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Volte-face for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: vɑlt_'fɑs

What does Volte-face really mean?

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Hey there! I'm super excited to help you understand the word "volte-face." So, let's dive right in and break it down.

Now, "volte-face" is a pretty interesting term that comes from the French language, and it's used to describe a sudden and complete change in opinion, decision, or attitude. Imagine if you were walking in one direction and then suddenly did a quick 180-degree turn to go in the opposite direction! Well, that's kind of what "volte-face" represents, but instead of physically turning around, it refers to a change in someone's thoughts, feelings, or actions.

Let me give you an example so you can understand it better. Imagine you have a friend who absolutely loves chocolate ice cream. They could eat it every day and never get tired of it. But one day, they taste a different flavor, like mint chocolate chip, and suddenly, their whole opinion changes. They no longer love chocolate ice cream like they used to. That's a "volte-face" in their preference. They have made a complete and sudden shift in their taste and decided to go in a totally different direction, preferring mint chocolate chip over their previous favorite, chocolate.

Now, it's important to note that "volte-face" can be used not just for personal preferences, but also in situations like politics, where a politician may change their stance on an issue completely. It's like flipping a switch! Imagine if a politician strongly supported a particular policy for a long time but then suddenly, without any warning, they completely reverse their position on it. That's a "volte-face" too!

To put it simply, "volte-face" means doing a complete U-turn on something. It's all about a sudden and total change in thoughts, actions, or opinions. So, the next time you come across this word, just remember the mental image of doing a quick 180-degree turn, and you'll know what it means!

Revised and Fact checked by Jane Smith on 2023-10-30 00:06:15

Volte-face In a sentece

Learn how to use Volte-face inside a sentece

  • When someone changes their mind about going to the movies and decides to stay home instead, it's like doing a volte-face.
  • Imagine you're walking in one direction, and suddenly you turn around and start going the opposite way. That's doing a volte-face.
  • If you were planning to eat pizza for dinner but then suddenly decide to have pasta instead, that's a kind of volte-face.
  • When a football player quickly changes the direction they are running on the field, it's like making a volte-face.
  • Imagine you were playing a video game and suddenly decide to change your strategy completely. That's similar to doing a volte-face.

Volte-face Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Volte-face Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Volte-face Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.