Idioms containing FACE
TOP words in categories
BLUE IN THE FACE
wasting your efforts because you will get no results
1. You can tell her to clean her room until you are blue in the face, but she won't do it.
2. Even though he was blue in the face, he continued to advocate for change.
2. Even though he was blue in the face, he continued to advocate for change.
CUT OFF (ONE'S) NOSE TO SPITE (ONE'S) FACE
to injure oneself in the process of seeking revenge or attempting to punish someone
1. Sally was offended when she did not immediately receive an invitation to the party. When she got hers the next week, she refused to attend even though she really wanted to. She cut off her nose to spite her face.
2. When Philip looked at the first question on the test and knew he could not answer it, he became frustrated and refused to go on to the next question. He failed the test when he might have passed. He cut off his nose to spite his face.
2. When Philip looked at the first question on the test and knew he could not answer it, he became frustrated and refused to go on to the next question. He failed the test when he might have passed. He cut off his nose to spite his face.
DO AN ABOUT-FACE
to change one’s behavior or mind abruptly and (often) apparently without reason
1. Yesterday, the boss said none of us could take our vacations in June. Then this morning, he did an about-face and said we could.
2. At first Ron’s parents wouldn’t let him have a car, but when they realized how much they would have to drive him around, they did an about-face.
2. At first Ron’s parents wouldn’t let him have a car, but when they realized how much they would have to drive him around, they did an about-face.
EGG ON (ONE'S) FACE, HAVE
to be or appear to be embarrassed
1. I can tell by the way you look that you’ve been caught doing something naughty. You have egg on your face.
2. Andy sure had egg on his face when he realized he had made a fool of himself at the party.
2. Andy sure had egg on his face when he realized he had made a fool of himself at the party.
FACE THE MUSIC
to confront a difficult or unpleasant situation; to accept the unpleasant consequences of one’s own actions
1. Jessica’s parents have always made excuses for her bad behavior, but this time they told her they were not going to protect her, and that it was time she faced the music
2. Paul took his parents’ car without permission and put a big dent in it. He knew they would find out, so he decided he’d better face the music and tell the truth right away.
2. Paul took his parents’ car without permission and put a big dent in it. He knew they would find out, so he decided he’d better face the music and tell the truth right away.
FLY IN THE FACE OF (SMTH.)
to go against smth.; to show disrespect for smth. or someone
1. John has decided not to go to college. It’s a bad decision on his part. It flies in the face of all common sense.
2. If you marry someone your parents disapprove of so much, it will fly in the face of everything they want for you.
2. If you marry someone your parents disapprove of so much, it will fly in the face of everything they want for you.
POKER FACE
an expressionless face; a face that reveals nothing of one’s feelings or thoughts
1. Kay isn’t very good at hiding her feelings. She just doesn’t have a poker face.
2. The businessman kept a poker face while he carried out the negotiations. He didn’t want to let anyone know how pleased he was with the deal.
2. The businessman kept a poker face while he carried out the negotiations. He didn’t want to let anyone know how pleased he was with the deal.
SAVE/LOSE FACE
to maintain/not maintain a degree of pride in a shameful situation
1. The father lost face when his son was expelled from school. It was a poor reflection on the man’s ability to influence and control his family.
2. I knew that what I had done was wrong, but when I was discovered, I pretended that I hadn’t known it was wrong. That way I was able to save face.
2. I knew that what I had done was wrong, but when I was discovered, I pretended that I hadn’t known it was wrong. That way I was able to save face.
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