有一读者问： 有这样一个句子：
(1)During the second century after Christ, a wise man said, “Bury me on my face because in a little while everything will be turned upside down. ”
这句话的确切意思是什么？ on my face可否改为in my face?
这句话的意思是：在公元2世纪时，有一智者说道：“将我脸朝下落葬，因为过不多久一切都会颠倒的。”
这里的on my face并不意谓“在我的脸上”，而是意谓“我的脸朝下，贴着地面”，介词on在此有支撑着身体的含义。这样的on之后除可接一个人的face外，亦可接back, side, hands, knees等，如：
(2)If you lie on your back, you can look up at the sky.
(3)Can you stand on your hands?
然而on one's face确实常意谓“在某人的脸上”，但它与in one's face的含义不同。on one's face强调“在某人的脸部表面上”，in one's face则强调“在某人脸部的范围或部位内”，试比较：
(4)There was a blank look on his face.
(5)There was a blank look in his face.
on one's face与 in one's face表示方向时，二者的含义也不相同。前者相当于onto one's face（向着某人的脸），后者则意味着in front of （或against）one's face （当着某人的面，正对着，公然地），试比较：
(6)She threw water on his face.
(7)She slammed the door in his face.
