To brazen it out
/tu ˈbreɪzən ɪt aʊt/
verb phraseB2
Definition
"To brazen it out" means to act very confidently and without embarrassment when you are in a difficult or uncomfortable situation. Instead of apologizing or hiding, a person keeps going as if nothing is wrong, often to avoid trouble or criticism.
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⚡ See It in Action
To face embarrassment or trouble without shame or fear
- •Even though he was caught cheating, he brazened it out and denied everything.
- •She made a mistake but brazened it out like nothing happened.
- •When questioned, the politician brazened it out despite clear evidence.
To continue boldly despite criticism or difficulty
- •The company brazened it out during the scandal and kept selling products.
- •He brazened it out through the tough interview without showing nervousness.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "brazen it out" like "stay strong," but with extra boldness and no shame, even if you feel scared inside
- ✓Picture someone walking into a room after making a mistake, but smiling and acting like everything is fine
- ✓It's the feeling when you pretend to be brave, even if you want to hide or run away
- ✓Sounds like "BRAZE-in it out" → imagine someone made of strong metal (brass/brass is a hard, shiny metal) who does not break or hide
- ✓In stories, a character caught in trouble might "brazen it out" by lying confidently to avoid punishment
- ✓NOT like "apologize" (showing regret), "brazen it out" means no apology, just boldness
- ✓NOT like "hide" or "run away" — it's the opposite, facing the problem openly
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (pretending problem is not there), "brazen it out" means facing it but with boldness
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Bold it out: act boldly to get through a problem (Use when the focus is on courage but less about shame or embarrassment)
- •Stand firm: stay strong and not change under pressure (Use when emphasizing strength, not necessarily embarrassment)
- •Play it cool: act calm and relaxed to hide feelings (Use when the focus is on hiding nervousness, less about boldness)
- •Carry on: continue despite difficulties (Use when focus is on continuing, less on attitude)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Phrase parts: "brazen" (adjective meaning bold or without shame) + "it out" (phrasal verb part meaning to continue or endure)
- •Etymology: "Brazen" comes from "brass," a hard metal, used since the 1500s to describe bold or shameless behavior
- •Historical development: The phrase "brazen it out" has been used since the 19th century to describe facing trouble boldly without shame
- •Modern usage: Common in spoken and written English to describe someone acting confidently to avoid blame or embarrassment
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when someone you know had to brazen it out? What happened?
•Is brazening it out always a good idea, or can it sometimes make problems worse?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.When caught in a mistake, some people choose to brazen it out instead of ___ an apology.
2.She decided to brazen it out ___ the criticism and keep working as if nothing happened.
3.Brazening it out is different from admitting fault because it means acting ___ without shame.
4.Politicians often brazen it out during scandals by ___ confident answers.
5.To brazen it out, you must act boldly even if you feel ___ inside.
6.Sometimes, brazening it out can ___ trust instead of building it.
7.He brazened it out ___ the questions, refusing to show any nervousness or guilt.