frown upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "frown upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express disapproval or a negative judgment about something. Example: "Many parents frown upon excessive screen time for their children."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We frown upon exotic mortgages".

The New York Times

This the hockey gods would frown upon.

The New Yorker

At Freshdesk, we frown upon bureaucracy and hierarchy.

The New York Times

But being misleading is a universal concept: most have done it and most frown upon it.

The New York Times

Later, under Mao, basketball was the only "colonial" sport the government didn't frown upon.

The New York Times - Books

Your new book, Creativity, starts by stating "I frown upon books about creativity".

The Guardian

KISS would not frown upon the group's gruff cabaret-meets-metal costuming, a siege upon sensible fashion since 1989.

The New York Times - Arts

Regulators and City investors tend to frown upon executive chairman, preferring a seperate chief executive to be appointed.

The Guardian - Business

Mr. Guarnieri said there was no reason to frown upon a priest hearing confessions in a bar.

The New York Times

Seattle will not frown upon being led to the second or third round by Ewing, as was New York.

The New York Times - Sports

"A lot of people go to Morton to feed the birds and turkeys, which is something we frown upon.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "frown upon" when you want to express disapproval of something, especially when it's a widely held or socially expected disapproval. It's suitable for situations where a more formal or judgmental tone is not desired.

Common error

Avoid using "frown upon" in highly formal or academic writing where more precise or technical language might be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "disapprove" or "object to" in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "frown upon" functions as a verb phrase expressing disapproval or a negative judgment. Ludwig AI confirms that it follows standard grammatical rules. It is often used to describe actions or behaviors that are not socially accepted or are viewed negatively by a particular group.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

4%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "frown upon" is a versatile verb phrase used to express disapproval, often of actions or behaviors that are not widely accepted. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically correct and, with several examples from the news and media sector, it is clear that this phrase is commonly used in many contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it's best suited for situations where a less harsh expression of disapproval is preferred. Alternatives include "disapprove of" and "look down on", but "frown upon" strikes a balance between formality and accessibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disapprove of

A direct synonym, indicating a lack of approval or acceptance.

disapprove

A more concise way to express a lack of approval.

look down on

Implies a sense of superiority in one's disapproval.

find unacceptable

Indicates that something does not meet one's standards or expectations.

take a dim view of

Suggests a negative or unfavorable opinion.

not condone

To not excuse or allow an action to happen.

object to

Indicates a formal expression of opposition.

take exception to

Expresses disagreement or resentment toward something.

deplore

Expresses strong disapproval or condemnation.

disfavor

A less common way to express disapproval.

FAQs

How can I use "frown upon" in a sentence?

You can use "frown upon" to express disapproval of something. For example, "Many companies "frown upon" the use of personal devices during work hours."

What can I say instead of "frown upon"?

You can use alternatives like "disapprove of", "look down on", or "take a dim view of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "frown at" instead of "frown upon"?

While "frown at" can be used to describe the act of frowning, ""frown upon"" specifically means to disapprove of something. The two phrases are not interchangeable in all contexts.

What's the difference between "disapprove" and "frown upon"?

"Disapprove" is a more general term for not approving of something. "Frown upon" often suggests a more widespread or socially accepted disapproval.