face up to
B2Formal to neutral.
Definition
Meaning
To accept and deal with a difficult, unpleasant, or challenging situation or truth, often requiring courage.
It implies taking responsibility for something negative, confronting reality, and not avoiding or denying it. The process is typically internal and psychological, involving acceptance, before taking action.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a phrasal verb (specifically, a three-part verb with a particle and a preposition). It is separable; the object can come between 'face' and 'up to' (e.g., 'face the problem up to') but this is less common and slightly awkward. The more natural order is 'face up to the problem'. It carries connotations of bravery, maturity, and honesty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both use it with equal frequency and the same nuance.
Connotations
Identical connotations of courage and responsibility.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject - animate] + face up to + [Object - abstract problem/situation]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “face the music”
- “take it on the chin”
- “bite the bullet”
- “come to terms with”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to discuss accepting market realities, financial losses, or strategic failures (e.g., 'The board must face up to the declining sales figures.').
Academic
Used in discussions about confronting historical truths, ethical dilemmas, or the implications of research (e.g., 'The study forces us to face up to the limitations of our model.').
Everyday
Used for personal challenges, relationship issues, or emotional difficulties (e.g., 'He needs to face up to the fact that his lifestyle is unhealthy.').
Technical
Rare. Might be used in psychology or counselling contexts to describe a therapeutic process.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government must finally face up to the climate crisis.
- It took her years to face up to the reality of her addiction.
- You can't just hope it goes away; you have to face up to it.
American English
- The company needs to face up to its financial losses.
- He finally faced up to the fact that he needed help.
- Facing up to your mistakes is the first step to fixing them.
adverb
British English
- N/A for 'face up to'.
American English
- N/A for 'face up to'.
adjective
British English
- N/A for 'face up to'. The related adjective is 'upfront' or 'forthright'.
American English
- N/A for 'face up to'. The related adjective is 'upfront' or 'forthright'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It's hard to face up to a big problem.
- You should face up to your responsibilities at work.
- She faced up to her fear of flying and booked a ticket.
- The country is struggling to face up to its colonial past.
- After the scandal, the CEO was forced to face up to public criticism.
- The research compels us to face up to some uncomfortable ethical dilemmas.
- Politicians often fail to face up to the long-term consequences of their policies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine literally standing UP and turning your FACE TOWARDS a frightening object. You are not running away. You are positioning yourself to see and deal with it directly.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTIES ARE ADVERSARIES/OPPONENTS (you face them). ACCEPTANCE IS A PHYSICAL POSTURE (standing up to something).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation of each word ("столкнуться вверх к") is nonsensical. Avoid calquing.
- Do not confuse with "смириться с" (to resign oneself), which is more passive. "Face up to" is more active and implies preparing to act.
- "Посмотреть правде в глаза" is a close idiomatic equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'I must face up my fears.' (missing 'to')
- Incorrect: *'She faced up to him about the issue.' (used for a person; 'confront' is better). 'Face up to' typically takes abstract objects.
- Awkward word order: *'It's time to face the music up to.' (keep the phrasal verb together: 'face up to the music').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'face up to' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but can be used in formal contexts. It is less formal than 'confront' but more formal than slang terms like 'own up to' (which is for admitting blame).
'Face up to' emphasises the need for courage and acceptance of an unpleasant truth. 'Face' can be more neutral (e.g., 'face a wall', 'face a challenge'). 'Face up to' is almost exclusively for difficult, abstract situations.
Typically not. It is for situations, truths, or facts. For people, use 'confront' (e.g., 'I confronted him about the lie').
It is grammatically separable but stylistically awkward. The standard, natural form is to keep the phrase together: 'face up to the truth'.