hatchet face
LowInformal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
A face with sharp, angular, and thin features, often suggesting harshness or meanness.
A term describing a person's facial appearance as lean, bony, and sharp, often implying a severe, stern, or cruel character. It can also metaphorically refer to someone with a fierce, unforgiving demeanor.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a descriptive term, often pejorative. More common in written narrative (e.g., novels, character descriptions) than in casual speech. It's a compound noun functioning as a count noun (e.g., 'He had a hatchet face').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slight literary/dated feel in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally uncommon in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + have/possess/wear + a hatchet facea hatchet-face + [noun] (e.g., hatchet-face man)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bury the hatchet (semantically related word, but not directly connected to 'hatchet face')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Rare; would be a vivid, potentially offensive description.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The detective was a hatchet-faced individual who rarely smiled.
- She gave him a hatchet-faced glare.
American English
- The sheriff was a hatchet-faced man with a stern reputation.
- His hatchet-faced expression scared the children.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old man in the story had a long, hatchet face.
- She didn't trust the man with the hatchet face.
- The villain was always described as having a cruel, hatchet face.
- His hatchet face and piercing eyes made him seem unapproachable.
- The journalist's hatchet face betrayed a lifetime of cynicism and hard reporting.
- Despite his hatchet-faced appearance, he possessed a surprising gentleness with animals.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a face so sharp and thin it could be used to chop wood like a hatchet.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FACE IS A WEAPON (sharp, cutting, dangerous).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'топорное лицо' (axe face), which is not idiomatic. The closer concept is 'острое/угловатое лицо' or 'лицо с острыми чертами'. The connotation of severity is captured in 'суровое лицо'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective without a hyphen (e.g., 'He was hatchet face' vs. 'He was hatchet-faced' or 'He had a hatchet face').
- Confusing it with the idiom 'bury the hatchet'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'hatchet face' MOST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost always a pejorative or unflattering description, implying harshness, severity, or unattractive sharpness of features.
Yes, but the common adjectival form is the hyphenated compound 'hatchet-faced' (e.g., a hatchet-faced woman).
No, it has a somewhat dated or literary feel. It is more common in written descriptions, especially in genres like mystery or historical fiction, than in everyday conversation.
The link is the sharp, thin, angular shape of a hatchet's blade, which is metaphorically mapped onto the sharp, bony contours of a person's face (cheekbones, jaw, nose).