break someone’s face, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

break someone’s face v.

also break someone’s head, change someone’s face, rearrange someone’s face, ...teeth

1. (US) to beat someone up.

1887		Thomas Co. Cat (Colby, KS) 24 Feb. 1/1: He was more of a gentleman than to walk up to a man and shake hands with him and then haul off and break his face.
1894		Canton Times (MS) 29 Sept. 2/4: You should have seen Dudell when I told him you were going to break his face.
1896		Ade Artie (1963) 32: If you come into the same part o’ town with me I’ll change your face.
1899		Irving Jones ‘There Ain’t No Use to Keep On Hanging Around’ 🎵 This coon said, Gal, if I must leave, Your mother won’t recognize you, I am going to change your face, You’ll belong to a different race!
1910		in W. McCay Little Nemo 242: I’m going to break that fellow’s face when I get out [HDAS].
1949		I. Shulman Cry Tough! 17: I’d like a change. A chance to change your face.
1953		W. Brown Run, Chico, Run (1959) 23: The cops will break my head if they know I’m coverin’ for Tomas.
1976		P. Conroy Great Santini (1977) 464: I’m going to rearrange your face.
1979		S. King Dead Zone (1980) 46: He knows if he ever said it I’d rearrange his teeth for him.
1983		V. Bloom ‘Mout’ Ha’ Massey’ Touch Mi, Tell Mi 29: Bwoy, move go feed de hag / Befo’ ah re-arrange yuh face!
1987		E. Bombeck Family 39: ‘You leave this table,’ says another sibling, ‘and I’ll break your face.’.

2. in fig. uses.

(a) (US gay) to surprise someone.

1972

B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 36: break one’s face [...] 1. to startle, surprise 2. to be taken aback.

(b) (US black, also hurt one’s face) to hurt someone’s feelings; to upset; to cause a problem.

1981		W.D. Myers Hoops 45: The other one was light-skinned, too, almost white. It like to broke Paul’s face to introduce me.
1994		G. Smitherman Black Talk.
2005		W.D. Myers Autobiog. of My Dead Brother 49: ‘You don’t say good morning to your elders, Jesse?’ Miss Essie asked. ‘Good morning, Miss Essie.’ ‘Did that hurt your face?’.