To do one’s best in adverse circumstances; to meet difficulties bravely.
1850. Mr. Schenck of Ohio had been accustomed to hear the North lectured,—the North told to “stand up and face the music,”—&c.—House of Repr., Jan. 4: Cong. Globe, p. 81.
1850. I was informed that the gentleman from N. Carolina (Mr. Venable) asked—what?—To face the music? No, sir, he asked to be excused from voting; and this is what he calls “facing the music.”—Mr. Van Dyke of N.J., the same, March 4: id., p. 324, Appendix.
1850. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Root) asks us to face the music on an abstraction of his.—Mr. McClernand of Illinois, the same, Aug. 29: id., p. 1701.
1852. Hastily jumping up I “faced the music” and waited in silent expectation. [Then the choir began].—Yale Lit. Mag., xvii. 313 (July).
1853. He knew that he would be obliged to “face the music,” sooner or later.—‘Turnover: a Tale of New Hampshire,’ p. 58.
1853. [He said] he would any how ‘face the music.’—Knick. Mag., xlii. 512 (Nov.).
1857. The music—why not face it?—Head-line, Oregon Weekly Times, July 8.
1857. A strong determination to face the music is everywhere manifested.—Worcester Spy, Sept. 22 (Bartlett).
1858. She shall not be the daughter of a sneak. I shall face the music.—Knick. Mag., li. 27 (Jan.).
1860. Instead of … facing the music, the Whig coons thought it best to make as few tracks as possible.—Richmond Enquirer, July 27, p. 4/3.
1861. While now and then a weak-kneed doughface has exhibited slight symptoms of an ague, ninety-nine hundredths of the Republicans have faced the music like men.—Oregon Argus, Feb. 9.
1870. If timid and nervous he retreated soon; but if he faced the music, the whittling was more energetic, the whistling louder and shriller, the knives approached closer and flashed more brightly, till his retreat was a necessity.—J. H. Beadle, ‘Life in Utah,’ p. 76 (Phila., &c.).
1878. I like to see a man face the music.—H. B. Stowe, ‘Poganuc People,’ chap. xviii.
1888. He must not skip out. He must face the music.—Chicago Inter-Ocean, Feb. 20 (Farmer).
