Dictionary

slap in the face en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (figuratively) Something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense; an insult, rebuke, or rebuff.
   • As things were, Ulric would probably renounce and marry ignominiously or die unmarried and the hated Michaels would step in, for, once king, the conventional Robert would never give his consent to such an alliance. Besides, it would be a 'damned slap in the face' to half the remaining royalty of Europe […] 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
   • That Joan's ex-boyfriend turned up to the school dance with Mary was a slap in the face for Joan, and the girls are no longer friends.
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see slap, in, the, face. (This sense is a translation hub.)

Forms

Relateds

bitch-slap · pimp-slap · cuff on the ear

Synonyms

kick in the teeth · smack in the face

Translations (66)

fr claque (something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense) · gsw Muulschälle (slap in the face or on the cheek) · lad chaketon (slap in the face or on the cheek) · de Maulschelle (slap in the face or on the cheek) · hu pofon (slap in the face or on the cheek) · gsw Schwinte (slap in the face or on the cheek) · hu arculcsapás (slap in the face or on the cheek) · fr claque (slap in the face or on the cheek) · zdj mbeye (slap in the face or on the cheek) · fa سیلی (slap in the face or on the cheek) · cmn 扇耳光 (slap in the face or on the cheek) · pl policzek (slap in the face or on the cheek) · mk шлака́ница (something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense) · hu pofon (something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense) · cmn 出其不意 (something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense) · tl sampal sa mukha (slap in the face or on the cheek) · nl oorvijg (slap in the face or on the cheek) · es cachetada (slap in the face or on the cheek) · fr soufflet (slap in the face or on the cheek) · nrf cliamuse (slap in the face or on the cheek) · fi isku kasvoihin (slap in the face or on the cheek) · hu arculcsapás (something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense) · es soplamocos (slap in the face or on the cheek) · cmn 大跌眼鏡 /大跌眼镜 (something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense) · mk шлака́ница (slap in the face or on the cheek) · es pasagonzalo (slap in the face or on the cheek) · tr sille (slap in the face or on the cheek) · pt tapa na cara (slap in the face or on the cheek) · hy ապտակ (slap in the face or on the cheek) · hy չափալախ (slap in the face or on the cheek) · pam tampal king lupa (slap in the face or on the cheek) · ka სილის გაწვნა (slap in the face or on the cheek) · de Ohrfeige (slap in the face or on the cheek) · ru оплеу́ха (slap in the face or on the cheek) · ru лещ (slap in the face or on the cheek) · da ørefigen (slap in the face or on the cheek) · it schiaffo (slap in the face or on the cheek) · sh šàmar (slap in the face or on the cheek) · da lussing (slap in the face or on the cheek) · it sberla (slap in the face or on the cheek) · es torta (slap in the face or on the cheek) · pl policzek (something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense) · hy սիլլա (slap in the face or on the cheek) · it sganascione (slap in the face or on the cheek) · hu saller (slap in the face or on the cheek) · nl muilpeer (slap in the face or on the cheek) · gsw Flättere (slap in the face or on the cheek) · cmn 掌摑 /掌掴 (slap in the face or on the cheek) · gsw Oorfiige (slap in the face or on the cheek) · fur patàf (slap in the face or on the cheek) · ru пощёчина (slap in the face or on the cheek) · ca cleca (slap in the face or on the cheek) · it ceffone (slap in the face or on the cheek) · pt tapa no rosto (slap in the face or on the cheek) · es bofetada (slap in the face or on the cheek) · pt balde de água fria (something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense) · nrf cliaque (slap in the face or on the cheek) · es mojicón (slap in the face or on the cheek) · fi isku vasten kasvoja (something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense) · fr gifle (slap in the face or on the cheek) · de Schlag ins Gesicht (something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense) · sv örfil (slap in the face or on the cheek) · gsw Watsch (slap in the face or on the cheek) · de Watsche (slap in the face or on the cheek) · pl liść (slap in the face or on the cheek) · de Backpfeife (slap in the face or on the cheek)

slap in the face en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. To insult or offend unnecessarily.
   • With the election of George Bush this country has apparently chosen an answer to the AIDS crisis consisting of the most reactionary social principles. Adding insult to injury, it is a response which makes a show of slapping all marginalized groups in the face. 1988 December 18, Jack Ben-Levi, “The Death And Birth Of Families”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 23, page 5:
2. To be or suddenly become bluntly obvious to.

Forms