The LINGUA FRANCA Sprachschule blog is today introducing you to an idiom that is all about taking responsibility for your actions.
We recently made an offer for a really big, important project. But there was a mistake in the price calculation, which meant we were too expensive. As a result, the project was awarded to our competitor. Nobody in our company knows who was responsible for the mistake – except me. Because I made the mistake. Now I have to decide whether to keep my mouth shut and hope no one finds out or face the music (geradestehen) and tell my boss I made the mistake.
Like so many idioms, the origins of face the music are uncertain. The explanation that seems most plausible to me comes from the military world. Traditionally, when a soldier was expelled from the army for dishonourable behaviour, his exit would be accompanied by the playing of drums (see illustration). To face the music being played by the drums was to take the responsibility for your mistakes.