# game face

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/game-face
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The expression of one who is prepared for or is facing a lot of difficult and/or undesirable work, especially when it is imminent.

## Examples

- Put on your game face before the big exam starts.
- She took a deep breath and put on her game face before entering the difficult meeting with her boss.
- Facing a mountain of overdue paperwork and a looming deadline, he steeled his nerves and put on his game face to finish the task.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.