to face the music

Face Face (f[=a]s), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Faced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Facing}.] 1. To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; to confront; to encounter; as, to face an enemy in the field of battle. [1913 Webster]

I'll face This tempest, and deserve the name of king. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. To Confront impudently; to bully. [1913 Webster]

I will neither be facednor braved. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. To stand opposite to; to stand with the face or front toward; to front upon; as, the apartments of the general faced the park; some of the seats on the train faced backward. [1913 Webster]

He gained also with his forces that part of Britain which faces Ireland. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

4. To cover in front, for ornament, protection, etc.; to put a facing upon; as, a building faced with marble. [1913 Webster]

5. To line near the edge, esp. with a different material; as, to face the front of a coat, or the bottom of a dress. [1913 Webster]

6. To cover with better, or better appearing, material than the mass consists of, for purpose of deception, as the surface of a box of tea, a barrel of sugar, etc. [1913 Webster]

7. (Mach.) To make the surface of (anything) flat or smooth; to dress the face of (a stone, a casting, etc.); esp., in turning, to shape or smooth the flat surface of, as distinguished from the cylindrical surface. [1913 Webster]

8. To cause to turn or present a face or front, as in a particular direction. [1913 Webster]

{To face down}, to put down by bold or impudent opposition. ``He faced men down.'' --Prior.

{To face (a thing) out}, to persist boldly or impudently in an assertion or in a line of conduct. ``That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.'' --Shak.

{to face the music} to admit error and accept reprimand or punishment as a consequence for having failed or having done something wrong; to willingly experience an unpleasant situation out of a sense of duty or obligation; as, as soon as he broke the window with the football, Billy knew he would have to face the music. [1913 Webster +PJC]