顔(かお)を出(だ)す

かおをだす
expression
to show up, to make an appearance
businessidiom
1. to show up, to make an appearance, to drop by
To attend briefly or make a short visit, often to acknowledge an obligation or maintain relationships.
会議(かいぎ)に顔(かお)を出(だ)してきます。
I'll make an appearance at the meeting.
飲(の)み会(かい)に少(すこ)しだけ顔(かお)を出(だ)した。
I briefly showed up at the drinking party.
たまには実家(じっか)に顔(かお)を出(だ)さないと。
I should show my face at my parents' house once in a while.
2. to peek out, to appear (literal)
For something to physically emerge or become visible.
雲(くも)の間(あいだ)から太陽(たいよう)が顔(かお)を出(だ)した。
The sun peeked out from between the clouds.
春(はる)になって、土(つち)の中(なか)から芽(め)が顔(かお)を出(だ)した。
Spring came and sprouts peeked out from the soil.
穴(あな)から小(ちい)さなネズミが顔(かお)を出(だ)して、すぐに引(ひ)っ込(こ)んだ。
A small mouse peeked out from the hole and quickly pulled back.

Structure: 顔(かお) (face) + を + 出(だ)す (to put out) — literally 'to put one's face out'.

SENSE 1 — SHOWING UP: A brief appearance, with no expectation of staying. It is the standard way to talk about turning up at something out of obligation or goodwill: a meeting, a party, a relative's house. Saying 顔(かお)を出(だ)す rather than 行(い)く signals that the visit is short.

SENSE 2 — PEEKING OUT: Used of anything that physically emerges into view — the sun through 雲(くも), a 芽(め) pushing through the soil, an animal at the mouth of a hole. The subject is normally inanimate or an animal, and no face is involved; the phrase simply keeps its literal image.

Related words

RELATED WORDS (other 顔(かお) expressions):

Related Words

Related: 顔(かお)が広(ひろ)い (well-connected (another 顔 idiom))
Related: 顔(かお)を立(た)てる (to save someone's face)
Related: 立(た)ち寄(よ)る (to drop by, to stop in)

Related Articles

Body-Part Idioms
general
Added 2026.1.18 19:03 · Revised 2026.10.11 10:37
06500/06899_kaowodasu