familiar face — person you recognize
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
someone whose appearance you know because you have seen them before, even if you don't know them well.
Say it like a native
Textbook It was reassuring to perceive a recognisable countenance.
Native It was nice to see a familiar face.
'Recognisable countenance' is absurd; 'familiar face' is the warm, everyday phrase.
Pattern: a/the familiar face (of someone)
In use
- It was nice to see a familiar face at the party when I didn’t know anyone else.daily life
- In my opinion, having a familiar face in a new environment can make people feel more comfortable and confident.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She is a familiar face for me.
✓ She's a familiar face.
Set phrase — don't add 'for me'.
Common collocations
familiar face— a, see a, in the crowd, around here
Don't confuse it
Unlike 'close friend,' a 'familiar face' is someone you recognize but may not know personally.