I. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a nervous smile/laugh/giggle
▪
‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said, with a nervous smile.
a nod/smile/glance/look of approval
▪
‘You’ve thought of everything,’ she said with a smile of approval.
a quizzical look/expression/smile
▪
He sat and watched her, a quizzical look on his face.
a smile of welcome
▪
His wrinkled face broke into a smile of welcome.
a smile/grin/frown on sb’s face
▪
There was a mischievous grin on her face.
▪
He was reading the newspaper with a frown on his face.
a smile/sigh/look of satisfaction
▪
He allowed himself a little smile of satisfaction.
a toothless smile/grin
▪
He gave us a toothless grin.
an amused smile/look/expression etc
an approving nod/glance/smile etc
an embarrassed smile/laugh/grin
▪
Lucy gave an embarrassed smile and looked down at her feet.
apologetic smile
▪
She gave me an apologetic smile .
cheerful voice/smile/manner etc
▪
‘I’m Robyn,’ she said with a cheerful smile.
▪
It does me good to see a cheerful face.
cheery smile
▪
She gave me a cheery smile .
confident smile/voice/manner etc
▪
He began to read in a calm confident voice.
conspiratorial whisper/smile/wink etc
▪
Britta gave him a conspiratorial smile.
crooked smile/grin
▪
His lips curled into a crooked smile.
diffident manner/smile/voice etc
engaging smile
▪
an engaging smile
enigmatic smile/expression etc
gap-toothed smile/grin
gentle voice/smile/touch
▪
‘Where does it hurt?’ she asked in a gentle voice.
give a smile/laugh/grin/frown/yawn etc
▪
She gave a little frown.
▪
Joel gave me a smile as I walked in.
▪
He gave her a big hug.
happy/smiling
▪
Shelley looked at the children’s happy faces.
infectious smile
▪
an infectious smile
knowing smile
▪
She exchanged a knowing smile with her mother.
malevolent look/stare/smile etc
▪
He gave her a dark, malevolent look.
manage to smile/speak/laugh etc
▪
‘Why do you hate me so much?’ he managed to say.
mischievous smile/look etc
▪
Gabby looked at him with a mischievous grin.
radiant smile
▪
a radiant smile
return sb’s smile
▪
Mark returned her smile.
sarcastic manner/smile/laugh etc
▪
‘I thought so,’ she said with a sarcastic smile.
secret smile
▪
There was a secret smile on her face.
set smile/teeth/jaw
▪
‘Damn you,’ he said through set teeth.
shamefaced smile/grin
smile on...lips
▪
Matt opened the door with a smile on his lips .
smiled sheepishly
▪
She smiled sheepishly .
smiled warmly
▪
Jack smiled warmly .
smug expression/look/face/smile etc
▪
‘I knew I’d win,’ she said with a smug smile.
sour look/face/smile etc
▪
Eliza was tall and thin, with a rather sour face.
stifle a yawn/smile/grin etc
▪
I tried to stifle my laughter.
triumphant look/smile/expression etc
▪
a triumphant grin
watery smile
▪
She gave him a watery smile .
weak smile
▪
He managed a weak smile .
wear a smile/frown/grin etc
▪
His face wore a welcoming smile.
wide smile/grin
▪
As he ran toward me, his face broke into a wide grin.
winning smile
▪
a winning smile
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
again
▪
She smiled again , and turned her face into his shoulder, inhaling his scent.
▪
The man in front smiled again , slightly.
▪
He smiled again , and then was gone, off in pursuit of Tony who had started moving again.
▪
They took formal portraits of the two leaders side by side in wingback chairs, smiling again .
▪
His inability to explain makes him smile again .
▪
On Boxing Day her family was able to smile again when she gave birth to a son whom she has named Manus.
▪
She smiled again , which Mark again returned, even though he was not in the running.
broadly
▪
She smiles broadly when her name is called.
▪
Neville smiled broadly and turned towards the pumps.
▪
He tiptoed closer, smiling broadly , waiting for Suzanne to spot him.
▪
But even here the gods appeared to be smiling broadly on Morse's enterprise.
▪
They approached each other without hesitation, shook hands as if they were close friends and smiled broadly .
▪
You either had it or you didn't, thought Trevor Magee, smiling broadly to himself.
▪
I saw that dumb interpreter smiling broadly .
down
▪
Behind him, Paxton's body lay amongst the frozen dancers and entertainers smiling down blankly as if welcoming him.
▪
Gazing up at the kindly, apple-cheeked face smiling down at him, Hilary suddenly made up his mind.
▪
For her sake, Langford walked slowly, smiling down like a fond young father.
▪
Then she met his eyes as he smiled down at her, and she knew instinctively that all would be well.
▪
A chap with short brown hair was smiling down at me.
▪
In that brief fragment of time he smiled down at me.
thinly
▪
She looked at Hitch and smiled thinly , wetting her lips slightly with the tip of her tongue.
▪
I think I smiled thinly , however, because he was.
▪
She smiled thinly and ran her index finger over the Biro scribble.
▪
I think she smiled thinly , said little, and later put the brush in a drawer.
▪
He smiled thinly and motioned the tall man back.
▪
Shiona smiled thinly , but refrained from voicing her suspicions out loud.
▪
Wilson smiled thinly at that bit.
▪
Carol smiled thinly in response and picked at the piece of toast on her plate.
warmly
▪
Once Chuck turned and grinned delightedly at her as he paused to mop his brow, and she smiled warmly back.
▪
She babbled a lot and smiled warmly at her parents and the babysitter.
▪
Next to him, Rose Mary, his wife and my good friend, smiled warmly .
▪
He looked at us and smiled warmly .
■ VERB
manage
▪
Meanwhile, left, battling Wedgwood Barlaston manage to smile in gracious defeat.
nod
▪
He nodded and smiled , not reaching for the carrier-bag, waiting for Stephen to hold it out to him.
▪
The man nodded , smiling faintly.
▪
Lawrence was nodding , smiling happily.
▪
He seldom nods or smiles at the small minority of white and black independents.
▪
He nodded and smiled , but he kept moving.
▪
And Philip would nod and smile .
▪
Little Billy nodded and smiled , and he could swear Swan nodded and smiled back at him.
▪
Polly poked me in the ribs and I nodded at her and smiled .
try
▪
Bob looked quickly away, trying not to smile .
▪
Mr Tuck grinned at him, and he tried to smile back.
▪
He tried to smile at her.
▪
I tried to smile back, but my face that day was curiously stiff.
▪
Now he tried to smile a discreet and ironic little smile.
▪
He tried to smile , but it was difficult.
▪
I tried to smile as I passed by her.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
be all smiles/innocence/sweetness etc
▪
And the sporty victim herself was all smiles, too.
▪
But the next day Zara and Johnson were all smiles as they enjoyed a day out at a pub.
▪
Fakhru was all smiles and had his son by the throat.
▪
In the resulting calm Tam and his brother resurfaced and were all smiles.
▪
Instead, this way, they were all innocence, all planning.
▪
When he entered the kitchen, bringing a great gust of cold air with him, he was all smiles.
▪
Your eyes are all innocence, but your lips are pure fire.
broad smile/grin
meaningful look/glance/smile etc
▪
All he could produce was a stiff upper lip, while young Lady C cast meaningful looks at sturdy gamekeeper Mellors.
▪
Benjamin indicated with meaningful glances at me that this stark, sombre evening was such an appropriate time.
▪
But this time he drew out his knife and showed it to me with a meaningful glance.
▪
Lots of meaningful glances and repressed passion as only the Victorians knew how.
▪
They exchanged meaningful glances from time to time - and it was apparent that his brother was as troubled as he by the disturbing events.
pitying look/smile/glance
▪
The other smiled at him a pitying smile.
sly smile/glance/wink etc
▪
All those gloating women looking down into his grave, whispering their sisterly secrets behind their sly smiles.
▪
By his sly smile, I think this is the one he intended.
▪
He was relieved when he saw Earnhardt's trademark sly smile.
▪
Herbie's face had also lit in a sly smile as Mary had passed.
▪
Magrat took her seat and, to Agnes's amazement, gave her a sly wink.
▪
Mitchell was shocked to see the man signaling him with sly winks.
