heel turn

[ heel turn ]

noun

1. Professional Wrestling. a dramatic change of persona from a heroic face character to a villainous heel character. heel ³( def 2 ), face ( def 19 ).
2. a reversal of position or direction, especially a change in character or affiliation perceived as abandoning a righteous or heroic course in pursuit of an unscrupulous or villainous one:

   The governor’s heel turn on healthcare will harm his constituents while lining his re-election coffers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of heel turn¹

First recorded in 1895–1900 as a maneuver in skating; 1990–95 heel turn fordef 1 and 2010–15 heel turn fordef 2

Example Sentences

The LP turns out to be something of a heel turn; it’s got a proudly villainous energy as Swift embraces her messiest and most chaotic tendencies.

From Los Angeles Times

In professional wrestling, they call this sort of manufactured misbehavior a heel turn.

From New York Times

For some, his divorce and remarriage represented a heel turn.

From New York Times

And with rumors of a Stratus heel turn, that could be the way to do it.

From Los Angeles Times

Riesman spoke to The Times about McMahon’s self-invention, the WWE’s heel turn and the role it might play in Trump-era threats to American democracy, in an interview edited for length and clarity.

From Los Angeles Times