Ever wonder how in the world the expression “על הפנים” (al-ha-panim) came to be the #1 expression to use when something sucks? In English, it means, “on the face” (wiz izraeli accent – ‘on de fayce’).
Please help me solve this riddle.
Zabaj: the Junk in Israel's Trunk
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Zabaj: the Junk in Israel's Trunk 
From what I heard, it comes from … falling on your face … which is the worst part of your body to fall on.
Thats also what I always assumed. Falling flat on your face.
I have actually heard people describing things – in English – as “on the face.”
Check this out:
That’s on the face…
it actually comes from de rhyme to de question “ma inyanim?” (“what’s up?”), it goes like: “ma inyanim? – al hapanim”, where “on de face” part means “read it on my face”