white-faced
[ˈwaɪt ˈfeɪst]
adjective
pálido; de rosto branco
1. Having a pale or ashen face, typically due to fear, shock, illness, or extreme emotion
The white-faced child trembled as thunder crashed overhead.
A criança de rosto pálido tremeu quando o trovão ecoou acima de suas cabeças.
2. Having white markings on the face (used to describe animals, especially cattle or horses)
The rancher owned several white-faced cattle breeds.
O fazendeiro possuía várias raças de gado de rosto branco.
3. Appearing shocked, frightened, or distressed in facial expression
She went white-faced when she heard the bad news.
Ela ficou pálida quando ouviu a má notícia.
In English-speaking cultures, 'white-faced' is commonly used to describe emotional reactions to shocking or frightening events. In American agricultural contexts, it specifically refers to Hereford cattle and other breeds with distinctive white facial markings. The term has fallen somewhat out of favor in modern usage due to sensitivity around color-based descriptions of human emotional states, with alternatives like 'pale' or 'ashen' being preferred in contemporary writing.
Related Idioms & Phrases
go white-faced (to become pale with shock or fear)
white-faced with fear
white-faced cattle (Hereford cattle breed reference)
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