0
MUSCOVITE Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary

Face-off (noun)

Hi,

I am aware that this word means a fight or argument (not to mention its ice hockey related meaning).
My question is about the "logic" of the combination "face" + "off".
How did this "innocent" combination come to mean a fight?

mus-te
  

Top answer

Look to the hockey source: the two players face each other and start off the game by trying to get the puck. Origin: 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase face off: face off, Ice Hockey . to start a game or period with a face-off.

— Mister Micawber

  • Look to the hockey source: the two players face each other and start off the game by trying to get the puck.
  • Origin: 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase face off: face off, Ice Hockey .
  • to start a game or period with a face-off.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
Look to the hockey source: the two players face each other and start off the game by trying to get the puck.

Origin: 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase face off:
face off, Ice Hockey . to start a game or period with a face-off.
0

Related Questions