Context
Someone sitting at a party looking thoroughly miserable.
Tiene cara de pocos amigos.
'Face of few friends' — looking unfriendly, unapproachable, or deeply grumpy. Perfect.
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sayingsSaying 20 of 25
face like a smacked bottom
British for someone wearing a sour, miserable, or deeply unamused expression.
Literal translation trap
Translating this literally would be both wrong and alarming. Spanish has its own vivid face-based expressions.
Say it like this
Context
A colleague who looks furious after a meeting.
Tiene una cara de vinagre.
'Vinegar face' — sour, bitter expression. The Spanish equivalent hits just as hard.
Context
Someone tutting and sighing at everything.
Está con una cara que no hay quien se le acerque.
His face is such that no one can approach him — paints the picture vividly.
Context
A teenager who clearly doesn't want to be at the family dinner.
Tiene mala cara.
Has a bad face — simple but effective. Can mean ill or just grumpy, context decides.
Context
Someone looking put-out after being told no.
Se le cayó la cara al suelo.
His face fell to the floor — different emotion (more disappointment) but equally vivid imagery.