long face

Related to long face: long face syndrome

long face

A facial expression denoting sadness, dissappointment, or dissatisfaction. Jill had such a long face yesterday after she learned that she failed her exam. Hey, kiddo, why the long face? Is something bothering you?
See also: face, long
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

long face

A facial expression showing sadness or disappointment, as in Greg's long face was a clear indication of his feelings. [Late 1700s]
See also: face, long
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a long face

If someone has a long face, they look very serious or unhappy. He came to me with a very long face and admitted there had been an error. There were some long faces in Paris that day. Astoundingly, an American had won the Tour de France. Note: You can also say that someone is long-faced. After a short ceremony we stood, long-faced, by the graveside.
See also: face, long
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

(pull, wear, etc.) a long ˈface

(have) a sad or disappointed expression: I asked him if he wanted to come out but he pulled a long face and said no. Why the long face?
See also: face, long
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a long face, to wear/draw/pull

To look sad or dissatisfied. A common expression in the nineteenth century, it no doubt came from the elongated look resulting from the mouth being drawn down at the corners and the eyes downcast.
See also: draw, long, pull, wear
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a long face
  • a long face, to wear/draw/pull
  • a turn of phrase
  • appear to
  • (one) can whistle for it
  • a change of heart
  • a mystery to (one)
  • able to do
  • able to do it
  • a shoulder to cry on
References in periodicals archive
THERE'LL be no long faces around when telly comedian Marcus Brigstocke heads for Teesside.
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I want to leave Mixu with a big long face and he wants me in tears
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The child, who has a developing long face syndrome, can have that pathological process intercepted through the use of some unusually simple procedures.
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And worse than her long face was the fact she spent her week on the world stage wearing clothes that looked like they'd been chosen by her Mum.
Why the long face, Sam?
RE: THE proposed sculpture for St Helens (Why the Long Face? It's a work of art for the M62, Daily Post, May 8).
Letter: Sculpture plans
Craig, I've read your memoir, Why the Long Face? So I know you've had some career consequences because you were out.
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Long face shapes should add layers for fullness on sides.
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My son looked at me with a long face and requested that I warn him before I had any more clever ideas.
Sunken hopes
The other long face of the tower houses some services and staircases, and externally is entirely blank.
Landscape of learning: this dramatic addition to a Lisbon campus makes a powerful formal statement
The most popular persona so far seems to be Killjoy Kerry, as depicted in jokes about his long face and dour demeanor.
Probing Kerry for punch lines
Was anyone expected to wear a long face throughout such an event?
Eat, drink, and be merry: Jesus was no stranger to good times, and neither should we be. So tell your fellow parishioners to turn that frown upside down and sing, dance, and raise a glass--a toast to the good news!
Primary features of VCFS consist of cleft palate, heart defects, learning disabilities, and a characteristic facial appearance that includes a long face, a large nose with a prominent tip, small ears, narrow eyes, and an emotionless expression.
Manic depression linked to absent DNA
A dazzling exception was the beautifully precise Fyodor Lopukhov who, with the same long face and body of his grandfather (the great avant-garde choreographer of the same name), danced high on demipointe, rising and falling on just the balls of his feet and turning his legs inward and out with such focused precision that for a moment his beautifully presented instep was all that one saw on the teeming stage.
Ruslan and Lyudmila
COMEDY Marcus Brigstocke Says Marcus of his new stand-up show Why The Long Face?: ''I was born with a long face, and now there's UKIP and Putin and being single and Islamic State and tax dodging corporations and Paul Dacre of the Daily Mail...'' Today, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, 0121 605 5116.
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Lastly, long face shapes suit a flat arched eyebrow, brows that are too arched or too curvy on long face shapes can leave you looking a little surprised.
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