in your face
Americanidiom
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Also in-your-face
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seeming to express or invite confrontation; defiant, militant, or provocative.
His political commentary is always in your face.
Something drives him to break every rule, and to do it with a deep-down, in-your-face belligerence.
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displayed or advertised flagrantly, obtrusively, or forcefully.
Everywhere you go, alcohol is in your face.
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(of a color, flavor, or the like) strong or vivid; bold rather than subtle.
The brew has a huge, in-your-face hop flavor, but very little bitterness.
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in a provocative, flagrant, or bold way.
They’re so brazen—they do their cheating in your face, daring you to do something about it.
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(used as an exclamation to tease someone or flaunt something in a confrontational way).
In your face, Cougars—we won!
adjective
Etymology
Origin of in your face
First recorded in 1985–90
Explanation
When something is in-your-face, it can't be ignored, because it's so obvious or blatant. An in-your-face political campaign doesn't try to hide the fact that it's aggressive and sometimes hostile to the opposition. A teenager looking for an in-your-face way to rebel against her conservative parents might come home one day with blue hair, a pierced nose, and a tattoo. A journalist with an in-your-face style asks blunt — or even rude — questions and refuses to accept imprecise answers. And an in-your-face marketing campaign could include obvious product placement in a popular movie, huge billboards, and loud TV commercials.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Suga says the agency wants Arirang "to be in your face", while RM says he has a "physical reaction" to linking the band to such a monumental song.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
This exciting nutrition system may include fun things like nearly blinding your boss with direct sunlight at an open-air business lunch, or shoveling food in your face from 5:10 to 5:11 p.m.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
They developed an identity: get in your face, play defense, go hard.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026
The tour’s full band debut of “Ohio” was electric and in your face.
From Salon • Aug. 19, 2025
“Boy, I can see hunger in your face and eyes,” he said.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.