[VP: subj: human or collect; often infin with надо, нужно, будем etc]
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⇒ to see things or evaluate facts as they really are, look at things clearly, soberly:
- надо смотреть правде в глаза{{}}≈ we (you etc) must look the truth (straight) in the eye;
- we (you etc) must face (up to) the truth;
- we (you etc) must look the facts in the face;
- we (you etc) must face (the) facts;
- we (you etc) must face up to reality;
- we (you etc) must confront the truth;
- [in limited contexts] left (you might as well etc) face it.
♦ [Трофимов:] Продано ли сегодня имение или не продано - не все ли равно? С ним давно уже покончено, нет поворота назад... Надо хоть раз в жизни взглянуть правде прямо в глаза (Чехов 2). [Т..] Whether or not the estate is sold today -does it really matter? That's all done with long ago, there's no turning back. At least once in one's life one ought to look the truth straight in the eye (2a).
♦ "Нас казаки предали, не пошли за нами и не пойдут. Надо иметь мужество и смотреть правде в глаза, а не обольщаться дурацкими надеждами" (Шолохов 5). "The Cossacks have betrayed us. They didn't follow us then and they won't now. You've got to have the courage to face the truth, not comfort yourself with vain hopes (5a).
♦ Глянем правде в глаза. Его [мой роман] никто не читал (Булгаков 12). ...No one, let's face it, had read it [my novel](12a).
Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь. — М.: ACT-ПРЕСС КНИГА. С.И. Лубенская. 2004.