In your face

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In your face

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In your face

Meaning

In a bold aggressive manner.

Origin

This originated in the US in the 1970s. Many of the earliest citations relate to confrontations in sport. The earliest I can find is from Charles Rosen's novel about basketball - A Mile Above the Rim, 1976:

'Stuffed!' shouted the taller boy. 'Doobie got himself stuffed!... In yo' face, Doobie!'

in your face More recently the phrase has often been used to describe the nose-to-nose pre-fight confrontations between boxers.