Sage-Tips

Where did the expression face the music come from?

Face the music is an American idiom, it seems to have originated in the New England area in the 1830s. The inspiration for this phrase is unknown. One thought is that face the music was originally an exhortation to face one’s stage fright. Another possible origin is the United States’ military.

What does the phrase on the face of it mean?

phrase. You say on the face of it when you are describing how something seems when it is first considered, in order to suggest that people’s opinion may change when they know or think more about the subject. On the face of it that seems to make sense. But the figures don’t add up.

What does not lose face mean?

to become less respected by others: She had to accept defeat without losing face.

What does the phrase losing face mean?

Definition of lose face : to lose other people’s respect She was afraid that she would lose face if she admitted her mistake.

What does the idiom cut the mustard mean?

to succeed
To cut the mustard is “to reach or surpass the desired standard or performance” or more generally “to succeed, to have the ability to do something.” For instance, Beyoncé really cut the mustard in her new song.

What does the idiom when it rains it pours mean?

Definition of when it rains, it pours —used to say that when something bad happens other bad things usually happen at the same time The team not only lost the game but three of its best players were injured. When it rains, it pours.

What does the term on the heels of mean?

On the heels of – Idioms by The Free Dictionary. On the heels of – Idioms by The Free Dictionary. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/on+the+heels+of. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus – The Free Dictionary 13,037,268,075 visitors served.

What does the term play with fire mean?

Take part in a dangerous undertaking, as in You’re playing with fire if you go behind his back and commit his department.

What is losing face in Chinese culture?

What is ‘losing face’? ‘Losing face’ in China is said to be caused by embarrassment, disagreement, or criticism. ‘Losing face’ is equal to losing the respect of others, and avoiding this situation (‘saving face’) is very important in Chinese culture.

What does tip of the iceberg mean?

Definition of the tip of the iceberg : a small part of something (such as a problem) that is seen or known about when there is a much larger part that is not seen or known about The news is shocking, but we may find out that the stories we’ve heard so far are just the tip of the iceberg.

Why is it called “Losing Face”?

Supposedly, the wax dripping off women’s faces also led to the phrase “losing face.” This phrase is actually derived from a Chinese expression about moral character and social prestige that was loosely translated into “lose face” in the 1800s.

What is the meaning of loseloseface?

Lose face – Be humiliated; lose one’s reputation. ‘Lose face’ began life in English as a translation of the Chinese phrase ‘tiu lien’. That phrase may also be expressed in English as ‘to suffer public disgrace’, that is, to be unable to show one’s face in public.

What does “lose face” mean in Chinese culture?

Actions or words that are disrespectful may cause somebody to “lose face” while gifts, awards and other respect-giving actions may “give face”. It’s a complex concept that is important to grasp if you want to really understand Chinese culture. Here’s what you need to know.

Where does the word ‘save face’ come from?

‘Save face’ comes later. It has no direct equivalent in Chinese and is merely the converse of ‘lose face’. The first known record of it in print is in the June 1899 edition of The Harmsworth Magazine: “That will save my face in the City.”