come face to face with (someone or something)
To confront or encounter someone or something directly. I had been trying to avoid my math teacher, but then I came face to face with her in the cafeteria. Training for a marathon has forced me to come face to face with my physical limitations.
come face to face with someone
If you come face to face with someone, you suddenly meet them. I walked into the room and came face to face with Hilde Tomlinson. Compare with face to face.
come face to face with something
COMMON If you come face to face with a bad situation, you suddenly experience it. Before the deal was fully closed, however, Beaverbrook came face to face with a serious problem. Note: You can also say that you are brought face to face with something. I was gradually being brought face to face with the fact that I had failed.