stare something in the face

stare (someone or something) in the face

1. Literally, to make direct and uninterrupted eye contact with someone. She just walked up to the boss, stared him in the face, and asked for a raise! I could never do that!2. To confront a situation or issue directly. The suffragettes stared injustice in the face and won the right to vote.See also: face, stare

stare something in the ˈface

be unable to avoid something: They were staring defeat in the face.See also: face, something, stare