tell (one) to (one's) face
(redirected from tell to face)tell (one) to (one's) face
To say something directly and unambiguously to one, especially when it is something critical, derogatory, inflammatory, or otherwise negative. A: "Tom's been telling people around the office that you've been slacking lately." B: "If that's the way he feels, why doesn't he come tell me to my face?" I know she spreads a lot of nasty stuff about me behind my back, but she's too cowardly to ever tell me to my face.
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