English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - F
Idioms F, page 1: brave face/bold face → facts speak for themselves
- (put on) a brave face/a bold face
- If you put on a brave or bold face, you pretend that something upsetting or worrying is not as unpleasant as it really is.
"When Tom lost his job, he put on a brave face and announced that he would find a new job easily."
- If you put on a brave or bold face, you pretend that something upsetting or worrying is not as unpleasant as it really is.
- face like a bulldog chewing a wasp
- To say that someone has a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp means that you find them very unattractive because they have a screwed-up ugly expression on their face.
"Not only was he rude but he had a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp!"
- To say that someone has a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp means that you find them very unattractive because they have a screwed-up ugly expression on their face.
- face like thunder
- If someone has a face like thunder, they look very angry.
"When Dad is really angry, he has a face like thunder!"
- If someone has a face like thunder, they look very angry.
- face like a wet week-end
- If someone has a face like a wet week-end, they look sad and miserable.
"What's the matter with Pete? He's got a face like a wet week-end!"
- If someone has a face like a wet week-end, they look sad and miserable.
- face only a mother could love
-
This is a humorous way of
saying that someone is ugly or unattractive.
"The poor guy has a face only a mother could love."
-
This is a humorous way of
saying that someone is ugly or unattractive.
- face that would stop a clock
- Someone who has a face that would stop a clock has a shockingly unattractive face.
"You'll recognize him - he's tall and thin, with a face that would stop a clock!"
- Someone who has a face that would stop a clock has a shockingly unattractive face.
- face your demons
- If you face your demons, you have the courage to confront your fears or
some cause of anguish that you normally try to
avoid.
"Sam has a problem with alcohol. He will either have to face his demons at the office party, or simply not go."
- If you face your demons, you have the courage to confront your fears or
some cause of anguish that you normally try to
avoid.
- face the music
- If you have to face the music, you have to accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions.
"He was caught stealing. Now he has to face the music."
- If you have to face the music, you have to accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions.
- face value
- If you take something at its face value, you assume that it is genuinely what it appears to be.
"The car seems to be in good condition, but don't take it at its face value; get a mechanic to check it out."
- If you take something at its face value, you assume that it is genuinely what it appears to be.
- facelift (give something a facelift)
- If you give something a facelift (a building,
a room, offices, etc.) you so something to improve
the appearance.
"We’ve given our living-room a facelift –– new sofa, new curtains and new flooring. The improvement is amazing!"
- If you give something a facelift (a building,
a room, offices, etc.) you so something to improve
the appearance.
- lose face
- In a situation where you lose face, you
feel that you are humiliated or are not respected.
"We must reach a satisfactory compromise and make sure that neither party loses face."
- In a situation where you lose face, you
feel that you are humiliated or are not respected.
- poker face
- If you have a poker face, you show no emotion at all.
"All during the trial the criminal kept a poker face."
- If you have a poker face, you show no emotion at all.
- straight face
- If you keep a straight face, you look serious although you really want to laugh.
"Our teacher was dressed so strangely that it was hard to keep a straight face!"
- If you keep a straight face, you look serious although you really want to laugh.
- fact of the matter is
- This expression is used to emphasise the reality of a situation, or what is really true.
"His mother thinks Sammy needs help with his homework, but the fact of the matter is : Sammy is just lazy!"
- This expression is used to emphasise the reality of a situation, or what is really true.
- facts speak for themselves
- When the details of a situation are so clear that no further explanation
or extra information is necessary, the facts speak for themselves.
"No need to tell you that the situation is disastrous. The facts speak for themselves."
- When the details of a situation are so clear that no further explanation
or extra information is necessary, the facts speak for themselves.
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