The phrase "screw up one's face" refers to a facial expression characterized by contorting, distorting, or wrinkling one's facial features, usually due to confusion, disgust, pain, or discomfort. It involves tightening the facial muscles, which leads to a distorted or twisted facial expression.
This expression is commonly used to describe someone's reaction when they encounter something unexpected, distasteful, or unpleasant. It can reflect a combination of emotions, such as surprise, perplexity, or disapproval, which result in the person's visage contorting into an expression that may be seen as unattractive or humorous.
The phrase can be used literally or figuratively. In its literal sense, it describes the physical act of scrunching or wrinkling the face, often accompanied by furrowed brows, wrinkled nose, pouted lips, or distorted mouth shapes. Figuratively, it refers to the mental or emotional reaction, indicating a negative response to a situation or information received.
"Screw up one's face" can be observed in various contexts, including while tasting something sour or bitter, experiencing pain or discomfort, encountering a strong odor, witnessing something shocking, or encountering any situation that triggers a negative visceral reaction.
Overall, "screw up one's face" captures the non-verbal, often instinctive, reaction involving facial expressions that conveys dissatisfaction, disapproval, or perplexity in response to an unfavorable stimulus.
