You did an about-face and bought an Apple?
(趣旨替えしてマックを買ったの?)
ECC英会話podcasting にて紹介されていた表現。winユーザーだった友人がmacを購入したのを知っての一言。
- "about-face" は、軍隊での「まわれ右」の号令だそうで、そこから "do an about-face" で、意見や立場を180度かえること(a sudden and complete change of someone's ideas, plans, or actions)を意味するようになったとか。
- He threatened to stop helping us, but did a complete about-face.
- Both papers did an about-face and published a condemnation of his actions. ※condemnation/激しい非難
- Have you done an about face as far as your eating habits are concerned?
- "do a flip-flop" "do a one-eighty" も同じ意味で使える。
- We expected Dad to do a flip-flop concerning our vacation plans
- They had relied on Jim to vote for Harry, but he did a one-eighty and cast his vote for the incumbent. ※incumbent/現職者
- 意見や立場だけでなく、文字通り「踵を返す」という意味でも使える。
- If you ever discover that you are walking down a dangerous street, it is best to do an about face and walk in the other direction.
- I want you to do an about face, get back in that bathroom, and brush your teeth!