There's a similar expression in english - to hang your head (in shame) .
It has very much the same meaning as the expressions you mention.
Hang one's head
: 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.
Athletes caught taking drugs
should hang their heads in shame.
The defendant hung his head in shame.
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Crestfallen (or maybe downcast) might be another single word equivalent.
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).
crest·fal·len
ˈkres(t)ˌfôlən/ adjective adjective
: crestfallen sad and disappointed.
"he came back
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;
More antonyms: cheerful Origin late 16th century:
figuratively, from the original use referring to a mammal or bird having a fallen or drooping crest.
ell.stackexchange.com/users/48373/Dan Field
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).
This is pretty much a set phrase, so it's often singular eye instead of plural eyes .
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.
He could not look her in the eye.
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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.
"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:
with one's tail between one's legs "Giles looked shamefaced" Google Dictionary
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Bow/hang your head in shame.
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/shame_1 Hope this helps
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I have heard and read of a hangdog look or expression.
Per: Dictionary.com shamefaced; guilty: He sneaked out of the room with a hangdog expression.
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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
A phrase for "ashamed"
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<phrase-request>
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ell.stackexchange.com/users/11569/Ahmad
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".
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".