faces the music
Confronts the fallout
To face the music is to accept the consequences of one's actions, especially unpleasant ones.
The phrase implies confronting criticism, punishment, or difficult realities rather than avoiding them: After the scandal broke, the CEO finally had to face the music.
The origin is uncertain—possibly from theater or military contexts where one must stand before others.
- own upAcknowledge one's wrongdoing
- admitConfess or grant entry
- come cleanAdmit the full truth
- judgeOne who decides
- truthAccordance with reality
own up to · hard truth · fallout · penalty · gulp · fortitude · tremble · courage · confess · dues · comeuppance · integrity · confrontation · aftermath · repercussion · answer for · pay the piper · piper
faces the musicpasses the buck
Transfers blame to another
buries one's head in the sand · ducks out · slips away · looks the other way
faces the musicruns away
Escapes by fleeing
turns tail · chickens out · flees · takes flight · backs down
face, faces, faced, facing, facial, facially, deface, defaced, defacing