The idiom “Why The Long Face?” is commonly used in the English language to ask someone why they look sad or unhappy. But where did this peculiar phrase originate? Delving into historical texts reveals the fascinating etymology of this expression, tracing it back to the 18th century and even earlier physiological understandings of emotions.
One of the earliest detailed explanations of “putting on a long face” comes from James Parsons, a physician and anatomist. In his 1746 lecture, “The Crouonian Lectures on Muscular Motion,” Parsons provides a physiological breakdown of how sorrow manifests on our faces.
He describes the muscles involved in weeping and expressing sadness, pointing to Fig. 145 which illustrates a “countenance of sorrow“. Parsons explains, “the triangularis on each side, which draw down the corners of the mouth, while the elevator labii inferioris proprius pulls up the under lip.” He further notes the role of the eyes, stating that “the aperiens palpebram is remitted, while the elevator of the eye has a little raised the pupil, which is covered by the lid, and looks languid.”
Fig. 145 illustration of sorrowful countenance highlighting muscle actions and facial expressions associated with sadness and weeping
Parsons concludes by directly linking these physiological changes to the idiom: “This gives occasion for the phrase commonly used, of putting on a long face, upon being sorrowful; and the relaxation mentioned causes the forlorn look.” This clearly indicates that by 1746, “putting on a long face” was already a well-established idiom, directly associated with the physical appearance of someone experiencing sadness.
Literary examples from the same era further solidify the phrase’s common usage. In Samuel Richardson’s epistolary novel Clarissa; or, The History of a Young Lady (1748), a character describes another as making a “plaguy long face” when frightened. This usage in popular literature confirms that the expression was not only recognized but also readily employed in everyday language to depict a sorrowful or distressed demeanor.
However, earlier texts also offer a slightly different, albeit related, perspective on “long faces.” A 1665 translation of Marin Cureau’s The Art How to Know Men connects “long faces” to a disposition towards melancholy. Cureau, exploring physiognomy, suggests that facial features are indicative of temperament. He posits that individuals “inclin’d to Melancholy, have corners of the forehead ending in a sharp point, and long faces, contrary to the Flegmatick, who have them almost of a round character.”
It’s important to note that Cureau isn’t using “long faces” as an idiom for a temporary expression of sadness. Instead, he refers to it as a permanent facial characteristic associated with a melancholic personality type. This older usage highlights a belief that a naturally “long face” was a physical manifestation of a somber disposition.
In conclusion, the phrase “why the long face?” and its earlier form “putting on a long face” have a rich history rooted in both physiological observations of sadness and broader theories of physiognomy. By the mid-18th century, thanks to works like Parsons’ lectures, the idiom was firmly established in its modern sense, describing the facial expression of sorrow caused by specific muscle reactions. While earlier perspectives linked “long faces” to inherent melancholy, the enduring legacy of the phrase lies in its ability to succinctly capture the universally recognizable look of sadness.
