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  1. rktho

    rktho Contributor Contributor

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    Word for half a frown?

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by rktho, Jun 15, 2017.

    If turning up a corner of one's mouth is a smirk, what is turning it down? The expression I have in mind looks like this emoji. (This emoji is supposed to represent confusion but I'm using the expression to convey an apologetic manner rather than a nonplussed one. The expression I have in mind is usually accompanied with a shaking of the head or a shrug, as if saying, "Sorry, I don't know.")
     
  2. Infel

    Infel Contributor Contributor

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    Only thing off the top of my head is "pursed lips". Its not exactly the same thing as a smirk, but it might do!
     
  3. Tenderiser

    Tenderiser Not a man or BayView

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    I can't see the emoji if you posted one but, depending on context:
    - A sheepish smile / a sheepish shrug.
    - An apologetic smile / shrug.
    - A grimace. Sometimes people grimace when they realise they've done something wrong, or someone else is in trouble.
     
  4. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    I'm going to guess it's some version of this one:
    Screen Shot 2017-06-15 at 8.52.00 AM.png
    I use it a lot, but there's no single word I can think of for that, for just one side of the mouth pulling down. I know what it means when I see it (innate human facial recognition software is pretty neat), but a single word for it, no. When I pay attention to what my mouth is doing when I pull that face in real life, the corner of my mouth isn't actually pulling down. It's my lower lip pushing up against my upper lip, and kinda' to one side.

    Why doesn't a half frown of confusion work?
     
  5. Pinkymcfiddle

    Pinkymcfiddle Banned

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    Is it a stroke?
     
  6. matwoolf

    matwoolf Banned Contributor

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    you could work 'wince' into something...
     
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  7. rktho

    rktho Contributor Contributor

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    Grimace... sounds like what I'm looking for. Maybe a slight grimace instead of a full grimace.
     
  8. rktho

    rktho Contributor Contributor

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    Because he isn't confused.
     
  9. matwoolf

    matwoolf Banned Contributor

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    I would change it to a word that readers can visualise easily - rather than try to shoehorn exactly what I mean[t], this seems exhausting for little reward, more interesting even to work with the wrong word & see where it heads/takes you.
     
  10. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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    I can't seem to smile or frown with only half my mouth/face... when I try it definitely looks like I've suffered a stroke.
     
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  11. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Maybe nonplussed frown?

    Screen Shot 2017-06-15 at 12.31.33 PM.png
     
  12. rktho

    rktho Contributor Contributor

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    I don't think that's it. In context, Zarakharn learns that Daktarash has an informant who recommended he sell the sword to him they are discussing. Zarakharn asks what he looked like and Daktarash makes this face and says, "Hooded. Didn't see much of him," as if sorry he doesn't have more information to provide.
     
  13. Myrrdoch

    Myrrdoch Active Member

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    A moue?
     
  14. rktho

    rktho Contributor Contributor

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    Maybe, but people might not know what it is. I think I'll go with a grimace.
     
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  15. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    "Sorry, I didn't see," he said, with a rueful twist of his lips.

    Eh. Maybe.

    Edited to add: "rueful twist of his lips" gives me 1,210 Google results. "rueful twist of her lips" is 1,040. I guess I didn't invent it.
     
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  16. rktho

    rktho Contributor Contributor

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    Interesting... might use that instead of grimace.
     

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