face-off

[feys-awf, -of]

noun

Ice Hockey.

1. the act of facing the puck, as at the start of a game or period.

2. an open confrontation.

face-off

noun

1. ice hockey the method of starting a game, in which the referee drops the puck, etc between two opposing players

2. a confrontation

verb

1. to start play by (a face-off)

Word History and Origins

Origin of face-off¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase face off

Example Sentences

Mr. Strong’s book dives into the political machinations behind the chess face-off in deliberate detail—Florence, born in Communist Hungary, is threatened by Walter with deportation if she doesn’t get Freddie to lose the match.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At a party, he explained to me that after every opening face-off, no matter what, he would skate down to the end of the ice and smear his opponent against the boards.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“And it’s also like a face-off. Maybe me versus my ego on a rainy war field at the end of ‘Squid Game.’”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Another shooting occurred on the 4 July public holiday at an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, after a protest escalated into a face-off with police.

Read more on BBC

After a news conference full of squabbling, the face-off passed without major incident.

Read more on BBC