right about, n., adv. (and a.)
Also right-about, rightabout.
[f. right n.1 17 a + about adv. 6; orig. as two separate words.]
A. n.
1. a. Mil. In phr. to the right about, a command to turn towards the right so far as to face the opposite way (now simply right about). Hence with vbs., as go, face, etc. (Cf. face v. 9 b.)
| 1700 Farquhar Constant Couple i. ii, To the right about as you were; march, colonel! 1749 Fielding Tom Jones viii. ix, To give it you in the military phrase then,..as we are soldiers; To the right about. Let us return the way we came. 1766 in W. Smith Bouquet's Exped. (1868) 132 The rear goes to the right about. 1844 Regul. & Ord. Army 31 When General Officers..pass in the rear of a Guard, the Officer is..not to face his Guard to the right-about. 1889 Infantry Drill 11 When the soldier has previously turned about, he will always front by the right about. |
b. In general use.
| 1773 Goldsm. Stoops to Conq. i. ii, You are to turn..to the left, and then to the right about again. 1775 J. Jekyll Corr. (1894) 12 After [dessert]..all rise, turn to the rightabout and..then return to the drawing-room. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth viii, The strong inclination which prompted him to wheel Jezabel to the right about. 1883 E. Pennell-Elmhirst Cream Leicestersh. 376 Their fox took the opportunity to swing to the rightabout. |
| fig. 1828 Moir Mansie Wauch xxii, Whenever I chose, I could make them wheel to the right about. |
c. With
the omitted.
rare.
| 1778 Tickell & Sheridan Camp ii. iii, I wish I was ordered to right about. |
2. In
phr. to send to the right about:
a. To cause (troops) to turn and retreat or flee.
| 1814 Scott Wav. xxxv, Six grenadiers of Ligonier's..would have sent all these fellows to the right about. 1860 Russell Diary India II. i, This, and the sight of the Carabineers bearing down on them, rapidly sent the sowars flying to the right-about. |
b. To send packing; to dismiss or turn away unceremoniously. (Also with
turn.)
| 1831 Lytton Eugene Aram i. ii, Send verses to the right⁓about. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis lv[i], Mamma comes and turns Fanny to the right-about. 1861 Mrs. H. Wood East Lynne (1888) 326 One of the members was unseated with ignominy and sent to the right-about. |
3. A change of mind; the adoption of an opinion or policy contrary to that previously held.
| 1936 O. Nash in Bad Parents' Garden of Verse 59 You ask, and properly ask, no doubt, Whence this astonishing right-about? 1956 Sun (Baltimore) 28 Sept. 12/2 The resolution completes the policy rightabout which the American comrades..began after Khruschev denounced Stalin and Stalinism. |
B. 1. adv. a. = A. 1; usually as a command with additional word, as
wheel,
face,
turn.
| 1796 Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813) 222 Right about wheel! 1833 Reg. & Instr. Cavalry i. 13 Right about, face—1st. Place the ball of the right foot against the left heel... 2nd. Raise the toes, and turn to the right about on both heels. 1840 Hood Up Rhine 205 She..wheeled right-about with the alacrity of a Prussian soldier,..and was soon out of sight. 1889 Infantry Drill 10 Right about—Turn. |
b. Hence
right about face as a compound
vb. or
adv.| 1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleom. 26 Southey, who once wrote for freedom—egad, True turn-coat, can right about face, pliant lad. 1840 Thackeray Catherine i, Show those fellows, Corporal, how to rightabout face. a 1894 Stevenson St. Ives 309 She had whipped right-about face and was gazing towards the kitchen garden. |
2. attrib. or as adj. with
face or
turn. Also in
fig. use, denoting a complete change of front; an entire reversal of principles or policy.
| 1862 Thackeray Wks. (1872) X. 154, I take the rebuke, and turn a soft right-about face. 1891 Daily News 3 Feb. 3/4 Will any body deny the Tory right-about-face? 1897 Westm. Gaz. 22 Apr. 4/2 If the words were actually used they are intended to prepare the European mind for a right about turn as shameless as it is incredible. |