face the music

Cultural  

1. To accept unpleasant consequences: “After several years of cheating his employer, the embezzler finally had to face the music.”

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face the music Idioms  

1. Confront unpleasantness, especially the consequences of one's errors. For example, When the check bounced, he had to face the music. The precise allusion in this expression has been lost. Most authorities believe it refers to a theater's pit orchestra, which an actor must face when he faces what can be a hostile audience, but some hold it comes from the military, where a formal dismissal in disgrace would be accompanied by band music. [Second half of 1800s] Also see face up to.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

face the music

“Nobody was willing to face the music and request the rate hikes to do that necessary work,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2025

And then I’ll have to face the music.

From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2023

The former president, Johnson believes, needs to face the music if he’s found guilty.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 4, 2023

"We all wanted this so much. Now face the music."

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2022

I glance at the clock—three minutes until he closes it and I have to face the music.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone