ENGLISH
REFERENCE

in your face

idiom
Meaning

A derisive and contemptuous exclamation of triumph over one's interlocutor.


Examples
SIMPLE

He won the game and shouted, "In your face!"

CONTEXTUAL

After she finally beat her rival in the final round, she could not resist shouting, "In your face!" to celebrate her victory.

COMPLEX

The athlete displayed a lack of sportsmanship when he stood over his defeated opponent and delivered a mocking, "In your face!" to the crowd.

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 down

    To confront; to abash by stern looks.

Last updated April 17, 2026