A countenance more in sorrow than in anger


What's the meaning of the phrase 'A countenance more in sorrow than in anger'?

‘A countenance more in sorrow than in anger’ has a literal meaning. It describes the demeanour of a person who has suffered a setback or a shock but is displaying sadness rather than anger.

What's the origin of the phrase 'A countenance more in sorrow than in anger'?

From Shakespeare’s Hamlet, 1602. Horatio describes to Hamlet the appearance of his father’s ghost:

Hamlet: What, look’d he frowningly?
Horatio: A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
A countenance more in sorrow than in anger

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