"cara de circunstancia"?

[createdamadman]

In the book I'm reading, I've seen this phrase twice. I can assume that Ana had a surprised look on her face due to the question. But is that what is meant by this phrase? The English translation seems to just be "look of circumstance" but I really don't know what that means.



"¿Qué piensas hacer con tu vida?

La brusquedad de la pregunta pilló a Ana desprevenida, que puso cara de circunstancia."

[Rusty]

This seems to describe the face we often get when facing something unexpected (waylaid by something horrid or awful). I think it covers the meanings of 'in the face of reality," "in the face of grief," or "in the face of reason." "In the face of reality" is probably the closest fit, in this case.

Other ideas:
a worried look
an oh-oh look
an oh-boy look
a here-we-go look
a brace yourself look