face down

face down

1. verb To confront or intimidate someone until they relent. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "face" and "down." I'm so impressed that that scrawny little kid faced the bully down!
2. verb To turn something so that the top or printed side cannot be seen. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "face" and "down. Be sure to face your tests down when you're done.
3. adjective Of a person, lying on one's stomach with one's face literally turned downward. Just lie face down on the table and the masseuse will be in with you shortly.
4. adjective Of an object, with the top or printed side turned down so that it cannot be seen. Put your test face down on the desk when you're done.
See also: down, face
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

face someone down

to make a face-to-face stand with someone who eventually backs down. Chuck succeeded in facing Tom down. Facing down Tom wasn't difficult for Chuck.
See also: down, face

face something down

to turn something face downward. Ted drew a card and faced it down. Face your cards down when you leave the card table.
See also: down, face
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

face down

1. With the upper surface put down, as in Please put these papers face down. This usage appears to come from cardplaying. [First half of 1600s] The antonym, "with the upper surface uppermost," is face up.
2. Overcome, intimidate, or browbeat someone in a bold confrontation. This verbal expression dates from the 16th century. Shakespeare used it in The Comedy of Errors (3:1): "Here's a villain that would face me down."
See also: down, face
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

ˌface ˈup/ˈdown


1 (of a person) with your face and stomach facing upwards/downwards: She lay face down on the bed.
2 (of a playing card) with the number or picture facing upwards/downwards: Place the card face up on the pile.
See also: down, face, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

face down

v.
1. To confront someone in a resolute or determined manner: The incumbent faced down the opponent in a debate. The soldiers faced the enemy down.
2. To position something so that its front surface is oriented downward: I faced the picture down so that I wouldn't be reminded of my dead parents.
See also: down, face
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • angle
  • angling
  • orient
  • orient to
  • orient to (something)
  • spiff up
  • spiffed up
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • ask back
  • (Is) this taken?
References in periodicals archive
Port Talbot lifeboat launched after reports of a man face down in the water
Body found face down in the sea and recovered by rescue helicopter near Port Talbot; A 28-year-old man was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital
He said Mrs May "needs to face down the ERG properly" saying there were elements of the group that did not reflect the party he joined in 1992 and "it's about time we dealt with them".
'Face down ERG or more may defect'
Gina's daughter, Wellen Jane, brought food to her mother and was surprised to see her lying face down on the ground, and seemed lifeless.
Village watchmen nab man for killing mother in Pagadian City
SUMMIT WRONG Theresa May disappears as Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron face down Donald Trump and Shinzo Abe, centre, at G7session yesterday
Scrap all tariffs? EU cannot be serious, Trump
He added: "Twenty minutes later she found him face down. She noticed he had vomited again."
Tragedy of boy found in bath by mum
Rhiannon Hedge, senior policy and campaigns officer at Mind Cymru, said: "While it is encouraging to see that the use of face down restraint is decreasing in Wales, much more needs to be done.
Health boards still using restraint technique
Image: Martin Puryear, Face Down, 2008; white bronze; 14 x 28 x 11 inches; 36 x 71 x 28 cm.
Allow yourself to be mystified
"Ireland supports the measures France has tabled and it is now the collective duty of the Member States to take all reasonable steps necessary to face down this heinous threat and keep the people of Europe safe."
Ireland will 'face down' threats from terrorists
As you tell the story, each time you count a number, you will take one card from the top, keeping it face down, and move it to the bottom of the packet (figure B).
Dinofish
STEP 2: With your board laying face down on top of wadding and fabric the wrong way round, use the staple gun, starting from the centre and staple fabric fold fabric onto the wooden frame of board - pulling tightly on the fabric.
DIY... ifbulouspinb frame fold and Here's some quick and easy steps to making a fabulous pin board..
Game 2: The 13 tri-cycles are mixed face down and the two players each draw six tokens at random leaving one token face down where its identity is never revealed.
Class of 13 (see back cover)
"The divers were looking for him and they spotted him on the far side of the lake, face down. "He had suffered a cardiac arrest.
Quarry diver dies after heart attack
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust had the highest number of life-threatening face down restraint incidents in England at 923, while the average for England was just 65.
Time to face facts on use of restraint
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust had the highest number of "face down" restraint incidents in England at 923, while the average for England is just 65.
Call for changes on use of restraint; Figures reveal 'face down' usage is high in the North East
The baby is seen in the video, captured by a driver behind the accident, being ejected from the vehicle and landing face down on the pavement.
Baby Flung From Car: Terrifying Video Of Child Ejected In A Car Crash Goes Viral