Flashcards based on "Idioms with Face" set
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[face-to-face] {adv. phr.}
1. With your face looking toward the face of another person; each facing the other.
Turning a corner, he found himself face-to-face with a policeman.
The two teams for the spelling bee stood face-to-face on opposite sides of the classroom.
The church and the school stand face-to-face across the street.
2. In the presence of another or others.
She was thrilled to meet the President face-to-face.
I have heard about him, but I never met him face-to-face.
Compare: [IN PERSON].
3. To the point where you must do something. — Used with "with".
The solution of the first problem brought him face-to-face with a second problem.
Compare: [UP AGAINST].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 35
[in one's face] {adv. phr.}
1. Against your face.
The trick cigar blew up in the clown's face.
A cold wind was in our faces as we walked to school.
2. In front of you.
The maid slammed the door in the salesman's face.
I told the boys that they were wrong, but they laughed in my face.
Compare:
[IN THE FACE OF],
[THROW SOMETHING IN ONE'S FACE],
[TO ONE'S FACE],
[UNDER ONE'S NOSE].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 35
[in the face of] {adv. phr.}
1. When met or in the presence of; threatened by.
He was brave in the face of danger.
She began to cry in the face of failure.
2. Although opposed by; without being stopped by.
Talking continued even in the face of the teacher's command to stop.
Syn.: [IN SPITE OF].
Compare: [FLY IN THE FACE OF], [IN ONE'S FACE].
3. See: [FLY IN THE FACE OF].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 35
[face up to] {v. phr.}
1. To bravely confront a person or a challenge; admit.
Jack doesn't want to face up to the fact that Helen doesn't love him anymore.
Jane cannot face up to her mother-in-law who always wins every argument they have.
2. To confess something to someone; confess to having done something.
Jim had to face up to having stolen a sweater from the department store.
Contrast: [FACE DOWN].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 35
[save face] {v. phr.}
To save your good reputation, popularity, or dignity when something has happened or may happen to hurt you; hide something that may cause you shame.
The policeman was caught accepting a bribe; he tried to save face by claiming it was money owed to him.
Bill would not play in the game because he knew he could not do well and he wanted to save face.
The colonel who lost the battle saved face by showing his orders from the general.
Contrast: [LOSE FACE].
- [face-saver] {n.}
The shop teacher's note was a face-saver when another teacher thought John and Bill were playing hookey in town.
- [face-saving] {adj.}
The note was a face-saving idea.
- [face-saving] {n.}
Face-saving is not helped by too many invented excuses.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 35
[make a face] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To twist your face; make an ugly expression on your face (as by sticking out your tongue).
The boy made a face at his teacher when she turned her back.
The sick boy swallowed the medicine and made a face.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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[stare in the face] {n. phr.}
1. To be about to meet or to happen to (you.)
Grandmother became very sick and death was staring her in the face.
Defeat stared them in the face, but the soldiers fought on bravely.
2. To be easy to see; be plain.
Are you looking for your pencil? It's on your desk, staring you in the face.
Their friends all knew that Mary loved John, but John did not see it even though it was staring him in the face.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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[face down] {v. phr.}
To get the upper hand over someone by behaving forcefully; disconcert someone by the displaying of great self-assurance.
The night guard faced down the burglar by staring him squarely in the face.
Contrast: [FACE UP].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
15 of 35
[in the face]
See:
[BLUE IN THE FACE],
[LOOK IN THE EYE] or [LOOK IN THE FACE],
[SLAP IN THE FACE],
[STARE IN THE FACE].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
16 of 35
[show one's face] {v. phr.}
To be seen; appear.
Bill is afraid to show his face since Tom threatened to beat him up.
Judy is a wonderful mimic but she is too shy to show her face on stage.
After cheating on the test, Chris was ashamed to show his face.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
17 of 35
[straight face] {n.}
A face that is not laughing or smiling.
Mary told all the funny stories she knew to try to make Joan laugh, but Joan kept a straight face.
It is hard to tell when Jim is teasing you. He can tell a fib with a straight face.
When Bob fell into the water, he looked funny and I could hardly keep a straight face.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
18 of 35
[face the music] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To go through trouble or danger, especially because of something you did; accept your punishment.
The boy was caught cheating in an examination and had to face the music.
The official who had been taking bribes was exposed by a newspaper, and had to face the music.
George knew his mother would cry when he told her, but he decided to go home and face the music.
Compare:
[MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT],
[PAY THE PIPER],
[TAKE ONE'S MEDICINE].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
19 of 35
[face lift] {n. phr.}
1. A surgical procedure designed to make one's face look younger.
Aunt Jane, who is in her seventies, had an expensive face lift and now she looks as if she were 40.
2. A renovation, a refurbishing.
Our house needs a major face lift to make it fit in with the rest of the neighborhood.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
20 of 35
[at face value] {prep. phr.}
What one can actually hear, read, or see; literally.
John is so honest that you can take his words at face value.
This store's advertisements are honest; take them at face value.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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[lose face] {v.}
To be embarrassed or shamed by an error or failure; lose dignity, influence or reputation; lose self-respect or the confidence of others.
Many Japanese soldiers were killed in World War II because they believed that to give up or retreat would make them lose face.
John's careless work made him lose face with his employer.
The banker lost face when people found out he bet on horse races.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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[slap in the face] (1) {n.}
An insult; a disappointment.
We felt that it was a slap in the face when our gift was returned unopened.
Doris thought it was a slap in the face when her boyfriend invited another girl to the dance.
Compare: [KICK IN THE PANTS].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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[face value] {n.}
1. The worth or price printed on a stamp, bond, note, piece of paper money, etc.
The savings bond had a face value of $25.
2. The seeming worth or truth of something.
She took his stories at face value and did not know he was joking.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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[fly in the face of] or [fly in the teeth of] {v. phr.}
To ignore; go against; show disrespect or disregard for.
You can't fly in the face of good business rules and expect to he successful.
Floyd's friends tried to help him, but he flew in the teeth of their advice and soon became a drunkard.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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[hide one's face] or [hide one's head] {v. phr.}
1. To lower your head or turn your face away because of shame or embarrassment.
The teacher found out that Tom had cheated, and Tom hid his head.
When Bob said how pretty Mary was, she blushed and hid her face.
2. To feel embarrassed or ashamed.
We will beat the other team so badly that they will hide their heads in shame.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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[blue in the face] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Very angry or upset; excited and very emotional.
Tom argued with Bill until he was blue in the face.
Mary scolded Jane until she was blue in the face, but Jane kept on using Mary's paints.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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[throw something in one's face] or [throw something in one's teeth] {v. phr.}
To blame a person for (something wrong); not allow someone to forget (a mistake or failure). — Often used with "back".
Bob came home late for dinner last week, and his mother keeps throwing it back in his face.
I made a mistake in the ball game and the boys keep throwing it back in my teeth.
Compare: [IN ONE'S FACE].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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[cut off one's nose to spite one's face] {v. phr.}
To suffer from an action intended originally to harm another person.
In walking out and leaving his employer in the lurch, John really cut off his nose to spite his face, since no business wanted to hire him afterwards.
A Dictionary of American Idioms