face up to difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "face up to difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of confronting or dealing with challenges or obstacles in life. Example: "In order to grow, we must learn to face up to difficulties and not shy away from them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

However, patients with already compromised ovaries might face up to difficulties in adapting to the new environment.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A Christianity that refuses to face up to intellectual difficulties, he believes, will always render itself ridiculous.

The New York Times - Books

Obamacare, for all its complexity and teething problems, was, and is, a serious and comprehensive effort to face up to these difficulties and trade-offs.

The New Yorker

In the longer-term future, Atletico will also have to face up to the difficulty of holding on to their inspirational manager, with Simeone understandably capturing the attention of the movers and shakers at European football's elite clubs.

BBC

But if other governments don't play their part, if they don't face up to their domestic difficulties, the talks could collapse, and the dangers of that are devastating.

The Guardian

It added that it had found a worrying trend of people unable to face up to their financial difficulties, with almost one in five (18%) saying they had not opened post if they thought it was a bill or late payment reminder.

The Guardian - Money

"In effect and in reality the top of the football pyramid is still a bastion of white male domination and finds difficulty in having to face up to the challenge of change which, if tackled seriously, would mean giving up some space to allow the participation of women, black, Asian and disabled people as equals within its decision-making structures and as employees at all levels," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Face up to the inevitable.

WikiHow

She made her first film, Little Man Tate, about a mother (played by Foster) facing up to the difficulties of raising a child who might be a genius, in 1991.

Independent

And on January 30th, Thailand eased the exchange controls put in place last May in a vain effort to protect the value of its currency, the baht.More generally, investors seem inclined to believe that Asia's governments have faced up to their difficulties and are taking the painful steps needed to put them right.

The Economist

"While the economy faces up to many difficulties and challenges, we must promote financial reform in an orderly way to better serve economic restructuring," China's State Council said in a statement Wednesday after a meeting presided by Mr. Li, according to Xinhua, the state-run news agency.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "face up to difficulties" when you want to emphasize a proactive and courageous approach to dealing with problems, rather than avoiding or ignoring them.

Common error

Instead of saying "difficulties must be faced up to", use the active voice: "we must face up to difficulties" for a stronger, clearer message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "face up to difficulties" functions as a phrasal verb with a prepositional phrase, indicating the act of confronting or dealing with challenging situations. As Ludwig AI explains, it’s considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "face up to difficulties" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression used to describe confronting problems with courage and determination. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase. While alternatives like "confront challenges" or "address problems" exist, this phrase emphasizes a willingness to acknowledge and proactively deal with challenges. It is best used in a neutral register, suitable for news, general writing, and even scientific contexts. Remember to use the active voice for a stronger impact. The phrase promotes a proactive mindset when dealing with adversity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confront challenges

This alternative is more direct and emphasizes the act of facing the challenges head-on.

meet challenges head-on

This emphasizes a proactive and assertive approach to confronting challenges.

address problems

This phrase focuses on actively dealing with the problems and finding solutions.

tackle obstacles

This alternative emphasizes overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way.

grapple with issues

This suggests a more intense struggle or engagement with the issues.

take on difficulties

This alternative suggests accepting and committing to handle the difficulties.

deal with hardships

This phrase highlights the difficult or adverse conditions being faced.

overcome adversity

This alternative suggests that the difficulties are being successfully surpassed.

manage adversity

This focuses on the skill and effort required to navigate difficult circumstances.

resolve complications

This focuses specifically on finding solutions to complex problems.

FAQs

What does "face up to difficulties" mean?

To "face up to difficulties" means to acknowledge and confront problems or challenges directly and courageously, rather than avoiding them.

How can I use "face up to difficulties" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone's approach to handling challenges, such as: "The company needed to "confront challenges" to remain competitive."

What are some alternatives to "face up to difficulties"?

Some alternatives include "address problems", "tackle obstacles", or "deal with hardships", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "face difficulties" or "face up to difficulties"?

"Face difficulties" is grammatically correct, but "face up to difficulties" emphasizes the willingness to acknowledge and confront the challenges directly. It implies a more proactive and courageous approach.