Example: Man muss manchmal jemandem die Stirn bieten, um Respekt zu behalten.
Definition
"Jemandem die Stirn bieten" means to confront or stand up to someone firmly, especially in challenging or opposing situations. It implies asserting oneself courageously to maintain respect or defend one's position against another person.
Translations
stand up to someone
plantar cara
het hoofd bieden
plantar cara
tenir tête à quelqu'un
Etymology
The phrase "jemandem die Stirn bieten" literally translates to 'to offer someone the forehead,' symbolizing facing someone head-on with courage. The forehead represents boldness and directness, so the phrase evolved to mean standing up bravely to someone. Did you know? This expression highlights the importance of facing conflicts openly rather than avoiding them.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Jemandem die Stirn bieten" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select German as the language you want to learn.
stand up to someone