[Vocabulary] to screw up one's eyes/face and to frown

[dilodi83]

A) Dear teachers and native English speakers,
can you explain me the difference between "to screw up one's eyes (or face) and "to frown"?
Do they generally mean the same thing? Or do you use them differently?

B) What about the examples I've done below?

1) I don't want the judges frown.
2) I don't want my mother screws her face up, but I'm sure that if she knew that, she'd do it.
3) She frowned when she heard what had happened.
4) She screwed her eyes up when she heard what had happened.

 

[BobSmith]

[AmE - not a teacher]

To me, they all mean to express disapproval. I think there isn't much hidden in the meanings though. The various phrases are meant to evoke the reaction you think the others are feeling/having. (Although, I can't say for sure what these various faces might mean in other cultures/contexts.)

 

[dilodi83]

Any teacher or native English speaker who can answer my thread?

 

[Ouisch]

A) Dear teachers and native English speakers,
can you explain me the difference between "to screw up one's eyes (or face) and "to frown"?
Do they generally mean the same thing? Or do you use them differently?

B) What about the examples I've done below?

1) I don't want the judges frown.
2) I don't want my mother screws her face up, but I'm sure that if she knew that, she'd do it.
3) She frowned when she heard what had happened.
4) She screwed her eyes up when she heard what had happened.

Only number (3) of your examples makes sense. In number (1), you would say "I don't want the judges to frown" or "I don't want to see the judges frown." (2) and (4) are nonsensical.

In AmE, when someone "screws up" their face, it usually means that they contort it into a shape that indicates either confusion or that they've tasted/smelled something unpleasant. It is different than a frown, which indicates sadness or displeasure.

 

[SirGod]

Any teacher or native English speaker who can answer my thread?

BobSmith is a native speaker of AmE and it's rude of you not to thank him for his help.