face of concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "face of concern" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe someone's facial expression since they appear to be concerned about something. For example, "As Sarah heard the news, her face of concern told everyone in the room that something was wrong."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"In the face of concern and some real worry, I am inclined to err on the side of caution and care".

The New York Times

In the face of concern over concussions and larger questions about making football safe (by the way, you can't), the N.F.L. celebrates performances like that of the Giants' defense Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

The Tories have had a variety of youth wings over the years, but twice had to shut them down in the face of concern about some of their activities.

The Guardian

In the face of concern and consternation by commuters and some elected officials, Robert Paaswell, the executive director of the University Transportation Research Center at City College of New York, said the convergence of toll and fare increases must be viewed in the context of other price increases including gasoline, electrical power and food.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Working with such countries can fly in the face of concerns about human rights.

The New York Times

Miliband told the Guardian a "popular mobilisation" was needed to help politicians push through an agreement to limit carbon emissions in the face of concerns about the economy.

The Guardian

The drug agency convened the panel in September after the Vioxx withdrawal, in the face of concerns that Celebrex and Bextra might have similar risks.

The New York Times

However, Beijing seems to have actually been trying to support the yuan, in the face of concerns that China's economy is slowing.

The Guardian - Business

In the face of concerns raised by Conservatives in opposition, Labour ministers told parliament during the passage of the equalities bill that Scientology would continue to fall outside the religious exemption for business rates.

The Guardian

Rightly or wrongly, Osborne has the courage of his convictions on deficit reduction even in the face of concerns within the Obama administration that the accelerated austerity drive sweeping across Europe will cause a double-dip recession.

The Guardian - Business

Higgins was brought in to steer home the controversial £42.6bn scheme on time and budget, and pledged last week to make savings in the face of concerns that costs could rise.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "face of concern" to specifically describe someone's facial expression that conveys worry or solicitude, providing a visual cue to their emotional state.

Common error

While acceptable, avoid relying too heavily on "face of concern" in highly formal or academic writing. Consider stronger verbs or more descriptive adjectives to convey the emotion directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "face of concern" functions as a noun phrase describing a facial expression. It is used to visually represent someone's worry or anxiety. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "face of concern" is a noun phrase used to describe a facial expression that indicates worry or anxiety. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, though its frequency is rare. Its usage is appropriate in neutral contexts like news reporting and descriptive writing. Related phrases such as "look of worry" or "expression of anxiety" offer alternative ways to convey similar sentiments. The examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in describing reactions to events, providing a visual cue to someone's emotional state. While effective, avoid overusing it in highly formal writing; consider stronger verbs for directness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

look of worry

Focuses on the visual aspect of worry being displayed.

expression of anxiety

Highlights the manifestation of anxiety through facial cues.

visage of apprehension

Uses more formal language to describe a face showing fear or unease.

countenance of disquiet

Employs a sophisticated term for facial expression paired with a sense of disturbance.

air of concern

Shifts from the face to the overall impression or atmosphere created by someone's worry.

mien of solicitude

A more formal substitute for "face of concern", stressing attentiveness and care.

display of worry

Emphasizes the outward showing of worry, not necessarily facial.

aspect of unease

Focuses on a particular look or feature that suggests a lack of comfort or tranquility.

appearance of solicitude

Highlights how someone presents themselves as caring or concerned.

bearing of anxiety

Indicates how someone carries themselves when experiencing anxiety, affecting their overall presence.

FAQs

How can I describe someone looking worried?

Instead of "face of concern", you could use "look of worry", "anxious expression", or "worried countenance" to convey the same meaning.

Is it better to say "face of concern" or "concerned face"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "concerned face" is more direct and commonly used. "Face of concern" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the visual aspect of worry.

Can "face of concern" be used to describe an animal?

While grammatically possible, it's more common to describe animal expressions using words like "distressed" or "uneasy" instead of "face of concern", which is typically reserved for humans.

What does it mean when someone has a "face of concern"?

It means their facial expression shows worry, anxiety, or solicitude, indicating they are concerned about something or someone.