▪
Wickham saw Marshall's sly smile and understood what he was thinking.
smile/grin broadly
▪
Eventually he turns to me smiling broadly .
▪
Li Yuan grinned broadly , enjoying himself.
▪
Neville smiled broadly and turned towards the pumps.
▪
She smiles broadly when her name is called.
▪
The man took a well-timed opportunity to smile broadly , a smile that said everything if one knew how to read.
▪
They approached each other without hesitation, shook hands as if they were close friends and smiled broadly .
smile/grin etc from ear to ear
▪
Father smiled from ear to ear, and he and I both ate like fiends.
▪
He was grinning from ear to ear and pointing his finger up to the flies.
▪
Randolph, smiling from ear to ear, quickly dressed into warm clothes and set out towards the toy factory.
▪
Standing at the kitchen counter, shuffling his feet to the music, he caught himself smiling from ear to ear.
the ghost of a smile/sound etc
toothy smile/grin
▪
Bafflingly for Barry, his hairy chest, toothy grin and even his ale and hearty tum couldn't win her over.
▪
He gave her a wide toothy grin, and immediately realized it was exactly the wrong approach.
▪
He is small for his age with large brown eyes, a toothy smile, sloping shoulders and a readiness to please.
▪
Her son holding his head beside the big carved pumpkin, mimicking a wide, toothy grin.
▪
Mike Dawson was sitting at a dead computer, strumming the keyboard and offering a toothy smile to an invisible audience.
▪
The toothy grin of this naturally modest farmer's son was less than villainous at the finish.
▪
The vessel features Major giving a toothy grin, considerably broader than the one on the Thatcher mug.
▪
Those who remembered him with his barrow recalled a cheerful, toothy smile, an infectious, confidence-inspiring laugh.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪
'Stop worrying, you look very nice,' she smiled reassuringly.
▪
"I knew you'd come," she smiled.
▪
a roomful of smiling children
▪
He can make people smile just by walking into a room.
▪
He winked, and she smiled back at him.
▪
Kathy couldn't help smiling as the children came back into the room.
▪
My father rarely smiled.
▪
She smiled and said, "Good morning.''
▪
She smiled broadly when her name was called.
▪
The twins turned and smiled at each other, sharing a private joke.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪
He smiled nervously looking around the room, moving restlessly in his seat.
▪
He smiled with cool amusement, his lower lip pushed out.
▪
He walked beside her and she knew he was still smiling.
▪
She smiled, with her tired light brown eyes and then with her whole face.
▪
So Hamilton vowed to keep smiling, no matter what.
▪
They had stopped smiling because it wasn't necessary to pretend any more.
▪
We smiled feebly and refrained from attempting any further communication with these introspective folk.
II. noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADJECTIVE
apologetic
▪
Bernice flashed an apologetic smile to the Doctor, and turned towards the young couple.
big
▪
Coming towards him, big smile freezing fast, was this Julie Christie lookalike in Fringed Suede.
▪
He came into the bus station wearing jeans and a big smile .
▪
He sat on it with the two little girls and gave them a big smile .
▪
They need parents to be persistent with animated faces and big smiles before they can really tune in.
▪
I still had tears in my eyes, but I had a big smile on my face too.
▪
Robbie would give a big smile .
▪
Anna smiles her biggest smile of the day.
▪
He had this big smile on his face.
brief
▪
With a brief , tremulous smile at Melissa, she trailed meekly behind him.
▪
Blagg had tried a brief smile when Maxim flashed the torch on himself for identification, but didn't speak.
▪
Rachel allowed herself a brief smile at such youthfulness.
▪
As she stepped out on to the deck, Nathan gave her a brief smile .
▪
The handshake with which she had greeted him had been cool and firm and her brief smile was surprisingly attractive.
▪
A brief complacent smile lightened his face and he licked his mouth.
bright
▪
With her bouffant hairdo, elaborate plumage, gushing charm and bright smile she is a caricature of a countess.
▪
Angie Costello came first to mind, a bright lipsticked smile above a striped blue apron.
▪
Indeed, she had scarcely enough presence of mind to return Sybil's bright smile and bid farewell to the genial innkeepers.
▪
He was looking at them in turn with his bright smile .
