Enhance Your Vocabulary 😁 30 Collocations with Face Explained

Collocations are combinations of words that frequently appear together, creating natural-sounding phrases and expressions. Mastering collocations is essential for achieving fluency in any language, as they make your speech and writing more native-like and idiomatic. In this blog post, we will explore 30 common collocations with face. Understanding these collocations will not only expand your vocabulary but also improve your overall communication skills.

Enhance Your Vocabulary 😁 30 Collocations with Face Explained

Each collocation is provided with a definition, phonetic transcription, and two examples to illustrate its usage. Whether you’re an English learner aiming to enhance your fluency or an educator looking for comprehensive teaching materials, this guide is designed to meet your needs. Dive into these collocations to discover how they can transform your English proficiency.

Let’s get started with these 30 essential collocations with “face”!

#1. 😊 Face the Music

Definition: To confront or accept the consequences of one’s actions
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ðə ˈmjuː.zɪk/

Examples:

• After missing several deadlines, he finally had to face the music during the team meeting.
• She knew she had to face the music after breaking the vase.

#2. 😟 Face Facts

Definition: To accept reality and deal with it
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs fækts/

Examples:

• It’s time to face facts: our current strategy is not working.
• They had to face facts and realize the project was failing.

#3. 😏 Save Face

Definition: To preserve one’s dignity or avoid embarrassment
Phonetic Transcription: /seɪv feɪs/

Examples:

• He tried to save face by blaming the error on a technical glitch.
• She apologized publicly to save face after the incident.

#4. 😐 In the Face of

Definition: Despite (a difficulty or problem)
Phonetic Transcription: /ɪn ðə feɪs ʌv/

Examples:

• They showed great resilience in the face of adversity.
• In the face of danger, she remained calm and composed.

#5. 😬 Face Value

Definition: The apparent worth or significance
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ˈvæl.juː/

Examples:

• Don’t take his words at face value; he might be exaggerating.
• The ticket’s face value was $50, but it sold for much more online.

#6. 😁 Make a Face

Definition: To make a funny or distorted facial expression
Phonetic Transcription: /meɪk ə feɪs/

Examples:

• The baby made a face when she tasted the lemon.
• He always makes a face when he has to eat broccoli.

#7. 😓 Face Up To

Definition: To accept and deal with something unpleasant
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ʌp tuː/

Examples:

• It’s time to face up to your responsibilities.
• She had to face up to the reality of the situation.

#8. 😅 Face a Challenge

Definition: To confront a difficult task or situation
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ə ˈtʃæl.ɪndʒ/

Examples:

• He faced the challenge of leading the team through a crisis.
• They faced many challenges during the project.

#9. 😤 Blue in the Face

Definition: Extremely angry or frustrated
Phonetic Transcription: /bluː ɪn ðə feɪs/

Examples:

• She argued until she was blue in the face, but he wouldn’t listen.
• You can complain until you’re blue in the face, but it won’t change anything.

#10. 😍 Put on a Brave Face

Definition: To pretend to be confident and cheerful when you are not
Phonetic Transcription: /pʊt ɒn ə breɪv feɪs/

Examples:

• He put on a brave face despite feeling nervous about the presentation.
• She put on a brave face during the tough times.

#11. 😲 Face the Truth

Definition: To accept and deal with the reality
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ðə truːθ/

Examples:

• It’s time to face the truth about his poor performance.
• She faced the truth about her feelings for him.

#12. 😖 Face the Consequences

Definition: To deal with the results of one’s actions
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ðə ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwənsɪz/

Examples:

• You must face the consequences of your decisions.
• He faced the consequences of his reckless behavior.

#13. 😎 Put on a Happy Face

Definition: To act cheerful despite being unhappy
Phonetic Transcription: /pʊt ɒn ə ˈhæp.i feɪs/

Examples:

• She put on a happy face even though she was feeling down.
• He put on a happy face for the sake of his family.

#14. 😤 Face Off

Definition: To confront someone in a direct conflict
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ɒf/

Examples:

• The two teams will face off in the finals next week.
• They faced off in a heated debate.

#15. 😓 Face the Day

Definition: To deal with the events and challenges of the day
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ðə deɪ/

Examples:

• She needed a strong cup of coffee to face the day.
• He wasn’t ready to face the day after hearing the bad news.

