war paint
1
5.8
- noun
- /wɔr peɪnt/
:
pintura de guerra
- He glimpsed T'biak waiting for her under a fir, sunlight striping his cheeks like war paint.
- streaks of war paint
- wearing war paint
- smeared war paint
They're putting on war paint to make themselves more ferocious or to demarcate what tribe they're in, what coalition they're in.
- They're putting on war paint to make themselves more ferocious or to demarcate what tribe they're in, what coalition they're in.
Examples
-
His forehead already bore a streak of war paint.
Fiction book (2001) -
They were in war paint and screaming and yelling...
Fiction book (1994) -
You never go into battle without war paint.
-
A whole tribe... with war paint, coming this way.
-
They were wearing war paint...
-
The men of her village would put on their war paint and stand up to the Spaniards.
Fiction book (1995) -
His war paint is fresh: green handprints on his chest and black and green on his face.
Fiction book (1992) -
There were massed columns of Apaches in their war paint and feather bonnets... and here was Thursday, leading his men in that heroic charge.
-
They're putting on war paint to make themselves more ferocious or to demarcate what tribe they're in, what coalition they're in.
-
Before the performance, the dancers applied war paint to enhance their costumes.
How Elaborate
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning arises from a metaphorical extension: 'war' (readiness for battle) combined with 'paint' (cosmetic) signals makeup worn like armour to face a challenge. A B1 learner who knows both words can probably infer a literal or figurative sense (paint used for battle or performance), but the informal nuance of ‘makeup to boost confidence before an event’ is culturally conditioned and not fully predictable without exposure.
Etymology
War paint comes from the real face and body paint that warriors and dancers used before battle or special ceremonies; the bold designs showed their tribe and helped them get ready for the 'fight'. That's why it means paint worn for battle or ceremony.