# front out

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/front-out
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to face a difficult or embarrassing situation with confidence, even if you feel nervous or guilty inside. You act as if nothing is wrong so that other people do not see your weakness.

For teachers: to confront a challenging, awkward, or accusatory situation by maintaining a confident or defiant exterior. This phrasal verb implies a degree of performance or bluffing to mask underlying vulnerability or culpability.

## Examples

- He decided to front out the rumors by going to the party.
- When the manager questioned her about the missing files, she managed to front it out and act completely surprised.
- Rather than offering a humble apology for the public relations disaster, the CEO chose to front out the criticism during the televised interview.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He fronted out of the problem." but "He fronted out the problem." — The phrase does not take the preposition 'of'; it is a transitive phrasal verb where the object follows 'out'.

## Usage notes

- Often used with 'it' as a dummy object ('front it out') or with a specific situation as the object.
- Teaching tip: This is a great example of a 'face-saving' expression; compare it to 'brazen it out' or 'put on a brave face', noting that 'front out' feels more modern and slightly more aggressive.

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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.