face flashed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "face flashed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden change in expression or emotion on someone's face, often indicating surprise, anger, or another strong feeling. Example: "When she heard the news, her face flashed with disbelief before she could compose herself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

A photograph of his son's face flashed on the screen.

The New York Times

Just as he started to speak, his face flashed across the screen.

The New York Times - Sports

After midnight, though, the unit doctor pressed the video call button and his face flashed onto Hayes's screen.

The New Yorker

He looked up, saw Willie, and out of a clouded face flashed him a friendly satanic smile.

The New Yorker

The man, Jean-Claude Dessources, turned her in after seeing her face flashed on the evening news.

The New York Times

A French neuroscientist did this, plopping infants in their parents' laps and measuring the neural patterns generated when the babies viewed a face flashed on a screen.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

That face flashing between the flapping sheets on the line.

The Guardian - Film

"You can do it," she said, her face flashing beautiful for a moment.

The New Yorker

He was compact, wiry, and energetic, with a mobile oval of a face, flashing deep-set eyes, and an eager, mischievous grin.

The New Yorker

Now I came to think of it I could picture Erich's furious, then confused face flashing by - was it too late to double back?

The Guardian

"Well, I'm doing it, so it must be possible," he said, his face flashing into the sharp, faintly incredulous expression he often gets when he talks about his hip.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "face flashed" to vividly describe a sudden, often involuntary, change in someone's expression, conveying surprise, anger, or another strong emotion.

Common error

Avoid using "face flashed" in overly formal or academic writing; opt for more neutral terms like "expression changed" or "features altered" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "face flashed" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "flashed" acts as the main verb describing the sudden appearance or change of an expression on a face. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "face flashed" effectively describes a sudden change in facial expression, often reflecting a strong emotion. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's best to avoid overuse in overly formal writing, opting for alternatives like "expression changed". Understanding its function and register allows for its effective use in vividly portraying emotional responses. Examples from authoritative sources, such as The New York Times and The Guardian, demonstrate its wide applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expression flickered

Replaces "face" with "expression" and "flashed" with "flickered", focusing on a brief emotional display.

features shifted

Indicates a change in facial expression, emphasizing the alteration of features.

countenance altered

Uses more formal language to describe a change in facial appearance.

a look crossed their face

Focuses on a specific look or emotion briefly appearing.

emotion surfaced on their face

Highlights the emergence of an emotion.

visage transformed

Uses a more dramatic term for "face" and "transformed" to denote a significant change.

face lit up

Describes a sudden brightening of the face, often with happiness.

appearance materialized

Highlights the sudden appearance of a face, often in a digital context.

image appeared briefly

Focuses on the fleeting appearance of an image of a face, suitable for screen displays.

features illuminated momentarily

Describes features being lit up for a short period, often by a screen or light.

FAQs

How can I use "face flashed" in a sentence?

The phrase "face flashed" is typically used to describe a sudden, brief expression of an emotion. For example, "When he heard the news, his "face flashed" with anger."

What's a more formal alternative to "face flashed"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "expression changed" or "features altered" instead of "face flashed" to maintain a professional tone.

What does it mean when someone's "face flashed"?

When someone's "face flashed", it means their facial expression quickly and briefly changed, often indicating a strong or sudden emotion like surprise, anger, or realization.

Is "face flashed" the same as "smile flashed"?

While both phrases describe a quick expression, "face flashed" is more general and can refer to any emotion. "Smile flashed" specifically refers to a quick, often joyful, smile.