outface

/aut'feis/

Thân thiện

He tried to outface his rival with a steady gaze.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To confront someone with a bold, steady, or defiant look that causes them to lose confidence, become unsettled, or submit. It involves overcoming an opponent or a challenge through the power of an unyielding gaze or demeanor.

Usage

• The verb "outface" is used to describe the act of staring down an opponent, whether literal or figurative, until they back down. It implies a contest of wills where one person's resolve, shown through their expression, is stronger.
• It is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (the person or thing being faced down).

Examples

• Verb:
  • The seasoned negotiator managed to outface the aggressive executive across the table.
  • She outfaced her critics with a calm and confident smile, refusing to be intimidated.

Advanced Usage

• "to outface danger": To confront a perilous situation with courage and composure.
  • The captain outfaced the storm, guiding the ship through the towering waves.
• "to outface a challenge": To meet a difficult test with unwavering determination.
  • The team outfaced the challenge of the final quarter and secured their victory.

Variants and Related Words

• Outstare (verb): To stare back at someone until they look away; a close synonym, though "outface" can imply a broader sense of defiance beyond just the eyes.
• Face down (phrasal verb): To confront and overcome through boldness. This is a common phrasal verb with a very similar meaning to "outface."

Synonyms

• Stare down: To look fixedly at someone until they yield.
• Defy: To openly resist or refuse to obey.
• Confound: To cause surprise or confusion, which can be a result of outfacing someone.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Face up to: To accept and deal with a difficult situation bravely. While similar, this phrasal verb focuses more on acceptance and confrontation rather than the act of causing another to submit through a look.
  • He had to face up to his responsibilities.

Related Idioms

• Look someone in the eye: To face someone directly and honestly. This is a component of the act of outfacing.
  • She could look her accuser in the eye, knowing she was innocent.
• Stand one's ground: To refuse to retreat or change one's position. This describes the resolute stance inherent in outfacing.
  • Despite the pressure, he stood his ground.

Học thuật

Verb

1. overcome or cause to waver or submit by (or as if by) staring
   • He simply stared down his opponent

Từ đồng nghĩa

• stare down
• outstare