hide face

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hide face" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to concealing one's face, either literally or metaphorically. An example is: "She chose to hide her face from the camera." Alternative expressions include "conceal face" and "cover face."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Headlines held up to hide faces.

The New York Times

Those who could not fight or hide faced hideous fates.

The New York Times

I busied myself with the ladies to hide facing up to that.' And now?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I've always been attracted by images of anonymity, hidden faces and expressions.

Vice

"Hide my face, hide my face, can't let 'em see my crying," he sings, "'cause these boys didn't have no fathers neither".

The New Yorker

They try to hide their face, look down," Manovich said.

Los Angeles Times

On April 11th the French Republic will give birth to two new crimes: hiding one's face in public and encouraging another to hide her face.

The New York Times

Remember, the point is not to look "cool" but to hide your face.

WikiHow

You don't want to hide your face with a big bulk of powder and face cream!

WikiHow

"They sort of half hide the face and are coy".

The New York Times

Mahmoud began crying, and tried to hide her face.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: use "hide face" for emotional concealment and "mask face" for more literal or physical barriers.

Common error

Do not treat "hide face" as a single compound noun without a possessive. Saying "he did a hide face" is incorrect; instead, use "he "hid his face"" to maintain standard English syntax.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hide face" acts as a verb phrase where "hide" is the transitive verb and "face" is the direct object. According to Ludwig AI, it almost always appears with an intervening possessive adjective to define whose face is being concealed. It functions to describe physical concealment or an emotional response like shame or grief.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

25%

Reference

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "hide face" is a highly versatile and correct English phrase used across diverse linguistic registers. Ludwig AI indicates that while the phrase is a standard way to describe concealment, it is almost always used with a possessive pronoun such as "his" or "her" in natural prose. The phrase appears frequently in high-authority sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker, often to describe emotional distress, anonymity or protective measures. Whether used literally to describe a physical mask or figuratively to describe shame, it remains a powerful tool for writers to convey the act of withdrawal or secrecy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cover one's face

A more literal and physical description of concealment

conceal one's identity

More formal and focuses on the purpose of being anonymous

mask one's features

More descriptive, suggesting a literal mask or heavy covering

shield one's face

Implies protection from an external element like sun or wind

bury one's face

Usually suggests an emotional reaction or pressing the face into something

veil one's face

Often implies a religious or intentional cloth covering

obscure one's face

A technical term often used in photography or law enforcement

duck one's head

Focuses on the physical movement to avoid being seen

turn away

Suggests avoidance by changing direction rather than covering

screen one's face

Suggests using an object as a barrier between the face and an observer

FAQs

How do I use "hide face" in a sentence?

You can use it by adding a possessive pronoun, such as: "She tried to "hide her face" behind a large book."

What is a more formal synonym for "hide face"?

A more formal alternative would be to "conceal one's countenance" or "obscure one's features".

Is it "hide face" or "hide faces"?

It depends on the subject. Use "hide face" for a single person (e.g. "he chose to hide his face") and "hide their faces" when referring to a group.

Can I say "mask face" instead of "hide face"?

Yes, you can use ""mask face"" if you are referring to a physical object being used to cover the face, whereas "hide face" is more general.