Langimage
English

face-off

|face/off|

B2

🇺🇸

/ˈfeɪsˌɔf/

🇬🇧

/ˈfeɪsˌɒf/

confrontation

Etymology
Etymology Information

'face-off' originates from the sport of ice hockey, where it describes the method of starting play by dropping the puck between two opposing players.

Historical Evolution

The term 'face-off' was first used in the context of ice hockey in the early 20th century and has since been adopted into general language to describe any confrontation.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant the start of play in ice hockey, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of any confrontation or conflict.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a confrontation or conflict between two parties, often used in sports to describe the start of play.

The face-off between the two teams was intense.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/03/20 04:21