the.com/frown
Gravity's favorite trick on a face, pulling it toward a bad mood.
means To draw the eyebrows down and together in displeasure, concentration, or worry — the facial shorthand for 'not pleased.'
from Frown entered English from Old French froignier, meaning to curl the lips or snort disdainfully, which traces back to froigne, a word for a surly or sullen expression — possibly related to Gaulish roots tied to nostrils or facial grimacing. By the time it settled into English, it had narrowed from a whole disdainful face to that one tell-tale wrinkle of the brow.
- muscle count
- uses more muscles than a smile, myth-wise
- real count
- actually smiling can use more, depending on type
- first move
- babies frown in the womb before they smile
- universal signal
- recognized across cultures as displeasure, no translation needed