in your face

American  

[in yoor feys] / ˈɪn ˌyʊər ˈfeɪs /

idiom

Informal.

1. Also in-your-face

   1. 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.

   2. displayed or advertised flagrantly, obtrusively, or forcefully.

      Everywhere you go, alcohol is in your face.

   3. (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.

2. 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.

3. (used as an exclamation to tease someone or flaunt something in a confrontational way).

   In your face, Cougars—we won!

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in-your-face British  

adjective

1. slang aggressive and confrontational

   provocative in-your-face activism

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in your face More Idioms  

1. Defiantly confrontational; also, an exclamation of contempt. For example, This show is not suitable for youngsters; its attitude about sex is in your face, or In your face, mister! This slangy expression originated in the 1970s in basketball as a phrase of contempt used against the opposing team and was extended to other areas by the mid-1980s.

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Etymology

Origin of in your face

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Her anger is the simmering kind that bubbles beneath the surface until it finally boils over and she slams a door in your face.

From Literature

“I thought it would be more hardcore and in your face and harsh,” Skarsgård says.

From Los Angeles Times

“The way in which they wanted to do these operations in such an overt, in your face kind of fashion, has created a dynamic that makes it really hard for the agents to execute their duties ...You have these protests following the agents everywhere they go.”

From Los Angeles Times

"There's something about blue that's calming, it endears trust without being too in your face. It's fashion diplomacy," says Kwei.

From BBC

The Grinch will get in your face and yell at you to shut up.

From Los Angeles Times