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face down

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face someone down

to make a face-to-face stand with someone who eventually backs down. Chuck succeeded in facing Tom down. Facing down Tom wasn't difficult for Chuck.

See also: down, face

face something down

to turn something face downward. Ted drew a card and faced it down. Face your cards down when you leave the card table.

See also: down, face

face down

1. With the upper surface put down, as in Please put these papers face down. This usage appears to come from cardplaying. [First half of 1600s] The antonym, "with the upper surface uppermost," is face up.

2. Overcome, intimidate, or browbeat someone in a bold confrontation. This verbal expression dates from the 16th century. Shakespeare used it in The Comedy of Errors (3:1): "Here's a villain that would face me down."

See also: down, face

face down

v.

1. To confront someone in a resolute or determined manner: The incumbent faced down the opponent in a debate. The soldiers faced the enemy down.

2. To position something so that its front surface is oriented downward: I faced the picture down so that I wouldn't be reminded of my dead parents.

See also: down, face