“Volte-face” is translated directly from French as “about face” but the French borrowed it from the Italian “voltafaccia,” with the same meaning. Both Romance languages trace back to Latin roots, with “volvere” meaning “to roll” and “facies” meaning “appearance or face.” While “volta-face” can be used for a physical about face, such as stopping abruptly and turning in the opposite direction, it’s more often applied in a metaphorical sense now. For example, someone might make a volta-face on an opinion when they find out new information that changes their mind.