14 PHRASE If an action or belief flies in the face of accepted ideas or rules, it seems to completely oppose or contradict them. □ …scientific principles that seem to fly in the face of common sense.
15 PHRASE If you take a particular action or attitude in the face of a problem or difficulty, you respond to that problem or difficulty in that way. □ The Prime Minister has called for national unity in the face of the violent anti-government protests.
16 PHRASE If you have a long face , you look very unhappy or serious. □ He came to me with a very long face.
17 PHRASE If you make a face , you show a feeling such as dislike or disgust by putting an exaggerated expression on your face, for example by sticking out your tongue. In British English, you can also say pull a face . □ [+ at ] Opening the door, she made a face at the musty smell. □ [+ at ] Kathryn pulled a face at Thomas behind his back.
18 PHRASE You say on the face of it when you are describing how something seems when it is first considered, in order to suggest that people's opinion may change when they know or think more about the subject. □ It is, on the face of it, a difficult point to grasp.
19 PHRASE If you put a brave face on a bad situation or put on a brave face , you try not to show how disappointed or upset you are about the situation. In American English you can also say put on a good face . □ Friends will see you are putting on a brave face and might assume you've got over your grief. □ Scientists are putting a good face on the troubles.
20 PHRASE You can say that someone has set their face against something to indicate that they are opposed to it, especially when you want to suggest that they are wrong. [mainly BRIT ] □ This Government has set its face against putting up income tax.
21 PHRASE If you show your face somewhere, you go there and see people, although you are not welcome, are rather unwilling to go, or have not been there for some time. □ I felt I ought to show my face at her father's funeral.
22 PHRASE If you manage to keep a straight face , you manage to look serious, although you want to laugh. □ What went through Tom's mind I can't imagine, but he did manage to keep a straight face. □ You have to wonder how anyone could say that seriously and with a straight face.
23 PHRASE If you say something to someone's face , you say it openly in their presence. □ Her opponent called her a liar to her face.
24 PHRASE If a feeling is written all over your face or is written across your face , it is very obvious to other people from your expression. □ Relief and gratitude were written all over his face. □ I could just see the pain written across her face.
25 to shut the door in someone's face → see door
26 to have egg on your face → see egg
27 to cut off your nose to spite your face → see nose
28 a slap in the face → see slap
➋ face ◆◆◆ /fe I s/ (faces , facing , faced )
→ Please look at category 8 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If someone or something faces a particular thing, person, or direction, they are positioned opposite them or are looking in that direction. □ [V n] They stood facing each other. □ [V adv/prep] The garden faces south.
2 VERB If you face someone or something, you turn so that you are looking at them. □ [V n] She stood up from the table and faced him. □ [V n] Stand up. Face the wall.
3 VERB If you have to face a person or group, you have to stand or sit in front of them and talk to them, although it may be difficult and unpleasant. □ [V n] Christie looked relaxed and calm as he faced the press.
4 VERB If you face or are faced with something difficult or unpleasant, or if it faces you, it is going to affect you and you have to deal with it. □ [V n] Williams faces life in prison if convicted of attempted murder. □ [be V -ed + with ] We are faced with a serious problem.
5 VERB If you face the truth or face the facts, you accept that something is true. If you face someone with the truth or with the facts, you try to make them accept that something is true. □ [V n] Although your heart is breaking, you must face the truth that a relationship has ended. □ [V n] He accused the Government of refusing to face facts about the economy. □ [V n + with ] He called a family conference and faced them with the problems. ● PHRASAL VERB Face up to means the same as face 5 . □ [V P P n] I have grown up now and I have to face up to my responsibilities.
6 VERB [with neg] If you cannot face something, you do not feel able to do it because it seems so difficult or unpleasant. □ [V n] My children want me with them for Christmas Day, but I can't face it. □ [V v-ing] I couldn't face seeing anyone.
7 PHRASE You use the expression ' let's face it ' when you are stating a fact or making a comment about something which you think the person you are talking to may find unpleasant or be unwilling to admit. □ She was always attracted to younger men. But, let's face it, who is not?
8 face the music → see music
▸ face down PHRASAL VERB If you face someone down , you oppose them or defeat them by being confident and looking at them boldly. [mainly AM ] □ [V n P ] He's confronted crowds before and faced them down. [Also V P n]
▸ face up to → see face ➋ 5