fly in the face of

Idioms and Phrases

Also, fly in the teeth of . Act in direct opposition to or defiance of. For example, This decision flies in the face of all precedent , or They went out without permission, flying in the teeth of house rules . This metaphoric expression alludes to a physical attack. [Mid-1500s]

Related Words

• abandon
• break with
• disavow
• dismiss
• disown
• forsake
• recant
• renounce
• repeal
• rescind
• retract
• reverse
• revoke
• spurn