Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to pull a face

to pull a face

1 5.5
Make a face to show dislike or discomfort
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : hacer una mueca
  • When he tasted the sour candy, he immediately pulled a face to show his disgust.
  • pull a face and say

Examples

  • Allegra pulled a face at him, but answered anyway.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • She pulls a face.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • - Why do you always pull a face?

    Rogue (2007)

  • What are you pulling a face for?

    Track 29 (1988)

  • And I pulled a face at one of the sisters.

    December Boys (2007)

  • "I don't think you can help," he said, pulling a face.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • David pulls a face at Elmer.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Don't pull a face.

    Rogue (2007)

  • Emmeline pulled a face.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • He pulled a face and mimicked his sister in a high, singsong voice.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

to pout
vsto pull a face
41 3.4

To push out your lips to show that you are annoyed or disappointed

is more general, not limited to a protruding lips gesture
to scowl
vsto pull a face
33 4.1

To give an angry look to show you do not like something

is less specifically angry and covers other negative facial reactions
to grimace
vsto pull a face
29 4.4

To twist your face to show pain, disgust, or a forced smile

is broader and can show many emotions, not just pain or ugly contortion
to make a face
vsto pull a face
18 3.2

Move parts of your face to show dislike, pain, or to be funny

is the general way to show those emotions through a facial expression
to frown at
vsto pull a face
16 2.3

Give someone a worried or angry look to show you do not like them

is wider, used for many brief expressions of dislike or discomfort
to wrinkle one's nose
vsto pull a face
4 6.0

To move the nose so it makes small lines to show you do not like something

is less specific, including many facial signs beyond nose movement
to roll one's eyes
vsto pull a face
  • Informal
3.7

To move your eyes away from someone to show you are annoyed or do not believe them

is focused on whole facial expressions rather than only eye movement

Antonyms

to smile
∞ 1.0

To turn the corners of your mouth up to show happiness or friendliness

How Expressive

to grimace
29 4.4
to scowl
33 4.1
to pull a face
  • Informal
1 5.5

Surface Forms

pull a face infinitive
pulled a face past
pulled a face past participle
pulling a face present participle
pulls a face third person singular

Morphology

pull + a + face

The verb 'pull' (to move or distort) combined with 'face' (facial expression) gives a clear physical image of manipulating the face, so a learner could plausibly infer it means to change one’s facial expression. However, the construction is somewhat idiomatic (equivalent to 'make a face' or 'grimace') and the exact pragmatic range (showing dislike, annoyance, etc.) is not fully predictable without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Pull a face comes from the clear image of someone using their muscles to pull their face into a strange or funny shape when they do not like something. That's why it means 'to show dislike, annoyance, or discomfort'.