia," meaning "face"). It has existed as an English noun since at least 1819, making it just slightly older than the more English-sounding "about-face." Although foot soldiers have been stepping smartly to the command "About face! Forward march!" for centuries, "about-face" didn't appear as a figurative noun meaning "a reversal of attitude, behavior, or point of view" until 1853.] "The mayor's abrupt volte-face on new town zoning regulations made some of his critics wonder if he was being persuaded by special interest groups." |
Tags: priorityhigh
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