U-turn /ˈjuː tɜːn $ ˌjuː ˈtɜːrn/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a turn that you make in a car, on a bicycle etc, so that you go back in the direction you came from
make/do a U-turn
He made a quick U-turn and sped away.
2 . a complete change of ideas, plans etc
make/do a U-turn
Critics accused the government of doing a U-turn on its promise to increase education spending.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ a great change
▪ transformation noun [uncountable and countable] a change in which something or someone becomes completely different:
There has been a complete transformation in his attitude since he became a father.
|
her transformation from shy local girl to famous movie actress
▪ revolution noun [countable] a complete change in ways of thinking or working:
The 1970s saw the beginnings of a new technological revolution.
|
Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity started a revolution in scientific thinking.
▪ shake-up noun [countable] a situation in which a lot of changes are very quickly made in a system or organization in order to make it more effective:
The department has not performed well and is badly in need of a shake-up.
|
The Administration is planning a thorough shake-up of the welfare system.
▪ U-turn noun [countable] a complete change in the plans of a government or political party so that it decides to do the opposite of what it originally said it would do:
The government was forced to do a U-turn after angry protests about their taxation policy.