swept face

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "swept face" is not a standard expression in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a poetic or metaphorical context to describe a face that has been affected by a sweeping motion, such as wind or emotion, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "The wind swept across the valley, leaving a swept face of the landscape behind."

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The first one is a simplified swept face-based method whereas the second one is a cell-intersection-based method.

Journal of Computational Physics

An obvious look of confusion swept my face as she repeated her comment.

Huffington Post

Upon learning from the cashier that she was $10 short, a mortified look swept across her face.

Huffington Post

The new science of trace design was based, in its early stages, on the bastion, a projection from the main fortress wall from which defending fire could sweep the face of adjacent bastions and the wall between.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And an expression of distaste swept over her face recently when a New York Times reporter brought up a story, which had appeared elsewhere in print, that she had once answered a question from Mr. Bush's paternal grandmother about what she did with her life by saying, "I read, I smoke and I admire".

The New York Times

Round face: Avoid sharp bangs or lots of hair swept onto the face.[4].

WikiHow

When, in response to this declaration, the image of the divine humanity above is revealed on the waters below an allusion to Genesis 1 2 ("the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters")—Ialdabaoth and his rulers fashion an in its likeness.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A blush swept across her face.

The New York Times

A deep angry roar swept over my face.

The New Yorker

His wavy white hair was swept from his face.

The New Yorker

The ball's swept across the face of the area.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "swept face", consider the context carefully. It's best suited for describing a surface, like a landscape, or in metaphorical senses where something passes quickly across the face.

Common error

Avoid using "swept face" to describe someone's facial expression directly. While it can evoke imagery, it's not a standard way to describe emotions. Instead, use more common expressions like "a look of surprise" or "a sad expression".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "swept face" functions as a noun phrase modified by a past participle verb, describing a state or condition of the face. Ludwig indicates it is not a standard expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "swept face" is a relatively rare expression that describes a face that has been affected by a sweeping motion or influence. According to Ludwig, it is not a standard expression and may cause confusion. Although grammatically correct, its metaphorical usage can be ambiguous, making it more suitable for descriptive or creative writing rather than formal contexts. As such, alternatives like "windblown face" or "flushed face" might be more appropriate depending on the intended meaning. It appears across various sources, including News & Media, Wiki and Science, suggesting a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wind-blown face

This alternative emphasizes the effect of wind on a face, focusing on the physical sensation and appearance.

weathered face

Implies a face marked by exposure to the elements, suggesting resilience and age.

cleansed face

This focuses on the action of cleaning the face, which can metaphorically represent renewal or removal of impurities.

flushed face

Describes a face reddened by emotion, exertion, or temperature.

tear-stained face

Highlights the emotional impact visible on a face.

illuminated face

Focuses on the face being lit up, either literally or metaphorically, suggesting understanding or joy.

shadowed face

This suggests the face is obscured or hidden, conveying mystery or sorrow.

makeup-covered face

Refers to the presence of makeup on someone's face.

sun-kissed face

Emphasizes a healthy, radiant appearance due to sun exposure.

airbrushed face

Refers to a face with a perfectly smooth and flawless skin

FAQs

How can "swept face" be used in a sentence?

You can use "swept face" to describe something passing quickly across a face, or the action of cleaning a face, for example: "A blush "swept across her face"".

What does "swept face" mean?

The phrase "swept face" generally evokes a sense of something quickly moving across a face, or of something being brushed or cleaned away from the face.

What are some alternatives to "swept face"?

Alternatives include "flushed face", "wind-blown face", or phrases describing specific expressions like "a look of anguish" or "a smile "spread across her face" depending on the context".

Is "swept face" a common expression in English?

No, "swept face" is not a particularly common expression. It's more often used metaphorically or in specific contexts like describing how hair is styled (e.g., "hair "swept back from face"").