volte-face
a complete change of mind or opinion
TRANSLATION
volte-face = Wendung, Kehrtwendung, Frontwechsel, Umschwung --- GOOGLE INDEX 934,000 hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
FUKUSHIMA: BBC’s Matt McGrath does abrupt VOLTE-FACE after nuclear experts confirm Slogpost.
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volte-face
noun phrase
- a complete change of attitude or opinion
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
When he was nominated to run as the US presidential candidate at the 1988 Republican National Convention, George H.W. Bush issued probably his most famous statement: "Read my lips. No new taxes." He went on to win the election, partly on his promise not to tax the American people further.
After he became president, tax increases were proposed as a way to reduce the national budget deficit.
Bush negotiated with Congress, but was unable to make a deal with a Senate and House that was controlled by the opposing Democrats. He agreed to a compromise, which increased several existing taxes as part of a 1990 budget agreement. George Bush senior was thus accused of carrying out a major volte-face.
This expression stems from the Italian voltafaccia and Portuguese volte face by way of the French. Volta refers to return and faccia means face. Thus it literally means to turn the face.
A volte-face is sometimes described in American politics as a "bait and switch." And this is essentially what Bush Sr. was accused of. Opponents claimed that he "baited" the public with promises of no new taxes (bait is what you put on a fishing rod to attract the fish) and then "switched" his opinion after he had already landed the fish (American voters).
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SYNONYMS
about-face, about-turn, change of heart, flip-flop, reversal, turnaround, U-turn
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Management did a complete volte-face, first promising to create new jobs but then reducing headcount by 20%."
noun phrase
- a complete change of attitude or opinion
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
When he was nominated to run as the US presidential candidate at the 1988 Republican National Convention, George H.W. Bush issued probably his most famous statement: "Read my lips. No new taxes." He went on to win the election, partly on his promise not to tax the American people further.
After he became president, tax increases were proposed as a way to reduce the national budget deficit.
Bush negotiated with Congress, but was unable to make a deal with a Senate and House that was controlled by the opposing Democrats. He agreed to a compromise, which increased several existing taxes as part of a 1990 budget agreement. George Bush senior was thus accused of carrying out a major volte-face.
This expression stems from the Italian voltafaccia and Portuguese volte face by way of the French. Volta refers to return and faccia means face. Thus it literally means to turn the face.
A volte-face is sometimes described in American politics as a "bait and switch." And this is essentially what Bush Sr. was accused of. Opponents claimed that he "baited" the public with promises of no new taxes (bait is what you put on a fishing rod to attract the fish) and then "switched" his opinion after he had already landed the fish (American voters).
---
SYNONYMS
about-face, about-turn, change of heart, flip-flop, reversal, turnaround, U-turn
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Management did a complete volte-face, first promising to create new jobs but then reducing headcount by 20%."
