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

“Look cute,” Watkins said, “while your hair’s not in your face.”

From Los Angeles Times

That same year, the alternative campus newspaper, Argus, tweaked the pastime in its April Fools issue, running a parody classified ad: “Will the guys who gave the nude run the other night please contact the girls of LaPlata 5. We want to laugh in your face.”

From Washington Post

But the I.R.S. is staying in your face this year about declaring any winnings.

From New York Times

"I mean, this isn’t television. It’s not movies. It’s real life. Somebody puts a gun in your face. She’s handling it well, better than I probably would or most people, I think," he said.

From Fox News

But you forget that your son also has a job: to annoy you by denying your lived experience right in your face.

From New York Times