'To fly in the face of' definitions:

Definition of 'To fly in the face of'

From: GCIDE
  • Face \Face\ (f[=a]s), n. [F., from L. facies form, shape, face, perh. from facere to make (see Fact); or perh. orig. meaning appearance, and from a root meaning to shine, and akin to E. fancy. Cf. Facetious.]
  • 1. The exterior form or appearance of anything; that part which presents itself to the view; especially, the front or upper part or surface; that which particularly offers itself to the view of a spectator. [1913 Webster]
  • A mist . . . watered the whole face of the ground. --Gen. ii. 6. [1913 Webster]
  • Lake Leman wooes me with its crystal face. --Byron. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That part of a body, having several sides, which may be seen from one point, or which is presented toward a certain direction; one of the bounding planes of a solid; as, a cube has six faces. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Mach.) (a) The principal dressed surface of a plate, disk, or pulley; the principal flat surface of a part or object. (b) That part of the acting surface of a cog in a cog wheel, which projects beyond the pitch line. (c) The width of a pulley, or the length of a cog from end to end; as, a pulley or cog wheel of ten inches face. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Print.) (a) The upper surface, or the character upon the surface, of a type, plate, etc. (b) The style or cut of a type or font of type. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Outside appearance; surface show; look; external aspect, whether natural, assumed, or acquired. [1913 Webster]
  • To set a face upon their own malignant design. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • This would produce a new face of things in Europe. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • We wear a face of joy, because We have been glad of yore. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. That part of the head, esp. of man, in which the eyes, cheeks, nose, and mouth are situated; visage; countenance. [1913 Webster]
  • In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. --Gen. iii. 19. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Cast of features; expression of countenance; look; air; appearance. [1913 Webster]
  • We set the best faceon it we could. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. (Astrol.) Ten degrees in extent of a sign of the zodiac. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. Maintenance of the countenance free from abashment or confusion; confidence; boldness; shamelessness; effrontery. [1913 Webster]
  • This is the man that has the face to charge others with false citations. --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]
  • 10. Presence; sight; front; as in the phrases, before the face of, in the immediate presence of; in the face of, before, in, or against the front of; as, to fly in the face of danger; to the face of, directly to; from the face of, from the presence of. [1913 Webster]
  • 11. Mode of regard, whether favorable or unfavorable; favor or anger; mostly in Scriptural phrases. [1913 Webster]
  • The Lord make his face to shine upon thee. --Num. vi. 25. [1913 Webster]
  • My face [favor] will I turn also from them. --Ezek. vii. 22. [1913 Webster]
  • 12. (Mining) The end or wall of the tunnel, drift, or excavation, at which work is progressing or was last done. [1913 Webster]
  • 13. (Com.) The exact amount expressed on a bill, note, bond, or other mercantile paper, without any addition for interest or reduction for discount; most commonly called face value. --McElrath. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Face is used either adjectively or as part of a compound; as, face guard or face-guard; face cloth; face plan or face-plan; face hammer. [1913 Webster]
  • Face ague (Med.), a form of neuralgia, characterized by acute lancinating pains returning at intervals, and by twinges in certain parts of the face, producing convulsive twitches in the corresponding muscles; -- called also {tic douloureux}.
  • Face card, one of a pack of playing cards on which a human face is represented; the king, queen, or jack.
  • Face cloth, a cloth laid over the face of a corpse.
  • Face guard, a mask with windows for the eyes, worn by workman exposed to great heat, or to flying particles of metal, stone, etc., as in glass works, foundries, etc.
  • Face hammer, a hammer having a flat face.
  • Face joint (Arch.), a joint in the face of a wall or other structure.
  • Face mite (Zool.), a small, elongated mite ({Demdex folliculorum}), parasitic in the hair follicles of the face.
  • Face mold, the templet or pattern by which carpenters, etc., outline the forms which are to be cut out from boards, sheet metal, etc.
  • Face plate. (a) (Turning) A plate attached to the spindle of a lathe, to which the work to be turned may be attached. (b) A covering plate for an object, to receive wear or shock. (c) A true plane for testing a dressed surface. --Knight.
  • Face wheel. (Mach.) (a) A crown wheel. (b) A wheel whose disk face is adapted for grinding and polishing; a lap.
  • face value the value written on a financial instrument; same as face[13]. Also used metaphorically, to mean apparent value; as, to take his statemnet at its face value. [1913 Webster]
  • Cylinder face (Steam Engine), the flat part of a steam cylinder on which a slide valve moves.
  • Face of an anvil, its flat upper surface.
  • Face of a bastion (Fort.), the part between the salient and the shoulder angle.
  • Face of coal (Mining), the principal cleavage plane, at right angles to the stratification.
  • Face of a gun, the surface of metal at the muzzle.
  • Face of a place (Fort.), the front comprehended between the flanked angles of two neighboring bastions. --Wilhelm.
  • Face of a square (Mil.), one of the sides of a battalion when formed in a square.
  • Face of a watch, clock, compass, card etc., the dial or graduated surface on which a pointer indicates the time of day, point of the compass, etc.
  • Face to face. (a) In the presence of each other; as, to bring the accuser and the accused face to face. (b) Without the interposition of any body or substance. "Now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face." 1 --Cor. xiii. 12. (c) With the faces or finished surfaces turned inward or toward one another; vis [`a] vis; -- opposed to {back to back}.
  • To fly in the face of, to defy; to brave; to withstand.
  • To make a face, to distort the countenance; to make a grimace; -- often expressing dislike, annoyance, or disagreement. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'To fly in the face of'

From: GCIDE
  • Fly \Fly\ (fl[imac]), v. i. [imp. Flew (fl[=u]); p. p. Flown (fl[=o]n); p. pr. & vb. n. Flying.] [OE. fleen, fleen, fleyen, flegen, AS. fle['o]gan; akin to D. vliegen, OHG. fliogan, G. fliegen, Icel. flj[=u]ga, Sw. flyga, Dan. flyve, Goth. us-flaugjan to cause to fly away, blow about, and perh. to L. pluma feather, E. plume. [root]84. Cf. Fledge, Flight, Flock of animals.]
  • 1. To move in or pass through the air with wings, as a bird.
  • 2. To move through the air or before the wind; esp., to pass or be driven rapidly through the air by any impulse. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To float, wave, or rise in the air, as sparks or a flag. [1913 Webster]
  • Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. --Job v. 7. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To move or pass swiftly; to hasten away; to circulate rapidly; as, a ship flies on the deep; a top flies around; rumor flies. [1913 Webster]
  • Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • The dark waves murmured as the ships flew on. --Bryant. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To run from danger; to attempt to escape; to flee; as, an enemy or a coward flies. See Note under Flee. [1913 Webster]
  • Fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Whither shall I fly to escape their hands ? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly; -- usually with a qualifying word; as, a door flies open; a bomb flies apart. [1913 Webster]
  • To fly about (Naut.), to change frequently in a short time; -- said of the wind.
  • To fly around, to move about in haste. [Colloq.]
  • To fly at, to spring toward; to rush on; to attack suddenly.
  • To fly in the face of, to insult; to assail; to set at defiance; to oppose with violence; to act in direct opposition to; to resist.
  • To fly off, to separate, or become detached suddenly; to revolt.
  • To fly on, to attack.
  • To fly open, to open suddenly, or with violence.
  • To fly out. (a) To rush out. (b) To burst into a passion; to break out into license.
  • To let fly. (a) To throw or drive with violence; to discharge. "A man lets fly his arrow without taking any aim." --Addison. (b) (Naut.) To let go suddenly and entirely; as, to let fly the sheets. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'To fly in the face of'