Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A turn, as by a vehicle, completely reversing the direction of travel.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun literally A turn in a vehicle carried out by driving in a semicircle in order to travel in the opposite direction.
  • noun figuratively A reversal of policy; a volte-face, a backflip

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun complete reversal of direction of travel

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

U + turn, from the similarity to the shape of the letter U.

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Examples

  • I don't think we can dignify today's announcement with the word U-turn.

    BBC News - Home 2011

  • A pragmatic reassessment of tax and spending policy in the light of changed circumstances aka a U-turn would be sensible but politically explosive.

    Fiscal U-turn would be a tricky manoeuvre 2011

  • A pragmatic reassessment of tax and spending policy in the light of changed circumstances aka a U-turn would be sensible but politically explosive.

    Fiscal U-turn would be a tricky manoeuvre 2011

  • The U-turn angered many of her own conservative colleagues in the Christian Democratic Union, or CDU, as well as Germany's energy companies.

    The Politics of Pragmatism Patrick McGroarty 2011

  • Most analysts described Ms. Merkel's U-turn on nuclear energy as a mistake after it failed to save her party from defeat in Baden-Württemberg.

    The Politics of Pragmatism Patrick McGroarty 2011

  • Erin Joynt, 33, was sunbathing when a beach patrol pickup truck veered out of the designated vehicle lane and struck her in the head and back while making a U-turn.

    Mom Survives Horrific Beach Accident Jessica Samakow 2011

  • The opposition said the move represented a U-turn and was in effect a revised version of Labour's future jobs fund, cancelled by the coalition government when it came to office.

    Nick Clegg announces £1bn fund to tackle youth unemployment 2011

  • Most analysts described Ms. Merkel's U-turn on nuclear energy as a mistake after it failed to save her party from defeat in Baden-Württemberg.

    The Politics of Pragmatism Patrick McGroarty 2011

  • In yet another U-turn by France, Sarkozy said there was no case for pooling eurozone debt and issuing collective debt instruments known as eurobonds – a German red line.

    Eurozone warned of credit downgrades after Germany and France strike deal 2011

  • The U-turn angered many of her own conservative colleagues in the Christian Democratic Union, or CDU, as well as Germany's energy companies.

    The Politics of Pragmatism Patrick McGroarty 2011

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