Defining ‘Face up to’
The phrasal verb ‘face up to’ is a powerful expression that can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. It means to acknowledge and deal with a difficult fact or situation, rather than avoiding it. This phrase is particularly useful in expressing maturity, responsibility, and personal growth – themes that frequently appear in IELTS speaking and writing tasks.
Synonyms and Related Expressions
- Confront
- Accept
- Acknowledge
- Deal with
- Come to terms with
Contextual Usage
‘Face up to’ is versatile and can be used in various contexts, from personal challenges to societal issues. Here are some examples:
- “It’s time we faced up to the environmental challenges threatening our planet.”
- “She finally faced up to her fear of public speaking by joining a debate club.”
- “Companies need to face up to their responsibilities in protecting customer data.”
Facing up to environmental challenges
Grammar Analysis
‘Face up to’ is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning the components always stay together. It’s typically followed by a noun or gerund:
- Face up to + noun: “We must face up to the consequences of our actions.”
- Face up to + gerund: “Facing up to losing is part of becoming a better athlete.”
Application in IELTS
Speaking
In IELTS Speaking, ‘face up to’ can be used to discuss personal experiences, challenges, or opinions on social issues. For example:
Question: “Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.”
Sample answer: “I had to face up to the fact that my chosen career path wasn’t fulfilling. It was a challenging realization, but once I faced up to it, I was able to explore new opportunities that better aligned with my passions.”
Writing
In IELTS Writing, this phrasal verb can add depth to your essays, particularly when discussing societal issues or personal development:
“In today’s rapidly changing job market, it’s crucial for professionals to face up to the need for continuous learning and skill development.”
Remember to use it judiciously, as overuse might make your writing seem repetitive.
Related Phrasal Verbs
-
Stand up to /stænd ʌp tuː/: To resist or oppose someone or something
Example: “We must stand up to injustice wherever we see it.” -
Own up to /əʊn ʌp tuː/: To admit or confess to something, especially a wrongdoing
Example: “He finally owned up to his mistake and apologized.” -
Live up to /lɪv ʌp tuː/: To fulfill expectations or promises
Example: “The new smartphone didn’t live up to the hype surrounding its release.” -
Measure up to /ˈmeʒər ʌp tuː/: To be as good as or equal to a particular standard
Example: “Her performance measured up to the company’s high expectations.” -
Wake up to /weɪk ʌp tuː/: To become aware of or realize something
Example: “People are finally waking up to the dangers of climate change.”
Practice Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
- It’s time we __ __ __ the reality of climate change.
- The company needs to __ __ __ its responsibilities towards its employees.
- She had to __ __ __ her fears before she could move forward.
- Politicians must __ __ __ the consequences of their policies.
- It’s important to __ __ __ our mistakes and learn from them.
- The team had to __ __ __ the fact that they needed more practice.
- We can’t ignore this issue anymore; we need to __ __ __ it.
- He finally __ __ __ the truth about his financial situation.
- Society needs to __ __ __ the growing problem of social media addiction.
- It’s crucial to __ __ __ challenges rather than avoiding them.
Sentence Rewriting
-
Original: We need to confront the issue of cyberbullying.
Rewrite: We need to __. -
Original: The company acknowledged its mistake in handling customer data.
Rewrite: The company __. -
Original: It’s time to deal with the growing economic inequality.
Rewrite: It’s time to __. -
Original: She finally accepted that she needed help with her addiction.
Rewrite: She finally __. -
Original: We must address the challenges of an aging population.
Rewrite: We must __. -
Original: The government is avoiding the pressing issue of healthcare reform.
Rewrite: The government is refusing to __. -
Original: He realized he had to confront his fear of flying.
Rewrite: He realized he had to __. -
Original: It’s important to acknowledge our weaknesses to improve.
Rewrite: It’s important to __. -
Original: The team decided to tackle their communication problems head-on.
Rewrite: The team decided to __. -
Original: Society needs to recognize and address the root causes of crime.
Rewrite: Society needs to __.
Answers and Explanations
Fill in the Blanks:
- face up to
- face up to
- face up to
- face up to
- face up to
- face up to
- face up to
- faced up to
- face up to
- face up to
Sentence Rewriting:
- We need to face up to the issue of cyberbullying.
- The company faced up to its mistake in handling customer data.
- It’s time to face up to the growing economic inequality.
- She finally faced up to the fact that she needed help with her addiction.
- We must face up to the challenges of an aging population.
- The government is refusing to face up to the pressing issue of healthcare reform.
- He realized he had to face up to his fear of flying.
- It’s important to face up to our weaknesses to improve.
- The team decided to face up to their communication problems.
- Society needs to face up to the root causes of crime.
Explanation: In each case, ‘face up to’ is used to replace synonymous expressions that involve confronting, acknowledging, or dealing with challenging situations or truths. This phrasal verb effectively conveys the idea of taking responsibility and addressing issues directly.
Memorization Tips
To remember ‘face up to’, visualize someone literally turning their face towards a challenge instead of away from it. This mental image reinforces the idea of confronting issues directly.
Another technique is to create a memorable sentence: “Fearless Adventurers Can Easily (FACE) Understand Problems (UP TO) solve them.” The first letters of each word spell out ‘face up to’.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
-
Mistake: Using ‘face to’ instead of ‘face up to’
Correct: We need to face up to (not just ‘face to’) our responsibilities. -
Mistake: Separating the components
Correct: We must face up to the challenge (not ‘face the challenge up’). -
Mistake: Using it with abstract concepts
Correct: Face up to the truth (not ‘face up to honesty’).
To avoid these errors, practice using ‘face up to’ in various contexts and always keep the components together. Remember that it’s typically used with concrete situations or truths, not abstract concepts.
Facing up to responsibilities
Conclusion
Mastering ‘face up to’ can significantly enhance your IELTS performance by allowing you to express complex ideas about responsibility and confronting challenges. Its versatility makes it valuable for both Speaking and Writing tasks. Remember to practice using it in various contexts and to keep up with other phrasal verbs to continue improving your English proficiency. By incorporating this phrase into your language repertoire, you’ll be better equipped to describe a time when you worked on a group project or discuss how you’ve overcome personal challenges. Embrace opportunities to use ‘face up to’ in your daily conversations and writing practice to solidify your understanding and usage of this powerful phrasal verb.
