A rhetorical device in which words, clauses, or concepts are repeated in reverse order to create a balanced, mirror-like effect in a phrase or sentence.
From Greek 'anti-' (against, opposite) and 'metabole' (exchange, turning). The term comes from classical rhetoric and describes a specific technique used by ancient Greek and Roman orators for emphasis and elegance.
John F. Kennedy's famous 'Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country' is a perfect antimetabole, using this 2,000-year-old rhetorical trick to make his words unforgettable.
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