face the music
Formsfaces the music, facing the music, faced the music
- 1To confront and accept the unpleasant results that follow from what one has done.
When the audit exposed the missing funds, the manager finally had to face the music.
She stayed abroad for years rather than come home and face the music for the scandal.
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Origin
The origin is uncertain, but several sources have been suggested: a performer on stage facing the music from the orchestra pit while confronting a possibly hostile audience; a soldier being dishonourably discharged and paraded before others to the sound of a drum or music; or a soldier facing the noise of battle, since 'music' was military slang for the sound of gunfire.