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ENGLISH  IDIOMS  &  IDIOMATIC  EXPRESSIONS

(idioms used in everyday conversational English, with their meaning)
F A C E
 

 


Idiom

Meaning

 

   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.
  "Not only was he rude but he had a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp!
   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!"
   Face like a wet weekend   If someone has a face like a wet weekend, they are wearing 
  a sad expression and look miserable.
  "What's wrong with Pete? He's got a face like a wet weekend."
   Face only a mother could
   love
  This is a humoristic way of saying that someone is ugly or
  not attractive.
  "The poor guy has a face only a mother could love."
   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!"
   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!"
   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."
   Blow up in someone's face   When working on a plan or project, if it suddenly goes wrong
  or fails, it blows up in your face.
 
"The trip was difficult to organize, but it blew up in his face
  when the airline company went on strike."
   Keep a straight face   If you keep a straight face, you look serious although
  you really want to laugh.
   Put on a brave face   When confronted with difficulties, if you put on a brave face,
  you try to look cheerful and pretend that the situation is not as
  bad as it is.
 
"Even at the worst of times she put on a brave face."
   Two-faced   Someone who is two-faced is deceitful or insincere;  they will
  say one thing to your face and another when you're not there.

  "I don't trust Jack. I find him two-faced."
     

 


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