set (one's) face against (something)
set (one's) face against (something)
To be strongly opposed to or disapproving of something. My parents set their faces against me marrying her, so we eloped. The CEO has promised to set his face against any pay cuts or job losses following the disastrous third-quarter performance.
See also: face, set
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
set one's face against
Strongly disapprove, as in Her parents set their faces against her eloping. The term set one's face has been used in the sense of "assume a fixed facial expression" since the mid-1500s.
See also: face, set
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
set your face against something
mainly BRITISHIf you set your face against something, you oppose it in a very determined way. Tricia wondered if he had ever considered moving, but heard that he had set his face against the idea. Both the government and the major rebel groups appear to have set their faces against a negotiated settlement to the conflict. Note: You often use this expression when you think someone is being unreasonable. Note: This expression is used several times in the Bible. When God `set His face against' someone who had sinned, He showed that He was angry with them.
See also: face, set, something
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
set your face against
oppose or resist with determination.See also: face, set
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
set your face against something
(written, especially British English) be strongly opposed to something and refuse to change your opinion: Her father had set his face against the marriage.See also: face, set, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- set one's face against
- set your face against
- set your face against something
- get (all) set
- get set
- be (all) set (to do something)
- set (one's) hand to
- set your hand to
- set about (doing something)
- set about doing