under her face

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "under her face" is grammatically correct but may not be commonly used in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are describing something located beneath or below someone's face, possibly in a physical or metaphorical sense. Example: "The shadow fell under her face, casting a mysterious aura around her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

She hid it under her face powder.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Yes," Beth murmured into the cushion under her face.

The New Yorker

The "Sex and the City" sequel amounts to "Orientalist Boogaloo," she said, filled with cliched scenes like the one in which the film's fascinated foursome watch a woman eat French fries under her face veil "like she's the main attraction on a zoo tour".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

HER face unrecognizable under a thick paste of crushed aspirin, Kim Tisdale, a student at the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, lay on a towel on the kitchen floor.

The New York Times

At another moment she was under water, her face pressed against the bottom of the pool, her mouth moving obliquely.

The New York Times

Her pelvis and legs were hidden under sheets; her face and chest, screened off by another sheet, were visible only to the anesthesiologist; her bare midsection was exposed.

The New Yorker

Soviet officials have come to town to discuss a nuclear-disarmament treaty, and Elizabeth is assuming the disguises of her craft — the masks under which her face went missing — at a violent pace.

The New Yorker

I don't understand how she is able to sit there under her business face and not die.

Vice

When Greta put on her reading glasses to look in the mirror these days, she saw that her skin was papery and sagged on her neck and under her jaw, her face was crisscrossed by tiny creases.

The New Yorker

The central figure, a beautiful black woman, is trying to fan herself off everywhere... under her skirt, her face.

Huffington Post

Outside the Tora prison courthouse, Marwa Fahmy, wife of the former bureau chief, stood beside a scrum of journalists, tears streaking her face under her sunglasses.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the position of something relative to a person's face, consider the context and choose the preposition that most accurately conveys the spatial relationship. "Under" is suitable when something is directly beneath, while "beneath" or "below" might be preferred in more formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "under her face" when a different preposition like "behind" or "beside" more accurately describes the actual location. Ensure the preposition aligns with the physical arrangement you're trying to depict.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under her face" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a noun or verb by indicating a spatial relationship—specifically, something located directly below a person's face. It adds descriptive detail to a scene or action. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct but not very common.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

17%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "under her face" is grammatically correct but relatively rare in usage, as noted by Ludwig. It serves to describe something located directly below a person's face, and its primary function is to provide spatial context. Predominantly found in news and media, it maintains a generally neutral register. While grammatically sound, there are often more common or precise alternatives available depending on the specific context one wants to convey. Ludwig provides several examples that illustrate these nuanced differences, allowing for informed choices in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beneath her face

Replaces "under" with "beneath", offering a slightly more formal alternative with similar meaning.

just under her face

Adds emphasis on the proximity, specifying that something is very close to being under her face.

below her face

Uses "below" instead of "under", indicating a position lower than the face.

immediately under her face

Highlights the lack of distance between something and the underside of her face.

in the shadow of her face

Describes something being obscured by the shadow cast by her face, adding a sense of concealment.

at the base of her face

Indicates a location directly at the bottom or lowest part of her face, like the chin or jawline.

partially obscured by her face

Focuses on the idea that her face is blocking something from full view.

in the hollow of her face

Suggests something is situated in a depression or indentation near her face.

closest to her face

Indicates nearness to the face without necessarily being directly underneath.

nearest to her face

Similar to "closest to her face", specifying proximity as the defining characteristic.

FAQs

What does "under her face" mean?

The phrase "under her face" refers to something that is located directly below a person's face. The specific meaning depends on the context of the sentence.

Is it better to say "under her face" or "beneath her face"?

Both "under her face" and "beneath her face" are grammatically correct, but "beneath" can sound more formal or literary. Choose the option that best suits the tone of your writing.

What are some alternatives to "under her face"?

Depending on the specific context, you could use "below her face", "at the base of her face", or "in the shadow of her face". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "under her face" a common phrase?

The phrase "under her face" is not particularly common. While grammatically correct, there are other ways to express the same idea that may sound more natural or be more specific to the situation.