downcast expression
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4.2
- noun
- /ˈdaʊnˌkæst ɪkˈsprɛʃən/
:
expresión de tristeza
- Unbeknownst to her, the month of being away from her troubles and being challenged by a new environment had wiped away the downcast expression and the frown that she had worn when she first boarded the steamboat.
Examples
-
The valet exited with a downcast expression.
Fiction book (1993) -
Janine's downcast expression revealed her deep sadness after the argument.
-
After hearing the bad news, his face was marked by a downcast expression.
-
She tried to smile, but her downcast expression showed that she was still upset.
Synonyms
A silent angry look that shows you feel upset or annoyed
Antonyms
How Sad
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4.2
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3.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a facial expression showing sadness or dejection' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'downcast' (sad, discouraged) with 'expression' (a visible facial sign). This adjective + noun composition follows a straightforward, cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Downcast expression comes from the simple image of a face turned down, with cast meaning 'turned', because people lower their eyes and head when they feel sad. That's why it means 'a sad or unhappy look'.