▪
His eyes were bright , his smile false.
▪
When we heard the wedding march begin, we all rose in unison and turned with our bright , expectant smiles .
confident
▪
Christina found she was still staring as if mesmerized at Stein's confident smile .
▪
His confident smile turns into a forced grin.
▪
Finally she lifted her head and gave a confident smile .
▪
Stephen's confident smile never flickered.
▪
Marc didn't miss her response, but gave a confident smile at the accuracy of his remark.
▪
She had forgotten the compulsion of his confident smile , the total assurance he carried everywhere he went.
faint
▪
He could not resist a faint smile creeping over his face.
▪
Standing there, with his faint , faint smile and eyes that understand things so quickly.
▪
She was in the doorway, watching him with a faint smile on her face.
▪
They had already spoken, so this time Mrs Darne only smiled and Alice managed a faint smile back.
▪
Hayley stared at her, and a faint smile started.
▪
The priest Tavalouze stood looking at Lucien with a faint smile on his face, but said nothing.
▪
A faint , ironic smile touched her lips.
gentle
▪
The man smiled a wry but gentle smile and beckoned me in.
▪
She answered all my questions with a gentle smile and an air of long-suffering patience.
▪
Thinking about it and its possible implications, he drifted into a fitful doze, a gentle smile on his face.
▪
A gentle smile spread over her face, unnoticed beneath her mask.
▪
I felt a little stupid but at least it elicited a gentle smile .
▪
It had been a present from the colonel - to keep her company, he'd insisted with his gentle smile .
little
▪
And Judge Lawrence Verney allowed himself a wry little smile .
▪
And Katie would give a smug little smile and then whisper about it half the night.
▪
After being asked a question, she just sits there and delivers with a little smile and a little animation.
▪
They only gazed back at us with eerie little smiles .
▪
They have a little bounce and a little smile on their faces with some confidence.
▪
Now he tried to smile a discreet and ironic little smile.
▪
Alice returned a little half smile familiar to Mattie, conveying that she was feeling good and guilty about it too.
nervous
▪
She glanced at her brother sitting beside her and managed a weak, nervous smile .
▪
She smiled slightly, a nervous smile that held kindliness.
▪
The man, middle-aged, wearing a suit, complied with a nervous smile .
quick
▪
Her movements seemed more jittery, and her quick smile during the introductions looked forced.
▪
She gives me a quick smile , then returns to her tomatoes.
▪
He looked sidelong at her with a quick smile , and she frowned and nodded his attention quickly towards the stranger.
▪
I nodded and gave a quick , reassuring smile .
▪
As he stepped past Carson he gave a quick , tight smile of acknowledgement.
▪
He had a quick smile , smooth skin and a booming fascination with his own anatomy.
▪
A nod, a quick smile .
▪
She set the mugs down and gave me a quick smile on her way out.
radiant
▪
The nurse brought Michael a cup of tea and he thanked her, giving her one of his radiant smiles .
▪
Courtiers who had come to expect her barely to acknowledge them were suddenly treated to radiant smiles and cheerful banter.
▪
Passing the window, he saw Olivia Davenport, muffled in fur, approach Hoppy with a radiant smile .
sad
▪
Hearing her praises lavishly extolled, she gave a sad , wry smile and returned to Terry's room to clear up.
▪
He looked up with a sad smile .
▪
Is Lily's sad smile as familiar as the sight of the other couples?
▪
Paul sat beside her, utterly still, a small, sad smile on his face.
▪
Do the others have anything to do with Lily's sad smile ?
▪
He was smiling , but it was a sad smile.
secret
▪
He had been watching Cardiff, and now that infuriating secret smile registered again.
▪
He smiles a few secret smiles and shakes his head when Anne and Millie look at him.
▪
His secret smile that just exposed his teeth.
▪
Was there a secret smile hovering about his mouth?
▪
Then Miss Foley, the Director's secretary, calm and self-possessed, wearing always that secret smile .
slight
▪
He leaned back in the chair, a slight smile playing on his lips.
▪
A slight smile curved her mouth, relaxing the rigidity of her body.
▪
She looks at him with a slight smile .
▪
He gives her an angry look, shakes his head, then lets his mouth loosen into a slight smile .
▪
A slight smile now, and a walk that was both casual and wary; cat-like.
▪
The muscles in his face were relaxed, and there was a slight Buddha smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
▪
Miss Jarman stood back, a slight smile on her raddled face.
▪
Usually his parishioners listened to his lectures with a slight smile , an engaged expression.
slow
▪
A slow smile , almost sad.
▪
Cutty smiled his slow smile that expressed no joy.
▪
He moved with a delicacy that emphasised his power, and he had a slow smile and a gentle handshake.
▪
He had a pretty good idea of what she must look like: wise fine eyes, a slow disarming smile .
▪
A slow smile spread across his face as he realized that it must be Ace with the Marines.
▪
He smiled that long, slow , sarcastic smile, but he didn't retaliate.
▪
Roman's slow smile was infinitely sardonic.
▪
A slow smile spreads over her lips.
sly
▪
Herbie's face had also lit in a sly smile as Mary had passed.
▪
He was relieved when he saw Earnhardt's trademark sly smile .
▪
Wickham saw Marshall's sly smile and understood what he was thinking.
▪
By his sly smile , I think this is the one he intended.
▪
All those gloating women looking down into his grave, whispering their sisterly secrets behind their sly smiles .
▪
A sly little smile spread across his lips.
▪
He had a sly , scornful smile on his face as he took my measure.
small
▪
Lucy smiled a small tight-fisted smile.
▪
There she wept and fought to compose herself before returning to the parlor with a small , pinched smile .
▪
She looked at Graham, not smiling , then her lips trembled and a small smile did appear.
▪
A small smile lit her lips.
▪
He saw me without surprise, with a small smile , almost a grimace, on his face.
▪
Woods, for the first time, smiled a small smile.
▪
Sweetheart was standing in the kitchen with a small satisfied smile on her face.
▪
As he pulled back the perspex canopy he permitted himself a small smile at Stallen, whom he knew.
smug
▪
And Katie would give a smug little smile and then whisper about it half the night.
▪
I close the window again with a smug smile on my face, and wait for the next battalion of eager buzzers.
sweet
▪
But she had the prettiest face and the sweetest smile you've ever seen.
▪
A face devoid of guile, the sweetest smile I've ever seen.
▪
She returned the greeting with a sweet smile .
▪
Her sweet smile became sweeter and wider.
▪
She was not beautiful, but she had big, kind brown eyes and a sweet smile .
tight
▪
I just smiled a tight smile.
▪
John permitted himself a tight smile as he darted through the Strand's morning traffic.
▪
The blonde struck a pose and fixed a tight smile on her immaculately made-up face.
▪
She gives him a tight smile and wrinkles her nose.
▪
As he stepped past Carson he gave a quick, tight smile of acknowledgement.
▪
Only Jennifer White Dove replied to his greeting, with a tight smile .
▪
The elderly lady looked up through her miasma of smoke and pinched her face into a tight little smile .
▪
There was a tight smile on her lips.
warm
▪
Sunshine, warm smiles and a skyline of gently rounded peaks dressed in verdant green meadows and lush forests.
▪
She glanced up at Mel with a warm smile and a look of pleasure.
▪
However nervous she may have felt inside, her warm smile and unaffected manner were a photographer's delight.
▪
George said with a warm smile .
▪
A beautiful Philippino nurse with a warm smile slid out of - as we slid into - a small office.
▪
She tipped the basket towards the girls and smiled a wide, warm smile at the two men.
▪
He gave her a warm smile in spite of everything.
▪
There were warm family smiles all round that made me hate myself even more.
weak
▪
She glanced at her brother sitting beside her and managed a weak , nervous smile .
▪
Bob gives me a weak smile .
▪
Instead he gave a weak smile and fingered the locket, through the cloth of his lapels.
▪
He gives me a weak smile , the smile of a ma1n who knows he has been a fool.
▪
She gave me a weak smile and a fluttery little wave.
▪
She met his eyes in the mirror and summoned up a weak , unconvincing smile .
▪
He gave me a weak smile and hiked his chest protector up to his nose.
wide
▪
Paul looked surprised to receive a wide smile of welcome from Stephen when he entered the office.
▪
Then she smiled the wide smile which lifted her ears toward her hair.
▪
Mandru was staring right at him, a wide smile stretching his face into ropes of muscle.
▪
She tipped the basket towards the girls and smiled a wide , warm smile at the two men.
▪
He breaks into a wide smile , and a dried bogie snowflakes from his nose down to the ground.
▪
The guy laughed, wide smile dotted with gold teeth.
▪
He put the receiver back and created, forcing his lips to perform, a wide smile .
▪
Jill looked at the girls behind the bar with a wide white smile and sat down beside Converse.
winning
▪
Vote winning smiles as Christine Ellsmore, Designer, meets the trio.
▪
Her winning smile or her pretty blonde hair?
▪
Invariably, Charles greets you with a good word and a winning smile .
wry
▪
Little Nemo falling out of his bed at the end of every strip still brings a wry smile .
▪
And Judge Lawrence Verney allowed himself a wry little smile .
▪
But these, she reflected with a wry smile , were desperate times.
▪
What a Christmas party she thought, with a wry little smile .
▪
Suddenly, Lydia's mouth twisted in a wry smile , her eyes holding a spark of understanding.
▪
Growing older, she decided with a wry smile , had its advantages.
▪
That's the flneur, caught in the spotlight, blushing perhaps but with a wry smile playing around his lips.
▪
He listened patiently, with a wry smile .
■ VERB
break
▪
He breaks into a wide smile , and a dried bogie snowflakes from his nose down to the ground.
▪
The fellow's yellow, wizened face broke into a sharp-toothed smile .
▪
The faces of the twins, softer editions of her own, turned towards her questioningly then broke into shy smiles .
▪
Once he had finished the prior nodded and his granite face broke into a thin smile .
▪
His face broke into a smile .
▪
Beneath him in the dark of the pillow he could feel the shape of her face breaking into a smile .
bring
▪
Little Nemo falling out of his bed at the end of every strip still brings a wry smile .
▪
Their screams of horror and cries for mercy only brought a smile to my face.
▪
Nothing was more likely to bring a smile to his face than being told he was talked about.
▪
The thought brought a smile to his face.
▪
It adds to the exhilaration, bringing a smile rather than a frown.
▪
But yesterday, the Daily Post brought a smile back to her face by arranging a special meeting with Mrs Jones.
▪
He and Stapleton can associate to their hearts' content and that's something to bring a smile to his face.
▪
She invented a hundred little things to make him happy, to bring a smile to his face.
flash
▪
Vic hoots impatiently at the barrier; the security man's face appears at the window and flashes an ingratiating smile .
▪
The wiry Estrada flashes a partially capped smile as she gratefully recalls her first maquila job twisting electrical wires with latex-tipped fingers.
▪
The engine fired on the fourth kick and he flashed her a victorious smile .
▪
She flashes a crooked smile , the one she says makes her look like Popeye the Sailor.
▪
Back on the ship afterwards, she flashed the smile one more time - and then whisked away to her own cabin.
▪
Tia Flor confides to Yolanda, flashing her famous smile .
▪
Catching Stella watching him he flashed her an extravagant smile .
▪
He hands them over, and you flash an uncomfortable smile .
force
▪
He forced an acid smile and held up two fingers.
▪
He forces a smile , and Beulah smiles back.
▪
The man turned out to be Alan Stewart, the comedian, who managed to force a smile as Roy apologised.
▪
The girls forced smiles as they had been taught, but Sandi, in revenge, also crossed her eyes.
▪
I forced a smile and then turned and fled to my room.
▪
I forced a smile on seeing him.
give
▪
If only he could unbend and relax, even give a genuine smile or make a pleasantry.
▪
He looked up and gave me a half smile .
▪
A few yards away, Anthea Darnell was just rising, giving Lee a charming smile .
▪
He gave me a hesitant smile .
▪
Marie comes back in and gives me a smile .
▪
He gives me a weak smile , the smile of a ma1n who knows he has been a fool.
▪
Tabitha gave her a wintry smile .
▪
He gave me a weak smile and hiked his chest protector up to his nose.
manage
▪
They had already spoken, so this time Mrs Darne only smiled and Alice managed a faint smile back.
▪
He managed a pained smile , looking up at her.
▪
The man turned out to be Alan Stewart, the comedian, who managed to force a smile as Roy apologised.
▪
Miguel managed a smile , despite the sting.
▪
Tweed put an affectionate hand on Paula's neck and she managed a wan smile .
▪
It was one of the rare occasions when the Colonel managed a smile .
▪
We thank him profusely, and manage to bring a smile to his face.
raise
▪
Hardly a barrel of laughs but it might raise a few smiles .
▪
I can raise a smile - even on a difficult day 14.
return
▪
He allowed several moments to pass before daring to return her smile .
▪
Alice returned a little half smile familiar to Mattie, conveying that she was feeling good and guilty about it too.
▪
She returned his smile as she stepped inside the office, glancing across at Scott's desk.
▪
Sethe returned the smiles she got.
▪
She did not return the smile .
▪
But everybody was in a good mood that morning, and his apologies were returned with a smile .
▪
Indeed, she had scarcely enough presence of mind to return Sybil's bright smile and bid farewell to the genial innkeepers.
▪
None of them returned her smile .
wear
▪
The author's face wears a witch's smile of appreciation.
▪
I look like I have been pressed into this against my wishes though I wear a phony smile .
▪
Her dead body wears the smile of accomplishment.
▪
The city wears a smile , and the arts that endure are valued.
▪
He was content there; he wore a wearied smile .
▪
Meh'Lindi wore a mildly blissful smile which vanished as she came alert again.
▪
The figures on the west still wear the archaic smile .
▪
His face wore that same enigmatic smile , but he did not speak.
wipe
▪
Then a bomb blast devastated the theatre and wiped away her smile of anticipation.
▪
Then, surprisingly, some one else wiped the smile off his face.
▪
To have these hostages to fortune wipes the smile from many a woman's face.
▪
No use permitting the prophets of doom to wipe all the smiles away.
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They all had to wipe the smiles off their faces when she came striding through the door.
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He could not wipe the smile off his face.
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But on the road they're likely to wipe the smile from your face after just a few miles.
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She'd wipe the smile off that Count's face for him.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
be all smiles/innocence/sweetness etc
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And the sporty victim herself was all smiles, too.
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But the next day Zara and Johnson were all smiles as they enjoyed a day out at a pub.
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Fakhru was all smiles and had his son by the throat.
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In the resulting calm Tam and his brother resurfaced and were all smiles.
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Instead, this way, they were all innocence, all planning.
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When he entered the kitchen, bringing a great gust of cold air with him, he was all smiles.
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Your eyes are all innocence, but your lips are pure fire.
be wreathed in smiles
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The next day, Emily came to work wreathed in smiles.
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Their dark faces were wreathed in smiles but there was a certain stillness in the eyes.
break into a smile/a song/applause etc
bring a smile to sb's lips/face
▪
He and Stapleton can associate to their hearts' content and that's something to bring a smile to his face.
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It brought a smile to her lips.
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Nothing was more likely to bring a smile to his face than being told he was talked about.
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She invented a hundred little things to make him happy, to bring a smile to his face.
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The thought brought a smile to his face.
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Their screams of horror and cries for mercy only brought a smile to my face.
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We thank him profusely, and manage to bring a smile to his face.
broad smile/grin
crack a smile
flash a smile/glance/look etc (at sb)
▪
But spirited Patsy flashed a look of encouragement at him.
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Zak flashed a glance at the crew, saw me and gave me a thumbs-up sign.
force a smile/laugh etc
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He forces a smile, and Beulah smiles back.
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I forced a smile and then turned and fled to my room.
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I forced a smile on seeing him.
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The girls forced smiles as they had been taught, but Sandi, in revenge, also crossed her eyes.
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The man turned out to be Alan Stewart, the comedian, who managed to force a smile as Roy apologised.
manage a few words/a smile etc
meaningful look/glance/smile etc
▪
All he could produce was a stiff upper lip, while young Lady C cast meaningful looks at sturdy gamekeeper Mellors.
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Benjamin indicated with meaningful glances at me that this stark, sombre evening was such an appropriate time.
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But this time he drew out his knife and showed it to me with a meaningful glance.