#16. 😇 In Your Face

Definition: Blatantly aggressive or confrontational
Phonetic Transcription: /ɪn jɔː feɪs/

Examples:

• His in-your-face attitude annoyed everyone at the meeting.
• The ad campaign was designed to be bold and in your face.

#17. 😮 Face Away

Definition: To turn away from something
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs əˈweɪ/

Examples:

• She faced away from the window to avoid the glare.
• He faced away, not wanting to see the chaos.

#18. 😌 A Long Face

Definition: A sad or disappointed expression
Phonetic Transcription: /ə lɒŋ feɪs/

Examples:

• Why the long face? Did something bad happen?
• He had a long face after hearing the bad news.

#19. 😁 Face a Dilemma

Definition: To be in a situation where a difficult choice must be made
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ə dɪˈlem.ə/

Examples:

• She faced a dilemma about whether to stay or leave.
• He was facing a dilemma and couldn’t decide what to do.

#20. 😋 Face the Future

Definition: To deal with and look forward to future events
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ðə ˈfjʊ.tʃər/

Examples:

• It’s time to move on and face the future with optimism.
• They faced the future together, ready for whatever came their way.

#21. 😃 Face Forward

Definition: To look ahead or move forward
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ˈfɔːr.wərd/

Examples:

• Please face forward and pay attention to the presentation.
• They faced forward, ready for the next challenge.

#22. 😟 Face Hardship

Definition: To endure difficult conditions
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ˈhɑːd.ʃɪp/

Examples:

• They faced hardship during the economic downturn.
• He faced many hardships but never gave up.

#23. 😌 Plain as the Nose on Your Face

Definition: Very obvious
Phonetic Transcription: /pleɪn æz ðə nəʊz ɒn jɔː feɪs/

Examples:

• It’s as plain as the nose on your face that they are in love.
• The answer was plain as the nose on your face, but he missed it.

#24. 😊 Show Your Face

Definition: To appear in public
Phonetic Transcription: /ʃəʊ jɔː feɪs/

Examples:

• He didn’t show his face at the party.
• She finally showed her face after being away for so long.

#25. 😠 Face Down

Definition: To confront and overcome someone or something
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs daʊn/

Examples:

• She faced down her fears and took the plunge.
• He faced down his opponent in the final match.

#26. 😶 Face to Face

Definition: In person, directly
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs tə feɪs/

Examples:

• They had a face-to-face meeting to discuss the issue.
• It’s better to resolve conflicts face to face.

#27. 😏 To One’s Face

Definition: Directly, in person
Phonetic Transcription: /tə wʌnz feɪs/

Examples:

• She told him to his face that she didn’t like his idea.
• He insulted me to my face, which was very rude.

#28. 😮 Lose Face

Definition: To suffer humiliation or lose respect
Phonetic Transcription: /luːz feɪs/

Examples:

• He didn’t want to lose face by admitting he was wrong.
• They feared losing face if they failed the project.

#29. 😇 Put on a Straight Face

Definition: To appear serious or not show emotion
Phonetic Transcription: /pʊt ɒn ə streɪt feɪs/

Examples:

• It was hard to put on a straight face during the prank.
• She put on a straight face and delivered the bad news.

#30. 😊 Face the Nation

Definition: To address or confront the public or an audience
Phonetic Transcription: /feɪs ðə ˈneɪ.ʃən/

Examples:

• The president faced the nation to discuss the new policies.
• She faced the nation with confidence and poise.

Collocations With FACE Table

Most Common Collocations With FACE Worksheet

Wrapping Up

Understanding and using collocations effectively is a significant step towards mastering the English language. These 30 collocations with “face” provide a rich variety of expressions that can help you sound more natural and fluent. From “face the music” to “face the nation,” each collocation adds depth and nuance to your communication.

By incorporating these collocations into your daily conversations and writing, you’ll not only enhance your vocabulary but also improve your ability to convey precise meanings and emotions. Whether you’re an English learner or a teacher, these examples and explanations serve as valuable tools for expanding your linguistic capabilities. Embrace these collocations, practice them regularly, and watch as your English proficiency grows more polished and articulate.

Happy learning! 😊

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