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face

face

389 8.6
Bold behaviour that shows no shame
  • noun
  • /feɪs/
translation icon : descaro
  • You showed courage in the face ofthe enemy, my son.

And they are bald face evil liars.

Examples

  • This song is a slap in the face to everybody.

  • Your creation was nothing but a slap in our face.

  • It's like punching people in the face with words.

  • The town court was unable to prosecute any of them in the face of military opposition.

    Academic text (2011)
  • It was sort of a slap in the face, right?

  • Like we do that in the face of people's worst stressors.

  • Why, it would fly directly in the face of the basic underpinnings of capitalism.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Many will describe their courage in the face of external pressures and challenges to their collections.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Her face was full of face when she boldly challenged the rules without any hesitation.

  • He had the face to argue with his boss about the new policies, showing an incredible lack of respect.

Synonyms

nerve
vsface
153 6.2

Rude bold behaviour that shows little respect for others

includes shameless attitude but is less about insolence tone
cheek
vsface
  • Informal
125 6.1

Rude talk or behaviour that shows no respect

is broader, covering insolence as an attitude not only speech
bravado
vsface
32 7.7

Confident, showy behavior meant to impress or hide fear

is genuine shameless insolence rather than a performed display
gall
vsface
24 8.1

Rude boldness that shows no shame

is the general term for shameless or impudent behaviour
brass
vsface
  • UK
16 7.7

Rude boldness that shows little respect for others

is the general notion of insolent attitude or behaviour
boldness
vsface
3 3.7

Rude confidence that shows a lack of respect for others

is more about shameless insolence than mere aggressiveness
brashness
vsface
3 6.8

A way of acting that is too bold, loud, and rude

focuses on insolence rather than flashy or careless style
brazenness
vsface
2 7.3

Shameless boldness that ignores what people consider proper

covers impudence generally rather than only defiant acts
shamelessness
vsface
2 5.5

The state of not feeling embarrassed about behaving boldly or rudely

is focused on the attitude of impudence rather than the state alone
sassiness
vsface
  • Informal
1 5.2

Bold, lively words or actions that can seem rude

leans more to insolent attitude rather than playful or lively tone
1 6.7

Very bold, shameless actions that ignore normal rules

applies to insolent behaviour whether acted out or shown
chutzpa
vsface
  • Informal
9.9

Bold, rude behavior that shows no shame

is broader, covering any insolent attitude or behaviour
forwardness
vsface
  • Offensive
7.0

Bold behaviour that is rude and makes people uncomfortable

is broader, covering insolence beyond just assertive speech or manner
brassiness
vsface
6.0

A loud, bold way of behaving that often seems rude

is focused on shameless insolent attitude rather than loud style

Antonyms

15 3.8

Dressing or behaving to avoid attracting attention and not show off

7 5.8

Feeling too shy or afraid to try new things

Idioms

130 2.3

In the same place as someone and looking at them directly

in your face
  • Informal
43 8.1

Bold and aggressive to get attention or challenge others

to face facts
  • Informal
30 4.1

Accept the truth about a difficult situation

to save face
  • Informal
25 5.3

Keep respect in front of others after making a mistake

To be very obvious and hard for someone to ignore

Judging something only by what you first see without checking hidden facts

19 4.5

Accept and deal with unpleasant results or criticism for something you did

Move parts of your face to show dislike, pain, or to be funny

Openly oppose something, often against common sense or tradition

Something looks true at first but may not be

to lose face
  • Informal
11 6.6

To feel embarrassed and seem less respected in front of other people

6 7.6

To fail badly and embarrass yourself in front of other people

To keep going when you face serious problems

To fail completely and feel embarrassed in front of others

A strong feeling you can clearly see on someone's face

to about-face
  • Literature
3 6.7

To change your opinion or position completely and suddenly

1 7.0

To look at your fear and act without avoiding it

Disappear completely so no one knows what happened and no sign is left

Deliberately do something that hurts you more than the person you want to punish

1 7.6

A person who is attractive but thought to have little intelligence or real skill

to pull a face
  • Informal
1 5.5

Make a face to show dislike or discomfort

1 9.9

To threaten to hurt someone very badly

In a job or place where the real work is done

A face that looks very ugly

A face that looks healthy and young

A face that people think is very ugly

to face Goliath
  • Informal
8.1

To take on a much more powerful person or group

A face so ugly that it shocks people

To eat a lot of food quickly

To keep your face looking serious and not show you are laughing

Someone or something disappears completely so nobody knows where they are

7.4

Act confident and serious to hide nerves before a challenge

Hit someone's face hard so it looks damaged

5.5

To talk directly to someone when they are there

To surprise someone very strongly, often in a funny way

Act in a way that shows strong disrespect and insults someone

A face that clearly shows success and happiness

Compounds

96 3.2

Happens when people meet and talk in the same place

The surface of the world or being anywhere in the world

face value
  • Specialized
41 4.4

A number printed on a ticket, coin, or bond that shows its official worth

40 2.0

Someone you have seen before and can easily recognize

34 3.9

A face that shows no feeling, often to avoid laughing

pretty face
  • Offensive
33 4.2

An attractive person who others think has nothing besides looks

game face
  • Informal
15 6.5

A serious, focused look people make before a challenge

poker face
  • Informal
12 4.8

A face that shows no feeling so others cannot tell what you feel

10 5.3

A tense meeting between two people or groups on opposite sides

8 5.2

A way to start play in ice hockey when a referee drops the puck between two players

