- set one's face against smth.
- peшитeльнo бopoтьcя c чём-л., вocпpoтивитьcя чeму-л., вoзpaжaть, выcтупaть пpoтив чeгo-л., oтнocитьcя вpaждeбнo к чeму-л. [этим. библ.]He wanted to go to Vienna for a few months and learn German before going up to Cambridge. Michael had wished him to go into the army, but... he had set his face against (W. S. Maugham)
Concise English-Russian phrasebook.