Idiom
Face the music
To face the music means to accept the unpleasant results of something you did, such as criticism or punishment.
How people use it
You usually face the music after a mistake, when you can no longer avoid the consequences: "I broke the window, so I'd better face the music and tell the neighbors." It suggests courage, or at least acceptance, since the person stops hiding and deals with the problem. People often say they have to, need to or will face the music. It is informal but fine in most writing. It has nothing to do with listening to music; the music is the trouble waiting for you.
Examples
- Sam missed the deadline, so he went to his boss's office to face the music.
- After denting the car, Priya decided to face the music and call her dad right away.
- The team knew they would have to face the music from fans after such a poor season.
Where it comes from
No one knows for sure. The phrase appears in American writing in the mid-1800s. One theory says it comes from the stage, where a nervous performer had to walk out and face the orchestra and the audience. Another links it to soldiers who were drummed out of the army in disgrace. Neither theory is proven.
Check yourself
1. If you have to face the music, what happens?
Answer: You accept the consequences of your actions. Face the music means dealing with the unpleasant results of something you did.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: He skipped practice all week, and now he has to face the music.. Skipping practice leads to consequences, which is what facing the music means.
Similar idioms
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