face-off en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈfeɪsˌɑf/ (US)
Etymology
From face + off, or a deverbal from face off, c. 1889.
Meanings
-
A confrontation or argument between two people or groups.
It's unclear which side will win the latest face-off between the President and Congress.
Huntsman starts out with a vision of Theron that’s specific, unique, and weighted in character, but it trends throughout toward generic fantasy tropes and black-and-white morality, and climaxes in a thoroughly familiar face-off.
2012 May 31, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Review: Snow White And The Huntsman”, in A.V. Club, archived from the original on 30 Mar 2013:
-
The start of play, when two players try to get control of the puck dropped by the referee.
Canada’s men’s hockey team defeated the USA 3-2 in overtime Thursday to capture the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off Championship as the NHL put on a show in the first edition of this midseason international tournament.
2025 February 20, Homero De la Fuente, “Canada beats Team USA in overtime thriller to win hockey’s first-ever 4 Nations Face-off championship”, in CNN:
- (qualifier:field lacrosse) The start of play, when two players attempt to get possession of a ball placed on the ground between them by the referee.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| face off | alternative | lexicographic | |
| face-offs | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| faceoff | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Translations (16)
es contrapunto (confrontation or argument between two people or groups) · cs rozhoz (start of play in ice hockey etc.) · fi aloitus (start of play in ice hockey etc.) · bg була (start of play in ice hockey etc.) · ru противостоя́ние (confrontation or argument between two people or groups) · ru вбрасывание (start of play in ice hockey etc.) · es encaramiento (confrontation or argument between two people or groups) · ru противобо́рство (confrontation or argument between two people or groups) · es careo (confrontation or argument between two people or groups) · sv tekning (start of play in ice hockey etc.) · az qarşıdurma (confrontation or argument between two people or groups) · cs buly (start of play in ice hockey etc.) · cmn 對質 /对质 (confrontation or argument between two people or groups) · ja 対決 (confrontation or argument between two people or groups) · ru конфронта́ция (confrontation or argument between two people or groups) · cmn 對峙 /对峙 (confrontation or argument between two people or groups)