upon my brow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon my brow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in poetic or literary contexts to refer to something that is present or resting on one's forehead, often symbolically representing thoughts, burdens, or emotions. Example: "A heavy crown of responsibility rested upon my brow as I faced the challenges ahead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I thank you for this bright green laurel resting now upon my brow," Donovan said.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I furrow my brow.

The Guardian - Travel

I furrowed my brow in confusion.

The New Yorker

My brow hottens, just typing this.

The New York Times

I had dimple marks on my brow for seven holes.

The New York Times

Why the furrow on my brow?

The New York Times

My husband would be feeding me ice chips and wiping the sweat from my brow.

The New York Times - Sports

You'll stay with me to dab my brow, yes?

The Guardian - Sport

Wiping the sweat off my brow, I realized I had a layer of dirt caked on my face.

The New York Times - Arts

My old laugh was an open-mouthed guffaw that raised my brow a bit and formed a dimple.

The New Yorker

A bead of sweat slipped from my brow and splashed onto my Dell keyboard.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon my brow" in literary contexts where a slightly elevated or formal tone is appropriate. It can add a touch of poetic flair to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "upon my brow" in everyday conversation or informal writing, as it can sound stilted or unnatural. Opt for simpler phrases like "on my forehead" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon my brow" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun by specifying a location. It evokes a sense of something resting or being present on one's forehead. Ludwig indicates the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon my brow" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase best suited for literary or poetic contexts. While Ludwig confirms its correctness, its usage frequency is rare in contemporary language. The phrase evokes a sense of formality and is often employed to describe something resting or being symbolically placed on one's forehead, as shown in various examples within news and media sources. For more casual settings, alternatives like "on my forehead" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on my forehead

Replaces "brow" with a more common term for the same area of the face, reducing formality.

upon my forehead

Combines the more formal "upon" with the common term "forehead".

across my brow

Uses a different preposition to describe the location, slightly altering the spatial relationship.

resting on my brow

Emphasizes the action of something being placed on the brow.

over my brow

Uses a different preposition to describe the location, suggesting something is covering the brow.

adorning my brow

Adds a sense of decoration or embellishment to the brow.

upon her brow

Changes the possessive from "my" to "her", shifting the perspective.

above my eyes

Describes the location in relation to another facial feature.

on my face

Uses a much broader term, referring to the entire facial area instead of a specific part.

upon my visage

Replaces "brow" with a more archaic term for the face, increasing formality.

FAQs

How can I use "upon my brow" in a sentence?

You can use "upon my brow" to describe something that is symbolically or literally resting on your forehead, often in a poetic or literary context. For example, "A heavy weight of responsibility settled "upon my brow"".

What's a less formal alternative to "upon my brow"?

A less formal alternative is "on my forehead". This phrase is more common in everyday language and lacks the slightly elevated tone of "upon my brow".

Is "upon my brow" grammatically correct?

Yes, "upon my brow" is grammatically correct. The phrase is a prepositional phrase that uses the preposition "upon" to indicate the location of something on the brow.

What does it mean when someone says something is "written upon my brow"?

This is a metaphorical expression suggesting that someone's thoughts or feelings are so evident that they can be easily read by others, as if they were physically inscribed "upon my brow".