A slap in the face

Welcome to The English We Speak with me, Rob.

And me Feifei. Hello! So how did you interview go?

You know, quite good – ok– well not bad.

So did you get the promotion?

Well– no. I didn’t– it was a bit of a slap in the face actually.

A slap in the face? Did they hit you?!

No, no, no. I mean not getting the job is a bit of an insult - I was the right man for the job - look at all my qualifications and experience.

Oh dear. You sound quite offended Rob.

That’s what ‘a slap in the face’ means - it’s an action that can be seen as an insult or cause offence. It can also cause disappointment because you were expecting a more positive outcome.

Like getting that promotion?

Exactly. Here are some more examples…

After all the extra work we put in, it was a slap in the face not to win the contract. Not being invited on his stag do, was a real slap in the face - I thought I was his best friend!

So ‘a slap in the face’ is an insult - or an action that causes offence or disappointment. It’s not actually a physical slap in the face then?

That’s right.

So what are you going to do about getting a promotion?

Well to be honest, Feifei, it wasn’t much of a promotion anyway - it was quite a boring job role and no more money - an idiot could have done it - I think you would have been good at it–

ow, what was that?

That’s a real slap in the face!

Was it something I said?