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Glite Dictionary
to each other's face

to each other's face

5.5
To talk directly to someone when they are there
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : cara a cara
  • The two colleagues discussed their disagreements to each other's face during the meeting.

Examples

  • It's better to say what you think to each other's face than to gossip.

  • They argued to each other's face during the meeting.

  • I wish people would resolve issues to each other's face instead of online.

  • Don't talk about her behind her back; say it to each other's face!

  • It's better to express your concerns to each other's face rather than behind someone’s back.

  • They resolved their differences to each other's face instead of letting things fester.

  • Having difficult conversations to each other's face can strengthen relationships.

Synonyms

to face
vsto each other's face
  • Informal
179 3.9

Speak directly to someone, not behind their back

emphasizes both people being present and openly confronting
face to face
vsto each other's face
130 2.3

In the same place as someone and looking at them directly

focuses on open confrontational speaking while people are present
directly
vsto each other's face
88 1.4

In a clear honest way, saying what you think

adds that this happens while both people are present and confronting
bluntly
vsto each other's face
40 4.6

In a direct way that is not polite

keeps openness but is more about being rude than simply present
flat out
vsto each other's face
  • Informal
21 7.0

To say something plainly without hiding feelings

is about open mutual presence rather than sheer bluntness or intensity
man-to-man
vsto each other's face
  • Informal
14 4.1

Two people talk directly and honestly to each other

is broader covering open direct talk between any people not only two
face-to-face
vsto each other's face
7 2.8

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

is about open direct speaking between those present rather than just meeting

Antonyms

behind someone's back
  • Informal
18 4.3

In a secret way without someone knowing, often to hurt them

How Direct

to each other's face
  • Informal
5.5
openly
303 1.6
indirectly
78 4.2
behind someone's back
  • Informal
18 4.3

Surface Forms

to each other's face positive

Morphology

to + each + other + face

The meaning 'directly and openly in the presence of one another' is transparently built from 'to' + 'each other's' (mutual recipients) + 'face' (addressing/confronting someone), so a learner who knows the constituents can infer speaking directly to someone. This pattern ('to someone's face') is common cross-linguistically and follows standard possessive/compositional logic, making it accessible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrase to each other's face comes from the simple picture of two people standing opposite and speaking while looking at each other's face. That's why it means 'directly and openly' to someone, not behind their back.