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.

---

long face British  

noun

1. a disappointed, solemn, or miserable facial expression

---

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]

---

Other Word Forms

Derived 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

I’ve got a very long face, so I like my brims to be a little longer and a little flatter.

From New York Times • Mar. 30, 2024

When I was older, someone said, "You were born with that long face. Everyone who has a long face, they look miserable," So people can project things onto you.

From Salon • Jul. 6, 2023

So, you may ask, why the long face?

From Washington Post • Apr. 6, 2023

He was of medium size, with a long face and a bad case of acne.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok