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Synonyms

make a face

Idioms  

  1. Grimace, distort the facial features, as in The teacher told Joan to stop making faces at Mary. This expression was first recorded in 1570.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Almost instantly, you might wince, make a face, or even pull your own hand away.

From Science Daily • Dec. 23, 2025

Because they'll say it and they get very excited, and then I make a face like what are you talking about?

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2023

The book, published in 2010, is a practical guide for trans women seeking surgery, exploring the ways that minor traits like hairline might make a face read as female or male.

From New York Times • May 10, 2022

“Roots, garlic, cayenne pepper, and Bowe would drink it and make a face like a man who’s taking his first drink of liquor. “

From Washington Post • Aug. 21, 2017

It was the first time in my life that I didn’t see Aunt Tuti make a face at my mom when she told her to do something.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.