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Lots of meaningful glances and repressed passion as only the Victorians knew how.
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They exchanged meaningful glances from time to time - and it was apparent that his brother was as troubled as he by the disturbing events.
pitying look/smile/glance
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The other smiled at him a pitying smile.
raise a smile
▪
I can raise a smile - even on a difficult day 14.
sly smile/glance/wink etc
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All those gloating women looking down into his grave, whispering their sisterly secrets behind their sly smiles.
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By his sly smile, I think this is the one he intended.
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He was relieved when he saw Earnhardt's trademark sly smile.
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Herbie's face had also lit in a sly smile as Mary had passed.
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Magrat took her seat and, to Agnes's amazement, gave her a sly wink.
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Mitchell was shocked to see the man signaling him with sly winks.
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Wickham saw Marshall's sly smile and understood what he was thinking.
smile/grin broadly
▪
Eventually he turns to me smiling broadly .
▪
Li Yuan grinned broadly , enjoying himself.
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Neville smiled broadly and turned towards the pumps.
▪
She smiles broadly when her name is called.
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The man took a well-timed opportunity to smile broadly , a smile that said everything if one knew how to read.
▪
They approached each other without hesitation, shook hands as if they were close friends and smiled broadly .
smile/grin etc from ear to ear
▪
Father smiled from ear to ear, and he and I both ate like fiends.
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He was grinning from ear to ear and pointing his finger up to the flies.
▪
Randolph, smiling from ear to ear, quickly dressed into warm clothes and set out towards the toy factory.
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Standing at the kitchen counter, shuffling his feet to the music, he caught himself smiling from ear to ear.
the ghost of a smile/sound etc
throw sb a look/glance/smile etc
▪
And that made Hanson throw a mean look.
▪
Ezra threw Morrill a look of utter disbelief and shook his head.
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He dropped his hand, he threw a look right, then left.
▪
He ignored her and threw a hard look at me: I better not tell.
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He sensed more than heard the scuffle of trainer shoes on concrete behind him and threw a casual glance over his shoulder.
▪
I gasped at her beauty and, like the rest, threw envious glances at her most fortunate husband.
▪
Mark, too, could be thrown a second glance every now and then.
▪
The nurse was aware of her humiliation and kept throwing sympathetic glances.
toothy smile/grin
▪
Bafflingly for Barry, his hairy chest, toothy grin and even his ale and hearty tum couldn't win her over.
▪
He gave her a wide toothy grin, and immediately realized it was exactly the wrong approach.
▪
He is small for his age with large brown eyes, a toothy smile, sloping shoulders and a readiness to please.
▪
Her son holding his head beside the big carved pumpkin, mimicking a wide, toothy grin.
▪
Mike Dawson was sitting at a dead computer, strumming the keyboard and offering a toothy smile to an invisible audience.
▪
The toothy grin of this naturally modest farmer's son was less than villainous at the finish.
▪
The vessel features Major giving a toothy grin, considerably broader than the one on the Thatcher mug.
▪
Those who remembered him with his barrow recalled a cheerful, toothy smile, an infectious, confidence-inspiring laugh.
wipe the smile/grin off sb's face
▪
I'd like to wipe that stupid grin off your face.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪
'Hi,' said Sophie, with the most radiant smile I have ever seen.
▪
"How's it going?" Maya asked with a smile .
▪
Barry gave the old lady a warm smile .
▪
He fell asleep with a contented smile on his face.
▪
Helga has a lovely smile .
▪
Johnny's broad smile changed slowly to a frown.
▪
Juan had a wide smile on his face.
▪
She's really happy for me; she has a big smile on her face.
▪
She clapped her hands and broke into one of her huge smiles.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪
After a while, Corbett nodded, handed over a few coins and left, his face wreathed in a complacent smile .
▪
Her smile had been faintly wicked, as though she had been wondering what might be his reaction.
▪
Such a wicked, wicked smile .
▪
The captain came in from the wing of the bridge with a hint of a smile on his usually rather stern face.
▪
The face was ugly but the inquiring smile kind.
▪
The sick smile that Odilo sported throughout his wedding day seems, in retrospect, all too appropriate.