to smile a thousand smiles - Glite Dictionary

Examples

Watching their reunion after so many years made everyone smile a thousand smiles.
After the surprise party, he smiled a thousand smiles.
Just thinking about our last vacation makes me smile a thousand smiles.
When she received the good news, she couldn't help but smile a thousand smiles.
When she received the good news, she couldn't help but smile a thousand smiles.
Watching their reunion after so many years made everyone smile a thousand smiles.
Just thinking about our last vacation makes me smile a thousand smiles.

Synonyms

to smile

vsto smile a thousand smiles

∞ 1.0

To turn the corners of your mouth up to show happiness or friendliness

expresses far greater joy and happiness than a simple facial lift

to rejoice

vsto smile a thousand smiles

93 3.6

Feel or show that you are very happy

is about immense happiness often triggered by a positive event

to beam

vsto smile a thousand smiles

38 2.0

To smile in a very happy and proud way

expresses very deep happiness rather than only a bright facial look

to feel like a million

vsto smile a thousand smiles

Informal

6 7.1

Be full of energy and very happy

is more about intense happiness often shown outwardly rather than just feeling well

to jubilate

vsto smile a thousand smiles

1 8.4

To feel or show great joy, for example after a big win

focuses on intense happiness rather than the act of celebrating

Antonyms

to cry

∞ 1.0

To let tears fall because you feel sad or hurt

frown

54 1.0

A facial expression with the eyebrows pushed together showing dislike or worry

How Happy

to smile a thousand smiles

Literature

6.6

to beam

38 2.0

to grin

132 1.0

to smile

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

smile a thousand smiles infinitive

smiled a thousand smiles past

smiled a thousand smiles past participle

smiling a thousand smiles present participle

smiles a thousand smiles third person singular

Morphology

smile + a + thousand + smile

The meaning 'to express immense joy' is directly derivable from combining 'smile' (to make a happy facial expression) with 'a thousand' (an obvious hyperbolic quantifier meaning many), so the overall sense of many smiles = great happiness is transparent. This is a common cross-linguistic exaggerative pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Smile a thousand smiles makes you imagine someone who keeps smiling again and again, as if each happy thought creates another smile. So, it means 'to feel great happiness'.