come face to face with something

come face to face with (someone or something)

To confront or encounter someone or something directly. I had been trying to avoid my math teacher, but then I came face to face with her in the cafeteria. Training for a marathon has forced me to come face to face with my physical limitations.

See also: come, face

come face to face with something

COMMON If you come face to face with a bad situation, you suddenly experience it. Before the deal was fully closed, however, Beaverbrook came face to face with a serious problem. Note: You can also say that you are brought face to face with something. I was gradually being brought face to face with the fact that I had failed.

See also: come, face, something