n. The act of bringing one's palm to one's face to indicate embarrassment, exasperation, or despair.
2009
Surrounded by mini-skirted dancers and wearing bad suits, the Grimes boys performed literal interpretations of the lyrics, just as Pan’s People used to do decades ago on Top of the Pops. It was funny, sweet and the ultimate "facepalm" experience, and they received the biggest share of the public vote on the night.
2009
For the previous 24 hours Deena Pantalone had been the target of a vicious online smear campaign among the city's fashion community — vilified for telling a Toronto Life reporter the candy-red cocktail dress she was wearing at last week's Butterfly Ball was vintage, when in fact it had been created by a local designer. … Others saw the humour in the gaffe. "Oh the facepalms," said Shannon.
2001 (earliest)