a smile of relief

USAGE SUMMARY

'a smile of relief' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when someone feels relieved after getting a desirable outcome, for example: "She couldn't believe that she had passed the test, and she showed a smile of relief."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Girardi stood up and flashed a smile of relief when he took a spot on the Rangers' bench.

The New York Times - Sports

So a smile of relief spread across Thomas's face after the game when he was asked about the play that made the game something special.

The New York Times - Sports

Dr. Tilghman, 54, broke into a smile of relief after the announcement today, she said, "It is time for a woman president," she said.

The New York Times

DETROIT — Manager Ron Gardenhire should have been wearing a smile of relief after the Minnesota Twins squashed the Detroit Tigers, 8-3, to keep their slim chances of winning the American League Central alive.

The New York Times - Sports

At one point a smile of relief on his face, he slides into a phrase of West African movement, only to grow increasingly frenetic and then stop, staring dazedly down at his palms.

The New York Times - Arts

Two hours after his plane from Paris landed, Mr. Ramadan, wearing a dark suit and a smile of relief, cleared customs and shook hands with two representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union, which had litigated his case, and Muna Ali, an assistant of his who lives in the United States.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

As she left the courtroom yesterday, in a gray suit and red turtleneck sweater, she allowed herself a small smile of relief.

The New York Times

"Course," he said with a beaming smile of relief.

The New Yorker

Her breathing quietens and she looks up at her mother, whose face breaks into a wide smile of relief.

The Guardian

IN a world of too few food surprises, where each restaurant seems to mimic the next, Il Cena'colo will bring a warm smile of relief.

The New York Times

Anyway, he got through it, and sat clutching his arm and making small talk with Angela Eagle for the rest of the session, a thin smile of relief just discernible under the moustache.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance the impact, specify what prompted the smile of relief. For instance: "After the doctor confirmed the test results were negative, a smile of relief spread across her face."

Common error

Avoid using "a smile of relief" excessively in quick succession, which can diminish its impact. Instead, vary your descriptions with other expressions of relief or use actions to convey the feeling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a smile of relief" functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves as the subject or object of a verb, describing a visible manifestation of an emotional state. Ludwig's examples from news and media show it depicting reactions to resolved stressful situations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

20%

Arts

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a smile of relief" effectively captures a distinct emotional release after a stressful event. Grammatically correct and neutrally registered, it is most frequently found in news and sports reporting, as seen in Ludwig's examples. For increased impact, make sure the relief context is well understood by the reader. Although considered correct by Ludwig, overuse of the term may lead to wordiness in writing, so it is advisable to use related terms such as "a sigh of relief" or "a wave of relief".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sense of relief

Focuses on the internal feeling of relief without specifying an external expression.

a feeling of relief

Similar to 'a sense of relief', but emphasizes the emotional experience.

a sigh of relief

Replaces the visual expression with an audible one, focusing on the feeling of letting go of tension.

a wave of relief

Uses 'wave' to describe the feeling, changing the metaphor to suggest an overwhelming sense of release.

relief washed over

Indicates that relief is experienced as a sudden and immersive sensation.

released a breath of relief

Suggests an audible exhalation, physical manifestation of easing tension.

a palpable sense of relief

Describes the feeling of relief as so strong it can almost be physically felt by others.

exhaled in relief

Highlights the act of breathing out as a manifestation of relief.

visibly relieved

Indicates that the person's relief is apparent to observers, though doesn't specify facial expression.

relief was evident

States directly that relief was noticeable, maintaining a slightly more formal tone.

FAQs

How can I describe the feeling of relief without using the word "smile"?

You can use phrases like "a sigh of relief", which focuses on the audible release of tension, or "a wave of relief" to describe an overwhelming feeling of release.

What other expressions convey a similar meaning to "a smile of relief"?

Alternatives include "a sense of relief", emphasizing the internal feeling, or phrases like "visibly relieved", which indicate that the person's relief is apparent.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a smile of relief"?

Yes, "a smile of relief" is grammatically correct. It's a common and accepted way to describe the facial expression of someone experiencing relief after stress or danger has ended, according to Ludwig.

How can I make the phrase "a smile of relief" more impactful in my writing?

Specify the cause of the relief. Instead of just stating "a smile of relief", add context: "After hearing the good news, "a smile of relief" spread across her face" to clearly connect the emotion to the event.