In One’s Face

Meaning of Idiom ‘In One’s Face’

1. Of an object, physically in front of a person’s face; near someone’s face; in front of or against someone directly. 1Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.,2Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.

Sentence Examples

“Do not stick that darn hairy spider in my face! You know I’m afraid of them!”

“He kept sticking this stinky cheese in my face to get me to smell it. I could smell it across the room.”

“I tried to get my old job back but my boss slammed the door in my face.”

2. To criticize or shout at someone angrily and directly, especially in close physical proximity as with one’s face close to another person’s face; to act extremely aggressively toward someone. Often paired with get as in ‘get in someone’s face’

Sentence Examples

“I can’t believe he got in my face like that! Who does he think he’s dealing with?”

“The angry customer got in the manager’s face and started demanding a full refund.”

“You make one mistake around here and the boss will be in your face in an instant.”

3. Similar to meaning two, above, interacting with someone in an aggressive and pushy manner, especially while standing too close.

Sentence Examples

“I can’t stand shopping at that music store. As soon as you walk in the door there’s a salesman in your face trying to sell you a guitar or something.”

“Car salesmen are always in your face. I prefer shopping for cars online.”

“The people next door are always in my face about their religious opinions. I try to avoid talking to them.”

4. Something that is shocking, annoying, provocative, etc. that is difficult to ignore; something that demands someone’s attention in an undesirable way.

Sentence Examples

“I don’t want to go to that club. I can’t deal with the in your face music and ridiculous light show.”

“He has such in your face opinions on everything. No wonder nobody at work gets along with him.”

“His political ads were brash and in your face.”

5. An exclamation of triumph; a way to gloat over a victory.

Sentence Examples

“Ha! In your face! I told you I was a good pool player!”

“You said I would never make assistant manager. Well, guess who’s your new boss? In your face!”

In all senses, the idiom ‘in your face’ describes something that is difficult to ignore or that demands someone’s attention. in someone’s face. 3(Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. (2015). Retrieved October 22 2024 from https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/in+someone%27s+face,4Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.

Get Out Of My Face

A closely related expression that is used as an imperative, ‘get out of my face‘ is a common response to someone who is being aggressive, especially when they are ‘in your face.’

Sentence Examples

“Unless you’d like a punch in the face, you’d better get out of my face.”

“You need to stand up to him. The next time he yells at you, tell him to get out of your face.”

Up In One’s Face

Do not confuse ‘in one’s face’ with ‘up in one’s face.’ Up in one’s face is a newer expression that means to act aggressively toward someone; to shout in someone’s face. It is a more emphatic use of meaning two, above, involving close proximity. A variation is ‘all up in my face.’

Sentence Examples

“If you’re going to get up in my face you’d better be willing to fight because I don’t play!

“Jacklyn got all up in my face today about her ex-boyfriend. She said I was hitting on him. I don’t even know him and what does she care? They broke up!”

Origin

Used since the first half of the 1400s.