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Face the music   /feɪs ðə mjˈuzɪk/   Listen
Face the music

verb
1.
Accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.  Synonym: carry-the can.






WordNet 3.0 © 2010 Princeton University








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"Face the music" Quotes from Famous Books



... than I am," she said, quietly. "Or else I'm so made that I suffer more! I wish I could face the music. But I can't do anything. Of course, just—just loathing some things about a man isn't valid cause for divorce, I know that. But I'd rather live with a man that drank, and stole, and beat me—I'd rather he should disgrace me before the whole world, ...
— Sisters • Kathleen Norris

... must go back in the morning and face the music. We had no desire to be arrested for stealing Weaver's car, and there was not a man in Osage who could be trusted to drive it back. Then the girls needed a lot of things; and though Frosty had intended to take the next train ...
— The Range Dwellers • B. M. Bower

... suppose we must face the music," answered Scott, dubiously. "I'm glad we didn't go on board while we were boozy. The fellows would have laughed at us for a ...
— Up The Baltic - Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark • Oliver Optic

... of masterly inactivity routed criticism. How far was it studied, cynical on the part of the father, or innocent upon that of the daughter, she could not tell one bit; but that practically it carried success along with it, she saw to be indubitable. "Face the music and the band stops playing"—so she put it to herself, as she walked down the drive to the front gate, her James—was he just a trifle crestfallen, good man?—strolling, umbrella in hand, ...
— Deadham Hard • Lucas Malet

... fingers, and there you were sitting quite cool and cheerful, as if you rather liked it. I think that we shall go to evening-service next week. Papa has given up going altogether since the new organist came. He says he cannot face the music. ...
— A Duet • A. Conan Doyle

... and it paints Lester pretty black. But I've thought the thing over a great many times, and can't blame him very much, after all, for it really was the result of my father's stern and narrow policy. The boy was in his most impressionable years, and was left to face the music alone. It ...
— The Free Range • Francis William Sullivan

... to the point where you have got to face the music and vote for an interstate commerce bill, or vote it down. That is all there is to it. I have nothing more to say. I have discharged my duty as best I knew how. I reported on the part of the Senate conferees the bill that is before you. I am not responsible ...
— Fifty Years of Public Service • Shelby M. Cullom

... unhappiness on you, but it is my fault. I am alone to blame. You must have your freedom and forget me. I took the money to pay a debt of honor, thinking that I could repay it by borrowing elsewhere. But I find I can't, therefore I must face the music next week. Even if I ran away I should soon be found ...
— The Golden Face - A Great 'Crook' Romance • William Le Queux

... to the Mechanics' Fair, and he didn't like to have nice girls like Turner or Henrietta Vance see him with chippies like that. It was all very well for Ellis, who had no social position, but for him, Vandover, it would look too confounded queer. Of course he was in for it now, and would have to face the music. You can't tell a girl like that that you're ashamed to be seen with her, but very likely he would get himself into a regular box with ...
— Vandover and the Brute • Frank Norris

... won't be late, because you won't be there," he said. "No going back to tea for you. We'll have dinner at the Petit Riche in Soho, and then we'll do a theatre, and then I'll take you home and we'll face the music. Are you game?" ...
— Back To Billabong • Mary Grant Bruce

... returned exultantly, feeling that she had scored. "I'll go by the same train. I've got some money in my stocking. I couldn't face the music with her in a dead faint, and himself like as not havin' ...
— Elsie Marley, Honey • Joslyn Gray

... would be compelled to go home in the summer with the Macgregors, but the idea frightened her, chiefly because of the stir that had been caused by the honour she had received. "I dare not appear at home after all this publicity," she said. "I simply could not face the music." As she recovered a little she superintended the work of the girls outside, and was amused at the way her advice was now received. "Jean and Annie do not hesitate to set it aside quietly in their ...
— Mary Slessor of Calabar: Pioneer Missionary • W. P. Livingstone

... turning away. "Well, that's done with. Now the only thing to do is to face the music. I go home. Whatever can be done to withdraw the book from circulation I shall, of course, do; but I gather from this precious letter"—he held up the note which had been enclosed in the parcel—"that some thousands of copies have already been ordered by the booksellers, and ...
— The Marriage of William Ashe • Mrs. Humphry Ward

... up, please, and see it out. I don't know what defence, if any, you can put up: but by to-morrow you'll have a damnatory eye that will spoil the most ingenious. My advice is, don't make any. Cut losses, and face the music. This is a queer country; but the Press, which has been ragging you for weeks, will deal tenderly with you as ...
— Foe-Farrell • Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

... to be rid of his wife's presence. He didn't know what trouble might be impending and he wanted to face the music without the irritation of ...
— Broken to the Plow • Charles Caldwell Dobie

... seen fit to withhold his presence from them that night, and he begged leave to add that he considered that a man, even though he knew he was going to be beaten, ought to have the pluck to come and face the music." ...
— The Right Stuff - Some Episodes in the Career of a North Briton • Ian Hay

... hidden motive behind all this!" declared the young Englishman. "I rather regret that I did not remain and face the music." ...
— Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo • William Le Queux

... a year! As if that made any difference! she told herself, with a little defiant movement of the chin, as she crossed the room and seated herself at the opposite side of the big writing-table where she could face the music handsomely. ...
— A Bookful of Girls • Anna Fuller

... longer she stood there the more difficult it seemed to get courage enough to open the door and face the music. At length she heard Doctor Bryan inquire surprisedly ...
— Pretty Madcap Dorothy - How She Won a Lover • Laura Jean Libbey



Words linked to "Face the music" :   accept, take over, carry-the can, assume, bear



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