slap in the face
Words or actions that have offended or otherwise upset someone. It was a real slap in the face when she got promoted over me, especially after the amount of work I did on that last project.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
slap in the face
an insult; an act that causes disappointment or discouragement. Losing the election was a slap in the face for the club president. Failing to get into a good college was a slap in the face to Tim after his years of study.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
slap in the face
A sharp rebuke or rebuff, as in Being criticized in front of my staff was a real slap in the face, or We thought it quite a slap in the face when they returned our letter unopened. The figurative use of this term, which can also refer to a literal blow, dates from the late 1800s.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
a slap in the face
COMMON A slap in the face is an action or remark which insults and upsets you. The union leader described the payouts to both bosses as `a slap in the face for all the hard-working staff who now find themselves out of work'. They promoted a colleague who had been with the company for less time than Paola and it was a real slap in the face for her.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
a slap in the face (or eye)
an unexpected rejection or affront. 1996 Independent The move was seen as another slap in the face for the monarchy in Australia.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
a slap in the ˈface
an action that seems to be intended as a deliberate insult to somebody: The bank refused to lend her any more money, which was a real slap in the face for her. OPPOSITE: give somebody/yourself a pat on the backFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
a slap in the face
n. an insult; a rejection. That remark was a real slap in the face.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.