to stare somebody in the face
01
to be imminent or unavoidable
例
Failure was staring him in the face.
02
*** If something stares someone in the face, it is very easy to see or obvious
例
The solution was staring me in the face.
to stare something in the face
01
*** to have to deal with a bad situation that is very likely to occur, or is about to occur
例
We are staring bankruptcy in the face.
