Synonyms

slap in the face

Idioms

A sharp rebuke or rebuff, as in Being criticized in front of my staff was a real slap in the face, or We thought it quite a slap in the face when they returned our letter unopened. The figurative use of this term, which can also refer to a literal blow, dates from the late 1800s.

Example Sentences

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slap in the face

"His return with complete impunity and without punishment for those crimes is a tremendous slap in the face to the victims," legal analyst Joaquin Mejia told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026

If they return, it is more than a slap in the face of every sane and thoughtful Angeleno.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

It turns your gift into a slap in the face with a wet fish.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 13, 2026

"It said I will still get a free pint on my birthday, but that's basically a slap in the face," she said.

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026

Every letter had been a slap in the face to Wylan, a kind of cruel joke.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

slap in the face

Example Sentences

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