# give face

idiom

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

## Meaning

To honor; to pay respect.

## Examples

- I attended the party to give face to my host.
- Even though he was tired, he showed up to the dinner to give face to his business partner.
- By attending the ceremony despite his personal reservations, the diplomat sought to give face to the visiting delegation and maintain international goodwill.

## Origin

The phrase is formed from the verb *give* and the noun *face*. It is a construction analogous to *give head*.

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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.