Forum: ell.stackexchange.com
Tags: <phrase-request>
Title: A phrase for "ashamed"
Question: Is there a figurative phrase for "ashamed" to mean to bend your head downward or look down, as you can't look at others?   In Persian we say سر افکنده which almost means Head Down, or Head fallen

Answers:
sents: text: There's a similar expression in english - to hang your head (in shame) .
text: It has very much the same meaning as the expressions you mention.
text: Hang one's head
text: : let one's head fall forward (e.g., when ashamed) For example: When I was caught cheating in the exam, I hung my head in shame.
text: Athletes caught taking drugs
text: should hang their heads in shame.
text: The defendant hung his head in shame.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/44922/mike
score: 16
sents: text: Crestfallen (or maybe downcast) might be another single word equivalent.
text: Crest in English refers to the head or top of something; so the word directly connotes the head being down, but means being sad or disappointed (whether because of shame/embarrassment or any other reason).
text: crest·fal·len
text: ˈkres(t)ˌfôlən/ adjective adjective
text: : crestfallen sad and disappointed.
text: "he came back
text: empty-handed and crestfallen" synonyms: downhearted, downcast, despondent, disappointed, disconsolate, disheartened, discouraged, dispirited, dejected, depressed, desolate, in the doldrums, sad, glum, gloomy, dismayed, doleful, miserable, unhappy, woebegone, forlorn;
text: More antonyms: cheerful Origin late 16th century:
text: figuratively, from the original use referring to a mammal or bird having a fallen or drooping crest.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/48373/Dan Field
score: 6
sents: text: We also say that a person couldn't look [someone] in the eye/face when they are ashamed (often because they are lying, but not always).
text: This is pretty much a set phrase, so it's often singular eye instead of plural eyes .
text: From Collins Dictionary: to look someone in the eye or look sb in the face phrase If you look someone in the eye or look them in the face, you look straight at their eyes in a bold and open way, for example in order to make them realize that you are telling the truth.
text: He could not look her in the eye.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/37569/1006a
score: 6
sents: text: In addition to: hang your head in shame we also might use: shamefaced, tail between his legs shame·faced ˈSHāmfāst/ adjective feeling or expressing shame or embarrassment.
text: "all the boys looked shamefaced" synonyms: ashamed, abashed, sheepish, guilty, conscience-stricken, guilt-ridden, contrite, sorry, remorseful, repentant, penitent, regretful, rueful, apologetic; embarrassed, mortified, red-faced, chagrined, humiliated; informal:
text: with one's tail between one's legs "Giles looked shamefaced" Google Dictionary
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/46196/WRX
score: 4
sents: text: Bow/hang your head in shame.
text: http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/shame_1 Hope this helps
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/43086/EngFan
score: 3
sents: text: I have heard and read of a hangdog look or expression.
text: Per: Dictionary.com shamefaced; guilty: He sneaked out of the room with a hangdog expression.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/48377/user48377
score: 2

Summary of the answers:
To hang your head (in shame), to be crestfallen, to be shamefaced, to bow your head in shame, to have a hangdog look are all alternative suggestions.
There are many similar expressions in English: "to bow/hang your head (in shame)", "to be crestfallen (or maybe downcast)", "to not be able to look [someone] in the eye/face", "shamefaced", "tail between his legs", "hangdog look".