in-your-face
  • Informal
8 8.4

Very bold and rude in a way that forces people to notice

7 3.5

A face that makes someone look younger and more innocent than they are

7 2.8

Happens when people sit or stand opposite each other in the same place

face lift
  • Specialized
7 4.4

Surgery that tightens the skin on the face and removes extra tissue to make someone look younger

face time
  • Jargon
7 4.0

Time spent in the same place with the people you work with

about-face
  • Literature
5 7.3

A sudden, complete change of direction or opinion

5 1.3

A cream you put on your face to keep the skin soft and not dry

4 1.4

A covering worn over the nose and mouth to protect against dust, germs, or pollution

4 5.1

A round, chubby face with full cheeks

2 2.8

A playing card with a picture of a king, queen, or jack

2 2.7

A cream, clay, or sheet put on the face to make skin look better

2 1.8

A protective covering worn over the face in sports to prevent injury

face recognition
  • Specialized
2 3.1

A computer system that identifies a person by comparing their face with saved photos

2 3.8

A cosmetic update to a building or place that makes it look newer

1 2.1

A flat surface on a clock that shows the hours and minutes with numbers and hands

1 6.0

An action to help someone avoid embarrassment

1 3.0

A fine powder that you put on your face to make skin look smooth and less shiny

1 1.0

A small soft towel you use to wash your face or body

1 3.9

A set of metal bars attached to the front of a football helmet that protects the player's face

1 4.0

A small change to the look of something to make it more modern or attractive

1 6.3

A thin cloth worn to partly cover the face, often for religious or cultural reasons

1 7.2

A mask worn to hide the face at a costume party

1 1.6

A mild product used to wash the skin on your face

face time
  • Texting
1 3.5

A live video meeting with one or more people

A piece of bread with toppings and no top slice

1 9.6

A sudden complete change of opinion or plan

1 6.1

A twisted look that shows dislike, annoyance, or slight amusement

A face with a chin that sticks out

7.1

The place where work is done and real problems happen

crater face
  • Slang
9.8

A face with deep scars or small holes caused by severe acne

3.9

Computer systems check who a person is by scanning their face

ewwy face
  • Baby Talk
9.9

A face showing disgust when something tastes or smells bad

face angle
  • Specialized
7.5

The turn between two edges that meet at a corner on a flat side of a 3D shape

face pack
  • Indian
3.4

A cream or mask you put on the face to clean and improve the skin

face diaper
  • Offensive
9.9

A slang, often rude, name for a mask people wear over their mouth and nose

5.5

A person who looks attractive on television

face fungus
  • Slang
8.8

Hair that people grow near the mouth and chin, like a beard

face lifting
  • Specialized
5.1

Surgery that removes loose skin and tightens the face to look younger

face lifting
  • Specialized
4.8

App that edits a person's face in photos to look younger

The skill of seeing a face and knowing who the person is

face saver
  • Informal
5.8

Something that helps a person avoid embarrassment or loss of respect

A small towel used to dry the face or hands

A company that sells certificates and promises to pay a fixed amount on a set date

An expression on a person's face that shows their feelings

mayonnaise face
  • Offensive
9.9

A person whose face looks very pale and unhealthy

goo-goo face
  • Baby Talk
9.9

A silly loving face people make to amuse or show love to a baby

hog-face
  • Informal
9.9

An exaggerated face people make to show disgust or disapproval

pudding face
  • Offensive
8.7

A large round face that looks soft and full

pudding-face
  • Offensive
9.9

A round soft face that looks full and chubby

punchable face
  • Offensive
9.1

A face that makes people want to hit the person

red face test
  • Informal
8.1

A way to see if someone looks embarrassed because they blush

resting bitch face
  • Offensive
9.9

A calm face that looks unfriendly or annoyed without meaning to

rich face
  • Literature
9.9

A face that shows strong character and deep feeling

pig face
  • Informal
9.3

A silly face that looks like a pig to make people laugh

soyjak face
  • Slang
9.9

A cartoon face with an open mouth and wide eyes used in internet memes to show real or fake excitement

stone-face
  • South African
9.9

A small plant with thick leaves that looks like a stone and has yellow or white flowers

7.9

A check to see if you can keep a serious face when something is funny

How Insolent

gall
24 8.1
face
389 8.6
audacity
47 6.0
cheek
  • Informal
125 6.1
impudence
8 7.7
rudeness
27 1.8

Surface Forms

face singular
faces plural

Etymology

Face here links to the idea of showing your appearance (Latin facies), so having the face to do something means being bold or rude enough to show up and do it. A helpful way to remember it is thinking of someone who still shows their face even when it is wrong.