face facts
Acknowledge the truth
To face facts is to acknowledge reality, especially when it's uncomfortable or unwelcome.
The phrase implies setting aside wishful thinking or denial: You need to face facts—the relationship is over.
Often used as an imperative or with "let's" to introduce a hard truth: Let's face facts: we can't afford this house.
- hard truthUnpleasant accurate statement
- truthAccordance with reality
- reality checkConfrontation with actual circumstances
- mirrorReflective viewing surface
- acknowledgeConfirm receipt or truth
look in the mirror · realize · come to terms with · bitter pill · confront · wake-up call · writing on the wall · reckoning · acceptance · no sugarcoating · courage · grit · humility · clarity · denial · brutal honesty · admit · come clean
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
- Candor Phrasesto be honest, truth be told, honestly, frankly, to tell the truth
- snap out of itsnap out of it, get a grip, get it together, shake it off, wake up
face factsbury one's head in the sand
Avoid acknowledging uncomfortable truths
self-deception · turn a blind eye · wear rose-colored glasses · look the other way · sugarcoat
face factswishful thinking
Belief shaped by desire
rationalize · make excuses · pipe dream · castle in the air · head in the clouds
face factsstick one's head in the sand
Deliberately ignore obvious danger
tune out · dissociate · repress · look away
face, facts, fact, faced, faces, facing, facial, facially, surface