hatchet-face

A man with a hatchet-face stared intently at the map.

Definition

Noun: A person with a thin, sharp-featured face, typically one that is narrow and angular, resembling the shape of a hatchet (a small axe).

Usage Examples

• (Describing a person with a very slender, angular face.)
• (Referring to a person whose facial features are sharp and severe.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a hatchet-face": to possess facial features that are thin, bony, and sharp.

  • She had a hatchet-face that made her look perpetually angry. (Her angular features gave a harsh impression.)

• "hatchet-faced" (adjective): having a hatchet-face.

  • The hatchet-faced detective stared coldly at the suspect. (Describing a detective with sharp, thin features.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hatchet-faced (adj): having a face that is thin and sharp-featured.

  • The hatchet-faced man rarely smiled. (His facial structure was narrow and angular.)

• Hatchet (n): a small, short-handled axe used with one hand.

  • He used a hatchet to chop wood. (A tool with a blade shape similar to a narrow face.)

Synonyms

• Lantern-jawed: having a long, thin face with prominent jawbones.
• Gaunt-faced: having a face that is very thin and hollow-cheeked.

Related Idioms

• A hatchet job: a harsh, critical attack or piece of writing (not directly about the face, but related to the word "hatchet").

  • The critic did a hatchet job on the new film. (A very negative review.)

• Bury the hatchet: to make peace or end a quarrel (idiom using "hatchet").

  • After years of fighting, they finally buried the hatchet. (They ended their conflict.)

Notes on Usage

• "Hatchet-face" is often used descriptively and can carry a negative or unflattering connotation, implying harshness or severity in appearance. It is not a common term in everyday speech but appears in literary or descriptive contexts.