Volte-face

Volte-face

Volte-face (vôlt-fäs', vôl'tə-) is a total change of position, as in policy or opinion; an about-face.

The expression comes through French, from Italian "voltafaccia" and Portuguese "volte face", composed of "volta" (turn) and "faccia" (face).

Volte-faces in diplomacy

*The Diplomatic Revolution.
*The Soviet-German Pact.
*Another famous "volte-face" in diplomacy is the successful manoeuver of Italy in September of 1943, when the Italian Army capitulated immediately after the Allied invasion of Sicily. Italy switched sides from one of the aggressor Axis Powers and was allowed to co-operate with the Allies with notable benefits [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=53580 (Britannica: "The Allies' invasion of Italy and the Italian volte-face, 1943")] .

Volte-faces in business

*A famous "volte-face" within business was when Coca-Cola announced New Coke, which was to replace their main product with one containing a different formula. After public backlash, Coca-Cola pulled New Coke and returned to the original.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • volte-face — [ vɔltəfas ] n. f. inv. • 1654; it. volta faccia « tourne face », de l impér. de voltare « tourner » et faccia « face » ♦ Action de se retourner pour faire face. « Il fit volte face sur lui même, tournant le dos, à présent, à l itinéraire indiqué …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Volte-Face — Cet article a pour sujet le film d action de 1997. Pour une définition de l expression « volte face », voir l’article volte face du Wiktionnaire. Volte face, ou Double Identité au Québec, est un film d action américain réalisé par John… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Volte/face — Volte face Cet article a pour sujet le film d action de 1997. Pour une définition de l expression « volte face », voir l’article volte face du Wiktionnaire. Volte face, ou Double Identité au Québec, est un film d action américain… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • volte-face — If you do a volte face on something, you make a sudden and complete change in your stance or position over an issue …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • volte-face — a reversal of opinion, 1819, French, from It. volta faccia, lit. turn face, from volta, imper. of voltare to turn (from V.L. *volvita, from L. volvere to roll; see VULVA (Cf. vulva)) + faccia (see FACE (Cf. face)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • volte-face — [vôlt΄fäs′] n. [Fr < It volta faccia < volta, a turn (see VOLT1) + faccia < VL facia,FACE] 1. a turn so as to face the opposite way; about face 2. a complete reversal of opinion, attitude, etc …   English World dictionary

  • volte-face — ► NOUN 1) an act of turning round so as to face in the opposite direction. 2) an abrupt and complete reversal of attitude, opinion, or position. ORIGIN French, from Latin volvere to roll + facies appearance, face …   English terms dictionary

  • volte-face — s. f. Ver volta face.   ‣ Etimologia: palavra francesa …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • volte-face — [ˌvɔlt ˈfæsˌ ˈfa:s US ˌvo:lt ˈfa:s] n [C usually singular] formal a change to a completely opposite opinion or plan of action = ↑U turn …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • volte-face — [ ,vɔlt fas ] noun count FORMAL a sudden and complete change of opinion or plan. A more usual word is U turn …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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