to reverse course
12
5.5
- phrasal verb
- /rɪˈvɜrs kɔrs/
:
dar marcha atrás
- The committee decided to reverse course after realizing their initial plan was not feasible.
- the Court reversed course
And he said we must reverse course and we must.
- And he said we must reverse course and we must.
- That's ultimately going to cause the Fed to reverse course and start easing again.
- One, after Lehman failed, the next day they reversed course and said they had to bail out AIG.
- What about if the pandemic reversed course?
- There's not a shred of decency to to reverse course.
Examples
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So far, colleges don't appear to be trying to reverse course.
Academic text (2016) -
I agree there will be chances yet to come to reverse course, but near-permanent damage is being done.
Blog text (2) -
And he said we must reverse course and we must.
-
Captain Archer, you must reverse course immediately.
-
Reverse course immediately, or we will begin to fire.
-
But then, in early 2010, as many in Beijing saw it, Washington appeared to reverse course.
Academic text (2011) -
Unless American voters and the politicians they elect reverse course, our future will be one of stagnation.
Blog text (6) -
That's ultimately going to cause the Fed to reverse course and start easing again.
-
Nevertheless, the time has come for U.S. policymakers to begin considering reversing course.
Academic text (2010) -
While initially calling these rate hikes premature, Governor Davis reversed course and came up with his own plan to raise rates nine days later.
Academic text (2001)
Synonyms
159
2.1
To go back to a previous place or state
42
4.3
To go back along the same route you have just taken
41
3.7
Turn a ship to a new direction to avoid danger
8
7.3
Change a plan or policy quickly to follow a different idea
4
6.8
To completely change your opinion or decision
3
6.6
To suddenly change your opinion or plan to the opposite
1
5.1
To try a different way to deal with a problem
1
7.9
To change an earlier decision or statement because of pressure
Change a plan or decision so the opposite happens
Take back a promise or support you gave
Antonyms
How Complete
12
5.5
42
4.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and predictably built from 'reverse' (to change to the opposite) + 'course' (route or direction), so a learner who knows both words will readily interpret it as changing direction, decision, or strategy. The metaphorical extension from physical route to a course of action is common and follows regular English composition patterns, making the construction transparent to B1 learners.
Etymology
The phrase reverse course comes from a simple image: reverse means to turn back and a course is the direction you are following, like a ship or car turning to go the other way. So, it now means 'to change direction, plan, or decision'.