INDEX:
1. the expression on someone’s face
2. a face that shows a lot of feeling
3. a face that does not show any feelings or opinions
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1. the expression on someone’s face
▷ expression /ɪkˈspreʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
▪ His expression became serious as he listened to her story.
expression of
▪ ‘I’m not eating it,’ Maria said, with an expression of disgust on her face.
wear an expression
have an expression
▪ Wearing an expression of utter boredom, Harry turned back to his book.
expression on somebody’s face
▪ The expression on her face told me that she didn’t want to discuss it.
▷ look /lʊk/ [countable noun]
an expression on your face that shows what you are feeling :
▪ She has a pensive, almost sad look about her.
look of
▪ A look of relief crossed his face.
give somebody a look
▪ Sheila nodded and gave him a sympathetic look.
a look of something on somebody’s face
▪ After winning, she had a look of pure joy on her face.
the look on somebody’s face
someone’s expression, especially an angry, shocked or disappointed expression
▪ You should have seen the look on his face when I told him I was leaving.
look in somebody’s eyes
▪ Mrs. Moody had it in for me - I could tell by the look in her eyes.
dirty look
an expression of disapproval or anger
▪ She’s been giving me dirty looks all morning. What have I done wrong?
wear a look
have a particular expression
▪ He normally wore a slightly amused look on his round face.
▷ -faced /feɪst/ []
showing a particular expression on your face :
sad-faced/grim-faced/solemn-faced
▪ A grim-faced doctor gave Marge the bad news.
stony-faced/stone-faced/stern-faced
with a very serious expression that shows little emotion
▪ Mr. Tanaka sat stone-faced, as if he could not hear the complaints.
straight-faced
without smiling, especially when you are lying or saying something funny
▪ He told us straight-faced that he was thinking of running for president.
ashen-faced/gray-faced/white-faced
looking very pale and upset, ill, or frightened
▪ He returned from the meeting ashen-faced and shaken, saying he had to go home.
red-faced
having a red face because you are embarrassed or angry
▪ Myra still gets red-faced when she remembers the speech.
2. a face that shows a lot of feeling
▷ expressive /ɪkˈspresɪv/ [adjective]
showing very clearly what a person thinks or feels :
▪ She is a wonderful actress, with striking, expressive features.
▪ He would use his expressive face to bring the stories to life.
expressively [adverb]
▪ Anthony said nothing, but rolled his eyes expressively.
▷ animated /ˈænɪmeɪtəd, ˈænəmeɪtəd/ [adjective]
showing a lot of lively interest or excitement :
▪ As he talked about her, his face became animated.
▪ Stephan’s animated eyes widened at the mention of Patricia.
▷ mobile /ˈməʊbaɪlǁ-b ə l, -biːl/ [adjective] British
a mobile face is one that can change its expression quickly in a way that is attractive :
▪ She has an extraordinarily mobile face and an infectiously comic manner.
3. a face that does not show any feelings or opinions
▷ expressionless /ɪkˈspreʃ ə nləs/ [adjective]
▪ Oswini was watching her with expressionless eyes.
▪ Terry’s face was expressionless as he listened to the report.
▷ blank /blæŋk/ [adjective]
showing no emotion, interest, or understanding in your expression, for example because you are bored, or have not been paying attention to what is being said :
▪ Maria could tell by the blank look in my eyes that I didn’t understand.
▪ The children’s faces were blank with sleepiness.
blankly [adverb]
▪ Charlie looked at her blankly, and she patiently repeated everything she had said.
▷ deadpan /ˈdedpæn/ [adjective only before noun]
deliberately showing no humour in your expression, even though what you are saying or doing is meant as a joke :
▪ ‘We’re out of gas, so I guess you’ll have to walk home,’ he said, giving me a deadpan expression.
deadpan [adverb]
▪ They look at each other deadpan, and then look at me.
▷ inscrutable /ɪnˈskruːtəb ə l/ [adjective]
someone who has an inscrutable expression shows no emotion or reaction, so it is impossible to guess what they are thinking or feeling :
▪ She looked for some response, but Jean’s expression remained inscrutable.
▪ The inscrutable gaze of the palace guards made me a little nervous.
inscrutably [adverb]
▪ The man just stood there grinning inscrutably.
▷ poker-faced /ˈpəʊkəʳ feɪst/ [adjective]
someone who is poker-faced does not show at all what they are thinking or feeling, either because they do not want other people to know or because they disapprove of something :
▪ Not even Will Rogers could make the poker-faced President laugh.
▪ Albert, normally poker faced, wore a look of shock.
▷ impassive /ɪmˈpæsɪv/ [adjective]
not showing any emotion, especially in a situation where you would normally expect someone to be sad, shocked, upset, etc :
▪ Russell struggled to keep an impassive face as she continued.
▪ The defendant remained impassive as the judge announced the guilty verdict.
impassively [adverb]
▪ Adams was staring impassively at the death and destruction caused by the blast.