face the music

phrase

: to meet an unpleasant situation, a danger, or the consequences of one's actions

Examples of face the music in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Becky says the chase ended when the boyfriend stopped the car and ran off, leaving Haleigh to face the music and the cops. — Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2026 Tom Holland is ready to face the music and dance for his upcoming role as Fred Astaire. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 24 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of face the music was in 1834

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Browse Nearby Words

facet head

face the music

facetiae

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Face the music.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/face%20the%20music. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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