a slap in the face
noun phrase
: a surprising act that offends or insults someone
Her decision to leave the company to work for our competitors was a slap in the face.
Examples of a slap in the face in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her comment was nothing less than a slap in the face to millions of LGBTQ Americans, over two hundred thousand of them Marylanders.
—
Louis Balsamo, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025
After theaters and other arts organizations had gone through the trouble of doing all the paperwork and the whole budgeting process, to have that funding removed was a slap in the face.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
The demand is a slap in the face for India, a close U.S. partner that for many American companies has been an increasingly viable location to lessen their dependence on China.
—Alex Travelli, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Armstrong has previously told USA TODAY that Target's DEI retreat was a slap in the face to many Black shoppers who supported the retailer.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for a slap in the face
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Louis Balsamo, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025
After theaters and other arts organizations had gone through the trouble of doing all the paperwork and the whole budgeting process, to have that funding removed was a slap in the face.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
The demand is a slap in the face for India, a close U.S. partner that for many American companies has been an increasingly viable location to lessen their dependence on China.
—Alex Travelli, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Armstrong has previously told USA TODAY that Target's DEI retreat was a slap in the face to many Black shoppers who supported the retailer.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for a slap in the face
Cite this Entry
“A slap in the face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20slap%20in%20the%20face. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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