face-off
Hockey's opening ceremony
A face-off is a direct confrontation between opposing sides.
In hockey and lacrosse, it's the method of starting play—two players facing each other while an official drops the puck or ball between them.
The sports sense extends to any head-to-head showdown: a face-off between the two candidates, The meeting turned into a face-off over budget priorities.
Violent disagreement or collision
- conflictOpposition between parties
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
rivalry · opposition · antagonism · tension · hostility · struggle · contention · feud
Hockey's rubber projectile
- rinkEnclosed skating surface
- linesmanSideline sports official
- stickThin piece of wood
- skatesWheeled or bladed footwear
goalie · draw · center · boards · penalty · powerplay · icing · offside
Small one-handed firearms
- swordsEdged fighting weapons
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- secondsTime units, or extras
- combatArmed hostile engagement
challenge · Hamilton · dawn · rapier · epee · fencing · gentlemen · affair
Gap or start
- commencementAct of starting
- beginningInitial stage of something
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
clash
Violent disagreement or collision
- conflictOpposition between parties
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
standoff · rivalry · opposition · antagonism · tension · hostility · struggle · contention · feud · quarrel
puck
Hockey's rubber projectile
skates · goalie · draw · center · boards · penalty · powerplay · icing · offside · slapshot
pistols
Small one-handed firearms
combat · challenge · Hamilton · dawn · rapier · epee · fencing · gentlemen · affair · chivalry
opening
Gap or start
- commencementAct of starting
- beginningInitial stage of something
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
initiation · outset · onset · launch
- suspensesuspense, suspenseful, tension, nail-biter, nail-biting
- tournamentstournament, tournaments, bracket, brackets, tournament brackets
- competitioncompete, competitor, contender, winner, sports
- boxingjab, uppercut, hook, punch, knockout
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- hockeypuck, hockey, ice hockey, pucks, field hockey
face-offpeace
Freedom from disturbance
reconciliation · harmony · truce · agreement · accord
face-offretreat
Sanctuary or withdrawal
withdrawal · avoidance · evasion · backing down · flight