To frown meaning in English
Learn how to use To frown correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
to frown: to bring one's eyebrows together to show that you are sad, annoyed or worried
Susie frowned after hearing Philip's horrible jokes. She didn't look happy at all.
to frown upon: to disapprove of
We here at Kalvin Krime frown upon that type of behavior. We completely disapprove of such ways of behaving.
a frown: a grimace, a face with eyebrows brought together, the opposite of a smile
Turn that frown upside down, sad clown. Smile please and try not to look so sad.
Pronunciation examples
UK: Turn that frown upside-down, sad clown!
US: Susie frowned after hearing Philip's horrible jokes.
Examples
- "Genteel manners, impeccable grooming, a slightly flamboyant dress sense, a love of theatre - all the hallmarks of an English gentleman - are frowned upon in a post-Brexit Europe."
- "And I swear the other day he frowned at me!"
- "I can't be sure, but I would swear they were almost like normal human beings: smiling, frowning, yawning."
Exercise 1
"I swear the other day he frowned at me!"
The following sentences all use the term "frown". Select the sentences that use the term correctly (or incorrectly!).
"I frowned to the girls as they passed by." -->
"Icarus frowns upon anyone who doesn't wear a bow tie to work." -->
"You're wearing a frown like Pierrot the clown." -->
The following sentences all use the term "frown". Select the sentences that use the term correctly (or incorrectly!).
"I frowned to the girls as they passed by." -->
"Icarus frowns upon anyone who doesn't wear a bow tie to work." -->
"You're wearing a frown like Pierrot the clown." -->
"I swear the other day he frowned at me!"
The following sentences all use the term "frown". Select the sentences that use the term correctly (or incorrectly!).
"I frowned to the girls as they passed by." --> Incorrect 1
"Icarus frowns upon anyone who doesn't wear a bow tie to work." --> Correct 2
"You're wearing a frown like Pierrot the clown." --> Correct 3
The following sentences all use the term "frown". Select the sentences that use the term correctly (or incorrectly!).
"I frowned to the girls as they passed by." --> Incorrect 1
"Icarus frowns upon anyone who doesn't wear a bow tie to work." --> Correct 2
"You're wearing a frown like Pierrot the clown." --> Correct 3
1 Incorrect: This sentence is incorrect. The verb "to frown" is never directly followed by the preposition "to" (we do not frown to somebody). To "frown" is to show a facial expression of "displeasure" or "dislike", it is usually followed by the prepositions "at" or "upon", for example: My daughter frowns at me every time I tell her to go to bed.
1 Correct: This sentence is not correct.
2 Correct: This sentence is correct. The term "to frown upon (or on) something" is to disapprove of it. For example: The famous London store Harrods frowns on customers wearing shorts. To "frown" is to show disapproval or displeasure using a facial expression.
2 Incorrect: This sentence is not incorrect.
3 Correct: This sentence is correct. A "frown" is a facial expression that expresses sadness, dissatisfaction, anger, worry, or pain. It is often synonymous with the term "scowl" (also a verb and a noun), and is either the opposite of a smile, or the "wrinkling" of the "brow". Another example: We'll turn that frown upside down (= we'll make you smile).
3 Incorrect: This sentence is not incorrect.
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