Faire demi-tour ~ Faire un demi-tour ~ Lawless French Expression


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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]

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.