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Glite Dictionary
⚡ Direct conflict 🏒 Game start
face-off

face-off

8 5.2
A way to start play in ice hockey when a referee drops the puck between two players
  • noun
  • /ˈfeɪsˌɔf/
translation icon : face-off
  • The referee began the game with a face-off at center ice, dropping the puck between the two players.

Examples

  • We're under 20 seconds as both teams head to the center line for a face-off.

    Tooth Fairy (2010)

  • After winning a face-off, Sara Ugalde scored on a rebound after a shot by Molly Downey was saved at the 13:07 mark.

    Blog text (9)

  • There was a face off on the ice.

    God's Army (2000)

  • Here we go for the face-off.

    Goalie (2019)

  • Get your guys to the face-off.

    Miracle (2004)

  • I did make it to the game, and somehow changed all my wheels just in time for the opening face-off.

    Academic text (1999)

  • The players run back to the sidelines to reset for the face-off and gather around the coach.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Off the face-off, it's Plattsburgh with the puck.

    Tooth Fairy (2010)

  • Lauren Greer scored her first of the season 4:34 into the third period, scoring from the face-off circle.

    Blog text (9)

  • After a scoreless second period, the Whale tied the game just 100 seconds into the third period when, off the ensuing face-off after a Sharks penalty for too many men, Chris Kreider lifted a rebound over the blocker of Stalock for his second goal of the season.

    Blog text (25)

Antonyms

to pause
346 1.0

Stop for a short time before continuing

Surface Forms

face-off singular
face-offs plural

Morphology

face-off = face + off (semi-transparent) = face + off

The components 'face' and the particle 'off' are obvious, but the sports-specific ritual (the method of starting play) is a specialized, conventionalized meaning not fully predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Face-off comes from putting two players face to face and then starting play off, like in hockey when the referee drops the puck between them. So a face-off is the moment that 'starts' the game by having opponents meet each other.