If you say sth. unpleasant to someone's face, you say it to them directly, when you are with them:

If you've got something to say, say it to my face.

in the face of sth.

despite having to deal with a difficult situation or problem:

She left home in the face of strong opposition from her parents.

相关高考试题

1. ________ with so much trouble, we failed to complete the task on time. (2006 四川)

A. Faced B. Face C. Facing D. To face

2. ________with a difficult situation, Arnold decided to ask his boss for advice. (2005北京春)

A. To face B. Having faced C. Faced D. Facing

答案及解析：1. A. .2. C. face with 使面对问题等，常用被动语态。 2. Unfortunately, if the pump breaks down, the repairing of the pump takes several days,...(P59)

break down

phrasal verb

1) If a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working: 机器出故障，汽车抛锚

Our car broke down and we had to push it off the road.

2）If a system, relationship or discussion breaks down, it fails because there is a problem or disagreement. 计划等失败

3）to be unable to control your feelings and to start to cry: 精神崩溃

When we gave her the bad news, she broke down and cried.

break 常用短语：

break away vt./vi. 断掉；拆除；剪掉； 与......断绝关系(from)

break in vi. 强行闯入；打岔

break into vt. 闯入，进入

break off vt. 折断，拆掉；vi. 停止说话，稍事休息

break out vi. 突然发生， 爆发

break through vt./vi. 突破（障碍）

break up vt./vi. 击碎，拆散； 结束；终止； （与）人分