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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 4Scene 3
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“Face”
Wordplay
Act 4,
Scene 3
Lines 119-127

An explanation of Grumio's wordplay on "face" in Act 4, Scene 3 of myShakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. 

Tailor

But how did you desire it should be made?

Grumio

Marry, sir, with needle and thread.

Tailor

But did you not request to have it cut?

Grumio

Thou hast faced many things.    

Tailor

I have.

Grumio

Face not me; thou hast braved many men, brave     
not me; I will neither be faced nor braved. I say unto thee,
I bid thy master cut out the gown, but I did not bid him
cut it to pieces. Ergo, thou liest.    

Grumio is playing on two senses of the verb face: to add fancy material to a garment, and to confront someone.