hundred and eighty degree turn: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Semi-formal to informal; common in journalism, political commentary, business analysis, and everyday speech.
Quick answer
What does “hundred and eighty degree turn” mean?
A complete reversal in direction.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A complete reversal in direction; turning to face the opposite way.
A metaphorical or literal complete reversal of position, opinion, policy, or strategy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical. In American English, 'hundred eighty' (without 'and') is a possible variant in casual speech, but the full phrase 'hundred and eighty' is standard.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “hundred and eighty degree turn” in a Sentence
[Subject] made/executed/did a hundred and eighty degree turn on [Issue/Topic].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hundred and eighty degree turn” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government has hundred-and-eighty-degree-turned on its environmental policy. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- The CEO hundred-and-eighty-degree-turned the company's direction. (rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- His hundred-and-eighty-degree-turn decision shocked everyone. (attributive use)
American English
- It was a hundred-and-eighty-degree-turn moment for the campaign. (attributive use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe a company suddenly abandoning a long-held strategy.
Academic
Used in history/political science to describe a sudden shift in policy or ideology.
Everyday
Used to describe someone changing their mind completely on a personal issue.
Technical
Used literally in aviation, navigation, and driving to describe a half-circle manoeuvre.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hundred and eighty degree turn”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hundred and eighty degree turn”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hundred and eighty degree turn”
- Using '360-degree turn' to mean a complete reversal (a 360-degree turn brings you back to the original direction).
- Misspelling as '180 degrees turn' (requires a hyphen: '180-degree turn').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. The numeric form ('180-degree') is more common in writing. The spelled-out form is common in speech.
They are synonyms. 'U-turn' is more casual and often used for literal driving. 'Hundred and eighty degree turn' sounds slightly more formal or emphatic, especially in metaphorical use.
Yes, it describes the scale of the change, not its quality (e.g., 'Her hundred and eighty degree turn from a sedentary lifestyle to running marathons was inspiring').
Because a 360-degree turn means a full circle, ending where you started—no change in direction. A 180-degree turn points you in the exact opposite direction.
A complete reversal in direction.
Hundred and eighty degree turn is usually semi-formal to informal; common in journalism, political commentary, business analysis, and everyday speech. in register.
Hundred and eighty degree turn: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhʌndrəd ən ˌeɪti dɪˈɡriː tɜːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhʌndrəd ən ˌeɪti dɪˈɡri tɝːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to do a one-eighty”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a compass needle pointing North. A 'hundred and eighty degree turn' makes it point directly South – the complete opposite.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS OPINION/POLICY (Changing direction = changing stance).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'a hundred and eighty degree turn' metaphorically imply?