sour expression; looking disgusted
Describes a facial expression of extreme displeasure, as if one had bitten into something bitter. Often used with verbs like する or 顔をする.
See also: 苦虫
He listened to the story with a sour expression on his face.
上司に叱られて、苦虫を噛み潰したようだった。
After being scolded by his boss, he looked thoroughly disgusted.
渋い顔 describes a grim or wry face, often from displeasure or difficulty, but lacks the vivid bitterness imagery of 苦虫を噛み潰したよう.
苦い顔 is a more literal 'bitter face' and can be used similarly, but 苦虫を噛み潰したよう is a stronger, more idiomatic expression.
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
Variant with つぶす written in kana; equally natural.
Literally 'as if having chewed up a bitter bug'. The phrase evokes the involuntary grimace one would make when tasting something extremely bitter, and is used idiomatically to describe a sour or disgusted facial expression.