fly in the face of

1. Also, fly in the teeth of. Act in direct opposition to or defiance of. For example, This decision flies in the face of all precedent, or They went out without permission, flying in the teeth of house rules. This metaphoric expression alludes to a physical attack. [Mid-1500s]

Example Sentences

In a written argument to the court, Tesla said the $243m award flew in the face of "common sense."

From BBC

This appears to fly in the face of Ukraine's main demand, endorsed by all its European backers: that an unconditional ceasefire has to come first.

From BBC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration that Israel intends to take control of all of the Gaza Strip signals an escalation that flies in the face of some emphatic international warnings.

From BBC

Two intercepts flew in the face of that.

From BBC

Such inconsistency across a federal workforce flies in the face of sound policing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandon 
• break with 
• disavow 
• dismiss 
• disown 
• forsake 
• recant 
• renounce 
• repeal 
• rescind 
• retract 
• reverse 
• revoke 
• spurn