long face

American  

noun

1. an unhappy or gloomy expression.

   He's been walking around with a long face ever since he failed the examination.

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long face British  

noun

1. a disappointed, solemn, or miserable facial expression

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long face Idioms  

1. A facial expression showing sadness or disappointment, as in Greg's long face was a clear indication of his feelings. [Late 1700s]

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Other Word Forms

• long-faced
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of long face

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

Family members often referred to him as “El Viejito,” for his long face and an emotional literacy well beyond his years.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 15, 2025

My final assessment in theater school, I was told I looked like a funeral attendant because of my long face.

From Salon • Jul. 6, 2023

So, you may ask, why the long face?

From Washington Post • Apr. 6, 2023

Kim Petras walks into a bar, and the barman says 'Why the long face?'

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2021

Fflewddur sat with his head bent close to the strings, a curious expression on his long face.

From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander