lopsided smile
1
4.4
- noun
:
sonrisa torcida
- She gave a lopsided smile.
- gave a lopsided smile
Examples
-
"In matters like this, we defer to the upper chamber," he said with a quick, lopsided smile and nodded to Julia.
Fiction book (2002) -
She gave me a lopsided smile.
Fiction book (1998) -
"Who the devil are you?" He offered her his best lopsided smile.
Fiction book (1997) -
" I laid a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up, a faint lopsided smile on his wide mouth.
Fiction book (1992) -
His lopsided smile was in place, and he seemed as cheerful as ever.
Fiction book (1992) -
"Djuro gave her a lopsided smile.
Fiction book (1990) -
He looked like Danny, with the same fair hair and lopsided smile.
Fiction book (1999) -
Heikki looked at him, startled, then gave a lopsided smile.
Fiction book (1990) -
She was a few years younger than Keller, with short dark hair and a lopsided smile.
Fiction book (2000) -
He greeted me with a lopsided smile that made me wonder what he was thinking.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a smile where one side is higher or more pronounced' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'lopsided' (not symmetrical; one side different) with 'smile' (a facial expression). This straightforward adjective + noun composition follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the phrase's meaning.
Etymology
Lopsided smile comes from the clear image of a smile where one side of the mouth lifts more, so the face looks lopsided or 'uneven'. That's why a lopsided smile often shows 'mixed' feelings, embarrassment, or doubt rather than full happiness.