a swift about face

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a swift about face" is not correct in standard English; it should be "a swift about-face." You can use it to describe a quick change in direction or opinion, often in a surprising or dramatic manner.
Example: "The company's decision to abandon the project was a swift about-face from their previous commitment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The decision, abruptly announced in the middle of an interview late Thursday by Barry C. Melancon, the president and chief executive of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, was a swift about-face.

The New York Times

Glorious Mission, then, is a swift about-face for the Chinese military as well as a sign that China isn't just censoring the internet, banning search terms and deleting posts which it does routinely, but also now trying to harness its power.

BBC

It was a major about-face.

The New Yorker

When Waks was 12 years old and questioned a teacher about whether the Rebbe was really infallible, he received a swift slap in the face.

The Guardian

It was an astonishing about-face.

Independent

The admission was an abrupt about-face.

The New York Times

"I'll get it, Mama," Ogechi said, getting up, but a swift slap to her face sat her back down.

The New Yorker

But this is 2016, so instead of a swift P45 to the face they were encouraged to carry on filming.

The Guardian

Last year, having proposed some mild bank reforms, Mr Takenaka had to beat a swift retreat in the face of Mr Aizawa's opposition.

The Economist

How It Should Happen: Ron Swanson is right: "He looks like he could use a swift punch in the face".

Huffington Post

But he had an about-face.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct form "a swift about-face" with the hyphen. This clarifies that "about-face" is a single compound noun describing a complete reversal.

Common error

Avoid writing "a swift about face". The hyphen in "about-face" is crucial for indicating that it is a single compound noun, not simply three separate words.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a swift about face" (more correctly, "a swift about-face") functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It describes an action or decision. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is not correct without the hyphen.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a swift about face" is grammatically incorrect and should be written as "a swift about-face". As flagged by Ludwig AI, the correct form includes a hyphen, indicating that "about-face" is a compound noun. This phrase describes a sudden and complete change of direction, opinion, or policy. Although examples are missing, alternatives such as "a sudden reversal" or "an abrupt turnaround" can be used to convey a similar meaning. Remember to always use the hyphenated form for grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sudden reversal

Emphasizes the abrupt nature of the change.

an abrupt turnaround

Focuses on the change in direction or situation.

a quick change of heart

Highlights a change in sentiment or attitude.

a rapid volte-face

Uses a more formal term for a complete reversal.

a dramatic shift

Underlines the significant impact of the change.

a complete U-turn

Uses a more figurative term for a complete reversal of direction.

a policy reversal

Specific to changes in policy.

a flip-flop

Implies inconsistency or a lack of conviction.

doing a 180

Uses a numerical term for a complete reversal of direction.

changing tack

Emphasizes adapting a new strategy

FAQs

What is the correct way to write "a swift about face"?

The correct form is "a swift about-face". The hyphen is necessary to indicate that "about-face" is a compound noun.

What does "a swift about-face" mean?

It means a sudden and complete change of direction, opinion, or policy.

Can I use "a sudden reversal" instead of "a swift about-face"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "a sudden reversal", "an abrupt turnaround", or "a quick change of heart" depending on the specific context.

Is "about face" ever correct without the hyphen?

Yes, "about face" without a hyphen is correct as a military command to turn around. However, when referring to a change of opinion or policy, it should be written as "about-face".