ENGLISH
REFERENCE

face down

idiom
Meaning

To confront; to abash by stern looks.


Examples
SIMPLE

You must face down your fear of public speaking.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager had to face down the angry customer to protect his staff from further abuse.

COMPLEX

Despite the overwhelming pressure from his rivals, he stood his ground and managed to face down every challenge they threw his way.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bash someone's face in

    To beat someone violently.

  2. 02

    blow up in one's face

    To fail disastrously.

  3. 03

    boat

    [Cockney slang]face

  4. 04

    break someone's face

    To beat up someone violently.

  5. 05

    butter face

    Alternative form of butterface.

  6. 06

    close the face

    To turn the face of the bat inwards, in order to hit the ball to the leg side.

  7. 07

    cut off one's nose to spite one's face

    To harm oneself as a result of attempting to harm an adversary.

  8. 08

    face like the back end of a bus

    A very ugly face.

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