in the face of adversity
5
5.7
- idiom
:
frente a la adversidad
- Consistency and staying power, even in the face of adversity and temporary setbacks and disappointment, are required.
- positive attitude in the face of adversity
How strong can you be in the face of adversity is incredibly important.
- How strong can you be in the face of adversity is incredibly important.
- And the message that you need is the the people who achieve things in the face of adversity.
- This is where in the face of adversity and upset and challenge, I can stay calm and peaceful and have a knowing in my life.
- And I can only imagine the confidence that he had a lot of times to really stay in the face of adversity and trust himself.
Examples
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I admire her writing and also her persistence in the face of adversity.
Blog text (9) -
It's a road map for standing strong in the face of adversity, for embracing our core values when they're needed most.
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And I can only imagine the confidence that he had a lot of times to really stay in the face of adversity and trust himself.
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Good humor in the face of adversity was one of his best qualities.
Fiction book (2001) -
You know, they say that one's true character can be revealed in the face of adversity.
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The potential to help is evident in important clues provided by children who thrive in the face of adversity.
Academic text (1995) -
You, with your cheerfulness, your stiff upper lip, your valiant smile in the face of adversity.
Fiction book (1998) -
I admire Alex Smith's character, his toughness in the face of adversity, and his progress as a quarterback.
Blog text (17) -
Many reminiscences written by Bartow County veterans expound upon the common theme of triumph in the face of adversity.
Academic text (2008) -
Many people show incredible strength in the face of adversity when they encounter life's challenges.
Antonyms
2
6.2
Even when things are at their best, something is still difficult or unpleasant
How Difficult
- Informal
11
7.4
- Informal
3
9.4
∞
2.9
5
5.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
in + the + face + of + adversity
The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'face' (to confront/deal with) combined with 'adversity' (difficulty) and the prepositional framing 'in ... of' yields 'when confronted by difficulties'. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows predictable English usage, so a B1 learner who knows the parts should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
In the face of adversity paints a clear picture: imagine standing with your face turned toward a strong storm, which is adversity or 'difficult times', and not turning away. That's why it means 'when you are facing or dealing with serious problems'.