face to face

adverb

involving close contact; confronting each other (Freq. 1)

-

the boy and the policeman suddenly came face-to-face at the corner

-

they spoke face to face

* * *

adv. & adj. with the people involved being close together and looking directly at each other

[as adv.] the two men stood face to face. | [as adj.] a face-to-face conversation

■ [as adv.] in direct confrontation

he came face to face with a tiger

* * *

face to face

1

— used to describe a situation in which two people are together and looking at each other

They were sitting face to face.

I've spoken with him on the phone but I've never met him face to face. [=I've never met him]

We've never had a face-to-face meeting.

— often + with

I've never been face to face with him before.

2 : very close to something dangerous, difficult, etc.

— + with

The actors were face to face with real flames.

She came face to face with death. [=she nearly died]

When she visited the school she was brought face to face with the problems encountered by teachers every day.

• • •

Main Entry: ↑face