Emotions / B2

FROWN/fraʊn/

To frown is to pull the eyebrows together to show worry, anger, or concentration: frown at; frown on (disapprove). As a noun, that look: a frown. Smile is the twin; scowl is stronger. Describe the frown in the still, then the line it follows. Mix-up: frown vs fawn; brown; do not write frown for a smile described as “tight” unless the source names a frown.

Meaning

To pull the eyebrows together to show worry, anger, or concentration; as a noun, that look.

Examples

• “Describe the frown in the still, then the line it follows, the drama paper said.”
• “The board frowned on the proposal, which is the disapprove sense — still name the motion.”

Good to know

frown at; frown on / upon (disapprove); a frown. Twin: smile. Stronger: scowl. Trap: fawn / a tight smile. Drama, literature, and citizenship. Brows together, or disapproval — quote the still or the motion.

Near in meaning

scowl, glower, knit the brows

Topics

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