Meaning & use
a furrowed brow
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Meanings
phrasecountable
Lines or wrinkles on the forehead caused by frowning, often showing worry or concentration.
Grammar: Countable phrase: a furrowed brow, furrowed brows. Often used with verbs like 'have' or 'cause'.
Patterns
- have a furrowed brow
- with a furrowed brow
- cause a furrowed brow
She listened with a furrowed brow, trying to understand the problem.
His furrowed brow showed how hard he was concentrating.
The teacher's furrowed brow told us she was not pleased.
phrasecountablefigurative
A sign of worry, doubt, or disapproval.
Grammar: Figurative use: often after 'with' or 'without' to describe an attitude.
Patterns
- with a furrowed brow
- without a furrowed brow
The manager looked at the report with a furrowed brow.
She accepted the news without a furrowed brow, staying calm.
Word forms
| plural | furrowed brows |
|---|
Common combinations
- with a furrowed brow
- He read the letter with a furrowed brow.
- cause a furrowed brow
- The strange noise caused a furrowed brow among the listeners.
- smooth a furrowed brow
- A kind word can smooth a furrowed brow.
- a deep furrowed brow
- She had a deep furrowed brow from years of worrying.
Synonyms and how they differ
- frown
- A frown is the expression itself; a furrowed brow focuses on the lines or wrinkles that appear.
- scowl
- A scowl is an angry, dark look; a furrowed brow can also show concentration or mild worry.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: a furrowed brow or farrow?
a furrowed brow vs farrow
Farrow means to give birth to piglets; furrow means to make lines. They sound similar but are different words.
Practice
What does a furrowed brow usually show?
Choose one answer.
A furrowed brow is caused by frowning, which typically shows worry or concentration. Happiness would more likely be a smile.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a furrowed brow”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.