face the music

face the music

Meaning

• receive punishment
• accept unpleasant consequences of your actions
• be confronted with disagreeable results
• accept criticism for something that you have done

Example Sentences

1. If you have done something wrong, you have to face the music. There's no escaping out of it.
2. The children broke the window pane while playing and had to face the music when their parents returned home.
3. If you don't complete the project on time, you will have to face the music when the boss asks for a status report.
4. If you keep breaking the rules, sooner or later you will be caught and then you will have to face the music.
5. He was part of an illegal racing gang, and had to face the music when they were busted.
6. Having failed his English test, he had to go home and face the music.

Origin
The precise origin of this phrase is not known, but there are theories which are not proven. One theory says that it originated in the military, where disgraced officers were dismissed to the beating of drums and band music. Another theory is it comes from theatre, where the actors have to face the orchestra pit. The phrase originated in America in the mid 1800s.