Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The opposite direction: used only in the phrase to send or turn to the right-about, to send or turn in the opposite direction; pack off; send or turn off; dismiss.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A turning directly about by the right, so as to face in the opposite direction; also, the quarter directly opposite.
- noun [Colloq.] to cause to turn toward the opposite point or quarter; -- hence, of troops, to cause to turn and retreat.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A 180-degree
turn towards the right (especially of troops)
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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He wrote later, "Just as rapidly as the message had traveled over the cables, I decided on my change of front -- to turn to the right-about, and face to the South."
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Just as rapidly as the message had travelled over the cables I decided on my change of front -- to turn to the right-about, and face to the South.
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This was classic Clinton: smart, high-minded, right-about health care, at least-and somewhat evasive.
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The next time the Parliament met, he called a House of Lords of sixty members, as the petition gave him power to do; but as that Parliament did not please him either, and would not proceed to the business of the country, he jumped into a coach one morning, took six Guards with him, and sent them to the right-about.
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The consternation which ensued on the death of the Rowski, speedily sent all his camp-followers, army, &c. to the right-about.
Burlesques 2006
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I take the rebuke, and turn a soft right-about face, and listen awhile as the service continues.
Roundabout Papers 2006
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The consternation which ensued on the death of the Rowski, speedily sent all his camp-followers, army, &c. to the right-about.
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Fingool MacKishgmard Obesume Burgearse Benefice, He was bowen hem and scrapin him in recolcitrantament to the right-about And these probenopubblicoes clamatising for an extinsion on his hostillery With his chargehand bombing their eres.
Finnegans Wake 2006
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Broussais, and Esquirol, they were sent to the right-about.
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Broussais, and Esquirol, they were sent to the right-about.
Burlesques 2006
qroqqa commented on the word right-about
The child, who was as pretty as a picture, Miss Grantham saw, could not have been more than eighteen or nineteen, and to watch a roué of Filey's years and experience leering down at her made Miss Grantham long to be able to box his ears, and send him to the right-about.
—Georgette Heyer, Faro's Daughter
June 4, 2009