facer

American  

[fey-ser] / ˈfeɪ sər /

noun

1. a person or thing that faces.

2. Informal. a blow in the face.

3. British Informal. an unexpected major difficulty, dilemma, or defeat.

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facer British  

/ ˈfeɪsə /

noun

1. a person or thing that faces

2. a lathe tool used to turn a face perpendicular to the axis of rotation

3. informal a difficulty or problem

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Etymology

Origin of facer

First recorded in 1505–15; face + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Here was a facer for Mr. Lightfoot, and Jefferson Creede, to whom all eyes were turned in the crisis, smiled maliciously and let him sweat.

From Hidden Water by Dixon, Maynard

There," he said, as he took a ladleful o' broth and began to cool it deliberately, "that's the most scientific facer I ever planted on a man's forehead in my life.

From The Catholic World; Volume I, Issues 1-6 A Monthly Eclectic Magazine by Rameur, E.

To tell you the truth, Patricia, the news was rather a facer, don't you know; for my first impulse was to believe it.

From The Last Woman by Beeckman, Ross

A dinner party of ten with ladies was rather a facer for Mr. Henry Harper, in spite of the fact that his social laurels were clustering thicker upon him.

From The Sailor by Snaith, J. C.

This was a facer, and partly accounted for the secret contempt in which the sorcerers were held by many in the nation.

From In the Whirl of the Rising by Mitford, Bertram