There are several theories about the origin of this accusatory phrase that can be used to inform someone soon they will be punished for previous actions.
A person who is “facing the music” is someone who has no other choice or option rather than accepting the consequences of their acts. This idiom could be used as a joke or to seriously warn someone to prepare emotionally or mentally about something unpleasant that’s coming up.
Like many other English idioms, there are interesting debates around its origins, some relate it to the army, while others claim it comes from theatrical performances.
Origin Of The Phrase
Some theories around its origin relate the phrase to the military, it is known this practice originated in the Ottoman empire in the 13th century where marching bands performed on several instruments such as drums, trumpets, clarinet, oboe, tuba, and many others when troops marched into battle to face their enemies. Additionally, some others believe music was also played when dishonorable officers lost their reputation and were discharged from service.
Other people believe this phrase comes from theatrical performances where actors had to stand in front of the area in which musicians performed and were suggested to face the musicians in the event they felt nervous performing in front of the audience.
The idiom’s earliest appearance in journalism dates back to the 19th century where the New Hampshire Statesman & State Journal released an article containing the phrase: “Will the editor of the Courier explain this black affair. We want no equivocation – ‘face the music‘ this time.”
Understanding The Idea Behind “Facing The Music”
As with many other idioms, the meaning of this phrase is not literal, music is an art form where its main ingredient is sound, connecting them and processing its different elements (harmony, pitch, rhythm, timbre, and texture) is called composing, the result of this process is what we call music.
The word music is related to the Greek word “mousike” which can be translated to “(art) of the Muses” and can also be found in Latin as “musica” which means “the art of music”, historically music has been performed for many reasons, entertainment, ceremonial, pleasure, and many others are in the list of purposes humans have used music for.
Human beings respond to stimulus, most of them are perceived by one of the senses and decoded by our brains, when it comes to music we use the hearing sense, and even though music is not an abstract concept, we can’t really see or touch it, therefore, we can’t literally face it.
However, there’s a controversy around the idea that humans can feel emotions while listening to music, it probably has happened to you, that you play a sad song and soon tears come rolling down your cheeks in response to its heartbreaking lyrics or melody. Some experts suggest we don’t experience any emotional changes caused by merely listening to a recorded song, and there are others who debate these ideas.
Studies have shown we can experience physical changes while listening to music, neuroscientists have studied how some sounds delve into our brains to bring out specific emotions that could be related to past experiences.
Additionally, it’s been discovered that music creates reactions in the amygdala, which is a part of the brain that controls emotions, and the hippocampus, which is a structure related to memory in your brain, proving that music can awaken emotional memory.
After knowing all of these hypotheses, one can feel inclined to believe the origin of the idiom is related to the military ceremonies held once going to battle, the music performed could’ve played an important role in the soldiers’ emotions, even more so in those cases where they have fought more than one battle because they already endured conflict, the music was just the prelude of that confrontation about to start.
How People Use The Phrase
Here are some other phrases that express the same idea as the idiom “face the music”:
- Accept the consequences of one’s acts
- To commit oneself to a challenge or task
- To confront an adversary in his or her own environment
- To be blamed or punished for something, especially for the wrongful actions of another
- Accept, endure a difficult situation
- Take the bull by the horns
- Be confronted with disagreeable results
- Accept criticism for something that you have done
Use Of The Idiom In The Press
In February 2016, The Express Tribune newspaper released an article entitled “Brick kilns: Pay workers notified wages or face the music, says DCO”
In February 2018, the Daily Mail UK published an article making reference to a possible diss between Kylie and Kanye entitled “Time to face the music (and Kanye)! Fresh-faced Kylie Jenner arrives home to LA from NYFW after ‘secretly’ signing Puma deal”
In February 2016, the Daily Post published an article referring to the prosecution of corruption in Nigeria entitled “Those guilty of corruption must face the music – Catholic Bishops tell Buhari”
In March 2016, The Post Star released an article containing the phrase:
“Bravos to four of the five Schuylerville Village Board members who faced the music in a meeting with residents to discuss the details for the proposed zoning code.”
In 2016, the Louisiana Weekly released an article entitled Big Freedia takes ‘full responsibility’ containing the following sentence “New Orleans bounce music queen Big Freedia is facing the music in a mature fashion as she takes “full responsibility” for stealing money from the government.”
Related Terms And Examples
Bow to fate
“There’s no way out of this situation, you can only bow to fate and hope for the best”
Carry the can
“regardless of who makes a mistake, it’s the manager who has to carry the can“
Come to grips with
“The board of directors has failed to come to grips with the error before it became a problem”
Face the facts
“We can’t go on any longer without facing the fact that the dress code policies aren’t working.”
Face up to it
“Divorce papers have been already filed, he’s going to have to face up to the fact that she’s not coming back to him.”
Grasp the nettle
“It’s more responsible to grasp the nettle, speak to your manager and make it was your mistake.”
Grin and bear it
“It was not my intention to crash your car, but I guess I’ll just have to grin and bear it.“
Make one’s bed and lie on it.
“I don’t feel bad about how it turned out, it’s clear Bill made his bed and now he must lie in it”
Pay the piper
“If your mom finds out you’ve been drinking like that you will pay the piper.“
Take the flak
Take the heat
“In this job, there are times when you must take the heat”
Take one’s medicine
“Even though she didn’t like to be suspended, she took his medicine and didn’t complain much about it”
Other Informal Related Terms
Suck it up
Take one’s lumps
Take the rap
Other Similar Expressions
These expressions are used when referring to facing a dangerous situation:
- Beard the lion in his den
- Brave danger
- Confront danger
- Defy danger
- Face up to the danger
- Stand up to the danger
- Bell the cat
- Bite the bullet
Opposite Expressions
Here are some expressions used when someone commits a dishonest act and doesn’t receive any punishment for it:
- Getting away with something
- Run away
- Escape
- Take flight
Examples Of The Phrase In A Sentence
Here are some examples using the idiom:
- If she caught you cheating on her, eventually you have to face the music. There’s no way out of it.
- Your child broke my windshield while you were away and now you have to face the music for his acts.
- We must make everything possible to deliver this project on time otherwise we all will have to face the music when the boss asks why the delay.
- You can’t fool everybody all the time, eventually, you will face the music.
- After receiving low scores in math, he had to go home and face the music.
Additional English Idioms
Popular Culture
In 2020, an American comedy entitled Bill & Ted Face the Music was released, it featured Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter as main characters, the movie tells the story of Bill and Ted who have been taken to the future and told they had until 7:17 PM to write a song or the world would end.
“Face the music” is also the name of a 1932 political satire theatre play, it was a collaboration between the musician Irving Berlin and the writer Moss Hart, the story mocks police and political corruption investigated in New York City in 1931.
Conclusion
Idioms are important for English conversations, and their meanings are not literally implied, now we know facing the music is properly used when you or somebody is about to endure punishment for actions that themselves or someone else did.
After decoding the idea, it’s highly possible this originated from the military. Seeing how you can use it both for today’s business life when you or a coworker has to take the heat for the corporate results or in military settings by referring to someone’s inability to meet their duty and then later facing the consequences of their actions.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.