fronts up

Verb

front up (third-person singular simple present fronts up, present participle fronting up, simple past and past participle fronted up)

1. To lead or represent.
   • Likewise, Causer (2005) stated that 'we wouldn't get that support [from African governments] if we didn't have the UK government fronting it up . . . so it needs to be government led . . . we wouldn't be anywhere at all without a UK government lead.'2009, Tim Gray, Amy Stewart, The Governance of Water and Sanitation in Africa, →ISBN
2. To show up; to appear or present oneself.
   • "Like this when you left for Suakin?" Patrick asked as he fronted up to the bar with the smaller man beside him.2007, Peter Watt, To Chase the Storm: The Frontier, →ISBN
3. To meet with one's best efforts.
   • Honestly. We'd fronted up and given it our best shot.2012, Michael Bauer, Don't Call Me Ishmael, →ISBN
4. To face; to confront or challenge.
   • He might have been the business when it came to knocking the bollocks out of little babies, but fronted up by a real man that gutless coward went to pieces and buggered off without arguing.2003, Lenny McLean, The Guv'nor, →ISBN
5. To admit or confess.
   • I also get a bit of a laugh about how forgiving the then priesthood was, when I fronted up to the Catholic priest, who was looking after a small church hall on Glynburn Road to apologise for knocking off the church association's tea and biscuits money tin.2012, DF Ryschka, Too Young to Vote But Old Enough to Kill, →ISBN
6. To pay in advance or give with the expectation of being reimbursed later.
   • The second training was $800, and someone I met through the first training wanted to make sure that I continued on; so they fronted up the money, and I paid them back.1999, Michael S. Long, If Your Dreams Are Big Enough, the Facts Don't Count!, →ISBN