frown

(redirected from frowningly)
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frown upon

To show one's disapproval of something. I just know my mother frowns upon my decision to go to a state school. Please stop frowning upon my choice and support me!

frown on (something)

To disapprove or show one's disapproval of something. I just know my mother frowns on my decision to go to a state school. If people frown on such relationships, they're just living in the past.

See also: frown, on

frown at (someone or something)

To look at someone or something with displeasure. Ted frowned at me as though I was the one who'd made that callous remark. Sadie frowned at the math problem that was giving her trouble.

frown at someone or something

to scowl at someone or something. Please don't frown at me. I didn't do anything. Frank frowned at the dog and gave it a kick.

frown on someone or something

to disapprove of someone or something; to show displeasure or disapproval of someone or something. The Internal Revenue Service frowns on tax cheaters. Aunt Clara always seemed to frown on my cousin for some reason.

See also: frown, on

frown on

Regard with disapproval or distaste, as in Pat frowns on bad language. this idiom transfers the disapproving facial expression to the thought it expresses. [Late 1500s]

See also: frown, on

frown on

or frown upon

To disapprove of something: The administration frowns on late submissions of the required forms. My parents frown upon loud music.

See also: frown, on

References in classic literature ?

Valentin smoked frowningly for a few seconds; then, removing his cigarette, he said: "If you know what a man's doing, get in front of him; but if you want to guess what he's doing, keep behind him.

View in context

How tyrannical it is that in other government medical and dental colleges quota for Islamabad students stands next to Nil as if Islamabad is a city of illiterate persons and no one qualifies for seeking admission in the medical colleges functioning in other provinces , what is this, a sheer injustice and a step designed for placing us in the list of second rate citizens, she yelled frowningly.

Doors to justice should be opened for us too: students

After the decisive vote on the Rome Statute, our founding treaty, there is some kind of explosion, an enormous outpouring of emotions, of relief among those present, unparalleled for such a conference: screams, stamping, exultation without end, tears of joy and relief; hard-baked delegates and journalists who have frowningly watched the entire conference hug each other in a state of euphoria.

The mens rea of the crime of aggression

The pianist finished his golden oldie, peeping al us frowningly all along, and then exasperatedly ran off to the kitchen.

In musica bohemica ET slovaca the reception of John Cage's music in the Czech lands and Slovakia

And it is here, without minders or bodyguards, where the real Bernie Ecclestone exists - far removed from the frowningly stern-faced and rarely smiling figure, often featured so sullenly on TV's grid shots, bestriding F1 in his kingly role.

Formula Bernie

'I picked my nose in the first film when I was in hospital,' he frowningly reminded her.