crack a smile
The phrase "crack a smile" is often used to describe a brief, reluctant smile, especially in situations where someone is trying to stay serious.
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Definition
B2Informal Conversation
(informal, idiomatic)To smile slightly or briefly, often reluctantly.
Example
- Even in his sternest moments, he couldn't help but crack a smile at the joke.
- She finally cracked a smile after hearing the good news.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "crack a smile":
crack outcrack upcrack opencrack throughsmile from ear to earcrack offcracked uphave a laughcrack oncracked outcack upsmiley facecrack whorecrack the whipcrack fic