face the music

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

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

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Chris Brown is facing the music for allegedly smashing a tequila bottle over a music producer’s head at a London nightclub two years ago.

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But the hip-hop stars are now facing the music from their outraged fans online.

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It seems Adele will face the music for alleged plagiarism as a judge in Brazil orders a worldwide ban on one of the pop star’s songs.

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And state and federal antitrust enforcers must continue to keep up the pressure on Big Tech — because forcing these companies to face the music has strong bipartisan support.

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