face-off
Americannoun
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the act of facing the puck, as at the start of a game or period.
-
an open confrontation.
noun
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ice hockey the method of starting a game, in which the referee drops the puck, etc between two opposing players
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a confrontation
verb
Etymology
Origin of face-off
First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase face off
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Before the face-off drama, a twitchy, stone-faced Dubois glanced around at the stained-glass windows as the managers went toe-to-toe backing their men.
From BBC
The supporters at Santagiulia were partisan in favour of the Canadians, with the USA team roundly booed before face-off.
From BBC
From the opening face-off, it was immediately clear that a different Canada came ready for battle.
It was looking as though we wouldn’t get a badly needed, monthslong, toe-to-toe face-off about all that’s right and wrong in the sprawling metropolis of high hopes and low expectations.
From Los Angeles Times
The face-off there is in the part of the country not controlled by the Houthi militant group.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
