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About-face
الإستدارة 180 درجة (al-istidāra 180 darajah) is a compound phrase meaning a complete reversal or about-face, literally referring to a 180-degree turn. It is used both literally to describe physical rotation and metaphorically to express a dramatic change in position, opinion, or direction. This phrase emphasizes total opposition or complete reversal from the original state.
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قام الحزب السياسي بإستدارة 180 درجة في موقفه من القضية.
Qāma al-hizb al-siyāsī bi-istidārat 180 darajah fī mawqifih min al-qadiyyah.
The political party made a complete about-face in its stance on the issue.
تغيرت آراء الشركة إستدارة 180 درجة بعد الفضيحة.
Taghayyarat ārā' al-sharikah istidārat 180 darajah ba'da al-faḍīḥah.
The company's opinions shifted 180 degrees after the scandal.
في الاجتماع، قال مديرنا أننا نحتاج إلى استدارة 180 درجة في استراتيجيتنا.
Fī al-ijtimā', qāla mudīrunā annana naḥtāj ilā istidārat 180 darajah fī istirātījiyyatinā.
In the meeting, our director said we need a complete turnaround in our strategy.
حدثت استدارة 180 درجة في سياسة البلد الخارجية.
Ḥadathat istidārat 180 darajah fī siyāsat al-balad al-khārijiyyah.
There was a complete reversal in the country's foreign policy.
كان عليه أن يجري استدارة 180 درجة في حياته الشخصية.
Kāna 'alayh an yujrī istidārat 180 darajah fī ḥayātih al-shakhṣiyyah.
He had to make a complete turnaround in his personal life.
This phrase has become increasingly common in modern Arabic media and business discussions, particularly in the context of political shifts and corporate strategy changes. It reflects the influence of Western numerical and geometric terminology in contemporary Arabic, while maintaining a distinctly Arabic grammatical structure. The phrase is widely used across Arabic-speaking regions in journalism, politics, and business contexts to describe dramatic policy reversals and strategic pivots.
This phrase is used metaphorically far more often than literally in modern Arabic. Remember that it functions as a compound noun phrase, so the entire expression acts as the object of the sentence. When discussing political or business contexts, this phrase carries strong implications of dramatic, unexpected change rather than gradual transition. Native speakers often use it to emphasize the severity and completeness of a reversal.
الإستدارة 180 درجة (al-istidāra 180 darajah) is a compound phrase combining the Arabic word استدارة (istidāra), meaning rotation or turning, with the numerical value 180 درجة (180 darajah, degrees). Literally, it refers to a 180-degree rotation, which would position someone or something in the exact opposite direction from where they started. In geometric terms, a 180-degree turn represents the most extreme form of directional change possible.
In contemporary Arabic, this phrase is predominantly used metaphorically to describe dramatic, complete reversals in policy, opinion, or direction. It has become a staple expression in political discourse, business communication, and journalistic reporting across Arabic-speaking regions. When a government changes its foreign policy dramatically, when a company reverses its strategic direction entirely, or when a public figure contradicts their previous statements completely, Arabic speakers will often describe this situation as استدارة 180 درجة.
The phrase carries strong connotations of surprise and significance. It is not used for gradual transitions or minor adjustments; instead, it emphasizes the totality and unexpectedness of the reversal. This makes it particularly useful in political commentary and business analysis, where dramatic shifts often dominate headlines.
الإستدارة 180 درجة functions as a noun phrase in Arabic sentences. The word استدارة is a feminine noun (derived from the root د-و-ر, meaning to rotate or circle), and when used with the definite article ال, it becomes الاستدارة. The phrase typically appears as the object of a verb, such as إجراء (ijrā', to conduct), حدثت (ḥadathat, occurred), or نحتاج إلى (naḥtāj ilā, we need).
In political discussions, you might hear phrases like "استدارة 180 درجة في السياسة الخارجية" (a complete reversal in foreign policy). In business contexts, companies might announce "استدارة 180 درجة في استراتيجيتنا" (a 180-degree turn in our strategy). The phrase is flexible enough to be used with any field or domain that experiences sudden, complete reversals.
While استدارة 180 درجة is the most precise and emphatic way to express a complete reversal, related phrases include تغيير جذري (radical change), انقلاب (reversal), and تحول (transformation). However, these alternatives lack the mathematical precision and dramatic emphasis that the numerical phrase provides.
The use of numerical measurements in Arabic dates back centuries, but the adoption of the specific phrase "180 degrees" reflects modern, globalized communication. The phrase demonstrates how modern Arabic incorporates scientific terminology while maintaining traditional Arabic grammatical structures. This is part of a broader pattern in contemporary Arabic, where English and international terminology blend seamlessly with classical Arabic syntax.
When studying this phrase, remember that it is almost always used metaphorically in modern Arabic rather than literally. Pay attention to the context in which it appears—it typically describes unexpected, dramatic changes rather than planned, gradual transitions. Understanding the emotional and cultural weight of the phrase will help you use it appropriately and recognize it when native speakers employ it in conversation or writing.