Meaning & use
frowned upon
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Considered socially unacceptable or improper; regarded with disapproval.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb, especially 'be': Smoking is frowned upon here.
Patterns
- be frowned upon
- something is frowned upon by someone
In many offices, eating at your desk is frowned upon.
Arriving late to a job interview is frowned upon by most employers.
Talking loudly on the phone in a quiet train carriage is generally frowned upon.
Common combinations
- be frowned upon by
- Cheating is frowned upon by teachers and students alike.
- generally frowned upon
- Using your phone during a meal is generally frowned upon.
- socially frowned upon
- Wearing shoes inside the house is socially frowned upon in some cultures.
- widely frowned upon
- Discrimination is widely frowned upon in modern society.
Synonyms and how they differ
- disapproved of
- Similar meaning, but 'disapproved of' can be active or passive and is slightly more direct.
- discouraged
- Suggests that people are advised against something, often less strong than 'frowned upon'.
- unacceptable
- Stronger and more absolute; 'frowned upon' means many people dislike it but it is not strictly forbidden.
Opposites
Word family
- frown verb
- To make a serious, unhappy face, often because you disapprove.
- frown on phrasal verb
- To disapprove of something; the active form of 'frowned upon'.
Commonly confused: frowned upon or frown at?
frowned upon vs frown at
To look at someone with a frown, showing annoyance; 'frowned upon' means disapproved of in general.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
'Frowned upon' is a passive phrase, so it needs a form of 'be' before it: 'is frowned upon.' The other options use active forms that do not fit the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “frowned upon”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.