In person; directly; in the physical presence of somebody.
He sounds intimidating over the phone, but if you meet him face to face you will find he is a friendly enough fellow.
Turning in at the gate of Thornden Lodge, on her mission 'to inquire', Elsie Bellmark came face to face with a departing stranger […]1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:
2
Broadly Closely encountering (a thing or situation).
A meeting, especially a meeting between two people conducted in person as opposed to a meeting conducted at a distance through technology.
"If you want to have a face-to-face with Charlie?" I asked W.R., "Why invite the rest of us?"2001, Darwin Porter, Hollywood's Silent Closet, page 607:
In an unprecedented move, Clifford went to Chicago to have a face-to-face with Tony's superiors.2007, Dennis N. Griffin, Frank Cullotta, Dennis Arnoldy, Cullotta: The Life of a Chicago Criminal, Las Vegas Mobster and Government Witness, page 192:
1 more example
It was not like Friedman didn't try to have a face-to-face with Lazar.2011, Annie Jacobsen, Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base, page 18:
face-to-face
adj
Etymology face + to + face
1
In one another's presence.
a face-to-face meeting
The complexity of having so many organisations involved, and the deep integration required, has undoubtedly tested the interpersonal skills of project leaders who have had little face-to-face contact.2021 June 2, Paul Stephen, “Advances made in digital revolution”, in RAIL, number 932, page 58:
face-to-face
adv
Etymology face + to + face
1
While physically present.
I came face-to-face with her on the battlefield recently. Resistance vs. Roekaar. My favorite mother looked at me with the kindness and empathy that I remembered… then she shot me.2017 June 8, Evfra de Tershav, quotee, “Roekaar Occupation”, in Mass Effect: Andromeda APEX HQ (Science Fiction), archived from the original on 09 Feb 2019: