Volte face

Meaning

The idiom "volte face" refers to a sudden change of direction, opinion, or course of action. It can also refer to a reversal of roles, a complete turnaround, or a U-turn. The word "volte face" is French in origin and literally means "to face a new direction".

Usage

• John's political stance has taken a volte face since the last election. He used to be a staunch conservative but now advocates for progressive policies.
• The project's timeline had a volte face when the lead developer left unexpectedly, leaving the team to reorganize and find a new direction.
• After years of being the boss, Sarah stepped back and gave her assistant the role of team leader, turning the power dynamic on its head in what felt like a volte face.
• The company's advertising campaign had a volte face after customer feedback revealed that their initial messaging was misleading and confusing. They pivoted to a more transparent approach that focused on delivering value to customers.
• When the weather took a sudden turn for the worse, we had to make a volte face and seek shelter in the nearest building.

Roots and History

The idiom "volte face" has its roots in French culture and was first used in the 17th century. In medieval times, it was common for knights to turn their horses around during battles and fight with their backs to each other, which was known as "volte face". Over time, the phrase evolved to refer to any sudden change of direction or course of action.

Synonyms in English

• U-turn
• Reversal of roles
• About-face
• Change of heart
• Turnaround

Synonyms in other languages

• 翻转 (Flánzhuì) - Chinese
• תנועה כשמרת (Tennu'ah Kashmirat) - Hebrew
• أنتلاوه (Antlauh) - Arabic
• العباسية (Al-'Abassiyya) - Egyptian
• قطرار (Qutrār) - Turkish

Similar Idioms

• veg out

• vent spleen

• beyond the veil