make an about-face
田中真紀子大臣の3大学新設における問題からの記事です。世間を騒がせたことについて謝罪したそうです。
ご存じabout-faceは、"a complete change in the way someone thinks or behaves”(LDOCE)という意味でしたね、British Englishではabout-turnとも言います。
ここでは、「手のひらを返すように」廃止の考えを引き下げたという意味合いで用いられて鋳ます。(Minnesota)
Tanaka sorry for university fuss
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Makiko Tanaka apologizes Friday for causing confusion over the establishment of three universities.
Education minister Makiko Tanaka apologized Friday for causing confusion by rejecting last week applications to open three universities next spring despite their approval by an advisory panel, and then making an about-face and retracting the decision.
"I would like to offer a sincere apology," Tanaka said, bowing at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting.
The three universities included the planned Akita Municipal College of Fine Arts in Akita Prefecture.
Tanaka has come under a hail of criticism over the issue, but said she did not intend to resign as education, culture, sports, science and technology minister.
