Heading
Face, subs. (colloquial). 1. Confidence; boldness; also (more frequently) impudence: e.g., 'I like your face' = I like your cheek. Once literary; Cf., Cheek, Jaw, Gab, Brow, Mouth, Lip, etc.
1610. Ben Jonson, The Alchemist. 'Dramatis Personæ.'—Face.
1617. Middleton, A Faire Quarrell, II., ii. I that had face enough to do the deed, Cannot want tongue to speak it.
1668. Etherege, She Would if She Could, I., i. (1704), p. 95. I admire thy impudence, I could never have had the face to have wheadled the poor knight so.
1676. Etherege, Man of Mode, V., i., in wks. (1704), 265. I am amazed to find him here! How has he the face to come near you?
1702. Defoe, Shortest Way, in Arber's Garner, vol. VII., p. 590. You have butchered one king! deposed another king! and made a mock king of a third! and yet, you could have the face to expect to be employed and trusted by the fourth.
1714. Spectator, No. 566. A man has scarce the face to make his court to a lady, without some credentials from the service to recommend him.
1854. F. E. Smedley, Harry Coverdale, ch. liii. I can hardly suppose even Phil Tirrett would have the face to throw me over and ride for O'Brien.
1870. London Figaro, 3 June. 'Look at that girl in pink, Sancho,' he said; 'that's Lord Rubric's daughter. Ran away with the family organist—that's he with her. I like their face, though, to come here; it's awfully good.'
2. (common).—Credit. To push one's face = to get credit by bluster.—[See sense 1 and cf., Face-Entry.]
1765. Goldsmith, Essays, VIII. There are three ways of getting into debt: first, by pushing a face; as thus: 'You, Mr. Lutestring, send me home six yards of that paduasoy, damme; but, harkee, don't think I ever intend to pay you for it, damme.' At this the mercer laughs heartily; cuts off the paduasoy, and sends it home; nor is he, till too late, surprised to find the gentleman had said nothing but the truth, and kept his word.
1865. Bacon, Handbook of America, p. 365. To run one's face, to make use of one's credit, to run one's face for a thing is to get it 'on tick.'
1875. American English in Chamb. Journal, 25 Sept., p. 610. To run your face, which means, to go upon credit.
3. (common).—A qualification of contempt: e.g., 'Now face! where are you a-shoving of?'
Verb (old).—To bully.—See all senses, especially To Face with a card of ten.
1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, iv., 3. Face not me; thou hast brav'd many men; brave not me; I will neither be fac'd nor brav'd.
