facepalm

Definitions

A gesture of bringing one or both palms to the face, with various interpretations including exasperation, chagrin, frustration, embarrassment (one's own or vicarious), etc.

Equivalents

Examples

“[Cue: William Tell⟳ Overture] [sound⟳ of Frank Zappa's “San Ber'dino” being played on Japanese instruments] [Kevin (the Muse): “Wargh! It SAID _William Tell⟳!”] [Cantata11 (walking up with a koto): “Oof. Sorry. It's just that the girls had gotten warmed up to the other thingy...”] [Kevin: “William _Tell⟳_, 11.” (facepalm)]”

““Do you think⟳ Carl Sagan might be available?” There was a mass-facepalm. “No.” they chorused.”

“A look⟳ of realization crossed her face⟳; she looked like⟳ she may have⟳ given herself a face⟳ palm if her hands weren't full.”

“According to a study⟳ by me, this generates a multibillion facepalm for the UK economy, making everyone who considers it at least eleventy hundred pounds unhappier.”

CEFR level