What is the difference between 'to my face', 'at my face' and 'in my face'? I searched it on google books and got results for all of them with various hits. Does one seem more accurate over the other? Which one would a native speaker use and why?
He pointed a gun at my face.
He pointed a gun in my face.
He pointed a gun to my face.
Best Answer
The distinctions between these phrases may be somewhat colloquial and/or what I'll call "teen-speak" but at least in the US they tend to be used for decidedly different purposes and are not interchangeable in those contexts.
"To my face" is used to mean "in my presence" For example someone could say:
"In my face" is used when someone is confronting you, arguing with you, or pointing out that they believe you have done something wrong.
at my face has no special connotations
So having said all that, the first two of your sentences might likely be heard from a native speaker in the right situation.
The third statement would probably never be.