confrontation

beard the lion in his den To confront face-to-face; to oppose another boldly and openly on his turf; to challenge. W. S. Gilbert used this expression in Iolanthe (1882).

bell the cat To dare to confront danger at its source, despite overwhelming odds. The allusion is to a fable recounted in Langland’s Piers Plowman (1377). A group of mice continually harassed by a certain cat met to decide what to do about the problem. One old mouse suggested that a bell hung around the cat’s neck would serve to warn the mice of the feline’s approach. This idea was greeted with much enthusiasm until a bright young mouse brought up the question, “But who will bell the cat?”

come to grips with To face up to a problematic situation and deal or cope with it; to tackle a problem head-on in an attempt to get it under control; to grapple or struggle with a dilemma or difficulty. The idea of confronting an opposing force suggests that the expression may derive from a sport such as wrestling. This theory is highly conjectural, however, because the many meanings and uses of grip allow for a variety of possible explanations.

face the music To confront stoically the consequences of one’s deeds; to face up to an unpleasant or trying experience. This expression may have originated in the theater, where actors and actresses nervously awaited their cues to come onstage and thus “face the music” in the pit. Another origin may lie in the military practice of mustering soldiers in full battle regalia for inspection, often at the call of a bugle. Figuratively, this term refers to a personal confrontation for which one must gather courage.

in the teeth of In direct opposition to; straight against, without a buffer; confronting, face to face; in defiance or in spite of. This expression of unknown origin dates from the 13th century. The oldest examples of its use describe direct confrontation between two forces:

Since the 18th century, in the teeth of has broadened in its applicability to include confrontations of a less physical or tangible nature, such as between contradictory ideas.

The expression can also mean ‘in the face or presence of.’

showdown A decisive confrontation between opposing parties to settle a dispute; a revelation of facts and other information, usually in hopes of resolving an issue. In poker, a showdown is the laying down of one’s cards, face up, to determine the winner of that hand. Showdown has assumed its figurative implications by extension.

square off To take on a defensive stance; to gird up one’s loins. This phrase originated and is still used as a boxing term for the initial positions that boxers assume at the beginning of a round. The expression maintains widespread figurative use.

take the bull by the horns To attack a problem head-on; to confront without fear or evasiveness; to face up to danger, difficulty or unpleasantness without shrinking. In bullfighting, a matador grasps the horns of a bull about to toss him. Jonathan Swift used the expression in 1711: