Fazer Cara Feia: Show Disapproval in Brazilian Portuguese
Fazer cara feia means to frown or show disapproval. Context tells you whether the reaction is serious, playful, or simply about a taste.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Fazer cara feia means to frown, make an unhappy face, or visibly show disapproval. It can describe a reaction to a suggestion, price, taste, or change of plan. The phrase focuses on the facial expression, not a spoken reply.
Use fazer cara feia for a visible reaction
The noun cara stays singular in the expression. Conjugate fazer to match the subject: faço cara feia, fez cara feia, and fizeram cara feia.
Ele fez cara feia quando viu o preço do ingresso.
He frowned when he saw the ticket price.
A criança fez cara feia para a salada.
The child made a face at the salad.
Eles fizeram cara feia para a mudança de horário.
They showed disapproval of the schedule change.
Distinguish a frown from a direct refusal
Fazer cara feia describes a facial reaction; it does not always mean that someone said no. If you need to report a decision, say recusou (refused) or não gostou da ideia (did not like the idea).
The phrase can be teasing or critical depending on tone. In a careful description, explain what the person did rather than assuming the reason behind the expression.
Ela fez cara feia, mas ainda não respondeu.
She frowned, but she hasn’t answered yet.
Ele recusou a proposta porque o prazo era curto.
He declined the proposal because the deadline was short.
A gente não gostou da ideia de sair tão tarde.
We didn’t like the idea of going out so late.
Put it into practice
Use fazer cara feia to describe a frown or visible disapproval; use a direct verb such as recusar when you mean someone actually declined.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “He declined the proposal because the deadline was short”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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