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French Expressions
| Meaning | to make a U-turn, to do an about-face | |
| Literally | to make / do (a) half turn | |
| Register | normal | |
| Pronunciation |  |
[fehr deu mee toor] [feh roo(n) deu mee toor] |
| IPA | [fɛʀ də mi tuʀ] [fɛ ʀœ̃ də mi tuʀ] |
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Usage notes: The French expression faire demi-tour, meaning "to make a U-turn," can be both literal and figurative. The literal meaning can also be expressed with faire un demi-tour (note the indefinite article).*
Literal: to make a U-turn, turn around and go in the opposite direction
Par exemple…
| Tu viens de dépasser l’allée, il faut faire un demi-tour. | You just passed the driveway, you need to make a U-turn. | |
| On ne peut pas faire un demi-tour ici. | We can’t do a U-turn here. |
Synonyms
- rebrousser chemin
- revenir sur ses pas
Also, to turn something half of one rotation (180 degrees).
Par exemple…
| Fais un demi-tour de vis. | Turn the screw 180 degrees, Give the screw a half turn. | |
| Un demi-tour de clé suffira. | A half turn of the key will suffice. |
Figurative: to make a U-turn, to do an about-face / about-turn
Par exemple…
| Il avait promis de ne pas parler, mais a vite fait demi-tour quand le film a commencé. | He’d promised not to talk but did a quick about-face [started talking] when the movie began. | |
| Elle n’allait pas partir mais quand ses amies ont téléphoné, elle a fait demi-tour. | She wasn’t going to leave but when her friends called, she made a U-turn [changed her mind]. |
Figurative synonyms
- faire une pirouette
- faire un retournement
- faire un revirement
- faire volte-face
* Some sources say that faire un demi-tour is literal while faire demi-tour is figurative, but there are many examples of the latter being used literally as well, not the least of which is on signs for No U-turn: Interdiction de faire demi-tour.
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