January 16, 2006
face the music
face the music – to accept face the punishment
A child did something wrong. His sister told him that “you have to tell mom and face the music“. Think of this: if you are forced to listen to the music you dislike, it would be like receiving pulishment. There is another idiom of the same meaning: carry the can (see here). (Caution: this phrase is now seldom used. See comments) If you have to carry a huge-sized Coca can (as huge as you can image imagine) on your back, you know how you would feel.
I am Chinese. Correct my English. 
Saar Drimer said,
January 16, 2006 at 4:00 pm
I believe it means more like “face the consequences of your actions.”
Instead of “image” try “imagine” or “picture.”
Tyler Moore said,
January 16, 2006 at 7:07 pm
I’ve never heard ‘carry the can’. Anyone else?
Feng said,
January 16, 2006 at 8:51 pm
If even you’ve never heard it, this phrase should be thrown into /usr/null …