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Meaning & use

long face

noun·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˌlɒŋ ˈfeɪs/
US/ˌlɔːŋ ˈfeɪs/

Meanings

  1. nounsingularinformalfigurative

    A gloomy, disappointed or unhappy expression on someone's face.

    Grammar: Usually singular and used with a verb like pull or wear: she pulled a long face.

    Patterns

    • pull a long face
    • wear a long face
    • with a long face

    Why the long face? Did the match get canceled?

    He pulled a long face when he saw the bill.

    She came home with a long face after the interview.

  2. nouncountable

    A face that is narrow and noticeably longer than it is wide.

    Grammar: Literal use for a physical shape: a horse has a long face; it is rarer than the idiom.

    Patterns

    • have a long face

    The horse had a long face and gentle brown eyes.

    Her long face looked striking in the portrait.

    Some haircuts are better suited to a long face.

Word forms

plurallong faces

Common combinations

pull a long face
Don't pull a long face; the trip is only postponed.
wear a long face
He wore a long face all through dinner.
why the long face
Why the long face? You look like you lost your keys.
with a long face
She walked out with a long face and said nothing.
a long face of disappointment
The children stared at the empty box with a long face of disappointment.

Synonyms and how they differ

glum look
A glum look describes the same sad mood but is plainer and less idiomatic, and it is not usually paired with pull.
frown
A frown suggests displeasure or concentration with the brow, whereas a long face suggests sadness or letdown across the whole expression.
sulk
To sulk means to stay silently sullen on purpose, so it is more disapproving than a long face, which may just show disappointment.
hangdog look
A hangdog look is more vivid and suggests shame or guilt, which a plain long face does not.

Opposites

smilegrin

Word family

long-faced adjective
looking sad or serious
face noun
the front of the head
face verb
to look toward or deal with

Commonly confused: long face or straight face?

long face vs straight face

A straight face is a deliberately serious expression that hides amusement, while a long face shows real sadness.

Practice

Choose the best phrase: 'You've been walking around with a ___ all morning. What's wrong?'

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