written all over face

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "written all over face" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "written all over your face"? You can use it to describe someone's emotions or thoughts that are clearly visible on their face, often without them needing to say anything. Example: "When she heard the news, the surprise was written all over her face."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

His book, De humana physiognomia (1586), features woodcuts of animals to help illustrate the personality characteristics written all over each human face, like the "bullish" aggression of the poor ugly sod in the image below.

Vice

One who quickly caught my attention was Filipino-American Jerell Rosales, whose short film Born To Dance This Way not only demonstrates his solid skill as a rising filmmaker, but introduces a classic comedic character who has "feature film" written all over his fat little face.

Huffington Post

It was written all over my face because his genetic material made me look white -- completely different from mom and my brothers and sister.

Huffington Post

His personality is written all over his face.

The New York Times - Sports

Vanity and stupidity are written all over your face!

The Guardian - Film

The agony was written all over his face.

The Guardian - Sport

With "disappointment written all over his face," the boy said, "I thought you were monkeys too".

The New York Times - Arts

I'm paralysed with useless sympathy, and it's written all over my face.

Independent

His frustration is written all over his face, and expressed loudly in a high sigh.

The Guardian

"I've got sex written all over my face," he once said.

The New York Times - Books

In the past, when I didn't like something, it was written all over my face.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct possessive pronoun (e.g., "your", "his", "her") when referring to someone's face. The correct phrase is "written all over your/his/her face".

Common error

Avoid saying "written all over face". Always include a possessive pronoun (like "your", "his", or "her") to clarify whose face is being described. For example, say "The surprise was written all over her face" instead of "The surprise was written all over face".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "written all over face" is an incorrect form of an idiomatic expression. The correct form, "written all over your face", functions as a descriptor, indicating that someone's emotions or thoughts are readily apparent from their facial expressions. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms this grammatical error.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "written all over face" is grammatically incorrect. The correct and widely accepted form is "written all over your face", which serves to describe how someone's emotions or intentions are plainly visible through their facial expressions. As Ludwig AI clarifies, the absence of a possessive pronoun renders the phrase incorrect. Remember to always include the possessive pronoun (your, his, her, etc.) when using this idiom. Common alternatives include "clear as day on your face" or "plainly visible on your face". Using the correct grammar ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

written all over your face

Adds the possessive pronoun "your" to correctly indicate whose face is displaying the emotion, making it grammatically correct.

clear as day on your face

Replaces "written all over" with "clear as day", emphasizing the obviousness of the emotion. Changes the structure of the phrase.

plainly visible on your face

Uses "plainly visible" to highlight the easy visibility of the emotion. Changes the structure of the phrase.

etched on your face

Implies a deeply ingrained or strongly expressed emotion. Metaphorical change.

stamped across your face

Uses "stamped across" to suggest a forceful or undeniable expression. Metaphorical change.

betraying your emotions

Focuses on the involuntary revelation of feelings. Semantic rephrasing.

giving away your thoughts

Highlights the unintended display of one's thoughts. Semantic rephrasing.

showing in your expression

Emphasizes the role of facial expression in revealing inner states. Semantic rephrasing.

shining through your eyes

Focuses specifically on the eyes as indicators of emotion. More specific.

evident in your demeanor

Broadens the scope to include overall behavior, not just facial expression. Broader context.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "written all over face"?

The correct and commonly used phrase is "written all over your face". The possessive pronoun "your" indicates that the expression or emotion is visible on someone's face. It's grammatically incorrect to omit the possessive pronoun.

How can I use "written all over your face" in a sentence?

Use "written all over your face" to describe an emotion or thought that is very obvious from someone's facial expression. For example, "When I told him the news, relief was "written all over your face"".

What does it mean when something is "written all over your face"?

It means that your emotions or thoughts are very easy to see in your facial expression, even if you are trying to hide them. It suggests that your face is clearly displaying what you are feeling or thinking.

Are there any alternatives to "written all over your face"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "clear as day on your face", "plainly visible on your face", or "etched on your face" to convey a similar meaning, though with slightly different nuances.