a tiny grin

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tiny grin" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a small or subtle smile, often indicating amusement or satisfaction. Example: "She looked at him with a tiny grin, clearly amused by his antics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I had to borrow me brother's girlfriend's dad's coat," he says with a tiny grin.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Draw a tiny grin that resembles a u with one tooth sticking out.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Within minutes, she had added a cat wearing a necklace, stars and a tiny, grinning airplane.

The New York Times - Health

A tiny smile.

Independent

Susan is a tiny, warm woman with a toothy grin who cooks great shepherd's pie; Darren is a beanpole gay dancer.

The Guardian

She's a 5-year-old with a cheeky grin, shiny blond hair and a tiny, almost whispery voice.

The New York Times

On our way out, a tiny girl toddles up to us with a shy grin on her face.

Huffington Post

A tiny figure with sunken cheekbones, tussled hair and a mischievous grin grabs the microphone.

Forbes

Childhood photographs show him grinning, with his hair neatly parted, in a tiny three-piece suit.

The New Yorker

I drank countless "blacktooth grins," his signature drink of Seagram's Seven Crown, Crown Royal, and a tiny bit of Coke.

Vice

At Lolol, a tiny village 12km east of Santa Cruz, the white church, one of Chile's oldest, appears to be grinning from cheek to cheek, a gaping crack left by the earthquake.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a tiny grin" to describe a subtle expression of amusement or satisfaction. It's more nuanced than a full smile and can add depth to character descriptions.

Common error

Avoid using "a tiny grin" as a catch-all phrase for any smile. Overuse can make your writing repetitive. Consider the context and choose a more specific descriptor if appropriate, such as "a slight smile" or "a small smirk".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tiny grin" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or the subject complement in a sentence. It describes a specific type of smile, modifying the noun "grin" with the adjective "tiny". Ludwig AI confirms that it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tiny grin" is a grammatically sound and acceptably common phrase used to depict a small, subtle smile often implying amusement or satisfaction. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While it's versatile, remember to vary your descriptions and avoid overuse. The phrase appears more frequently in News & Media contexts and, to a lesser extent, in Wiki sources. Related phrases include "a slight smile" and "a small smirk", offering nuanced alternatives depending on the specific emotion you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight smile

Emphasizes the small scale of the smile, focusing on its gentleness.

a small smirk

Suggests a more knowing or mischievous smile, rather than a purely happy one.

a faint smile

Highlights the subtlety and barely perceptible nature of the smile.

a hint of a smile

Indicates a fleeting or almost imperceptible smile.

a subtle smile

Stresses the understated and refined quality of the smile.

a trace of a smile

Implies that the smile is barely visible or only briefly present.

a suppressed smile

Suggests the smile is being held back or concealed, often due to amusement or irony.

a fleeting grin

Focuses on the quick and transient nature of the grin.

a contained smile

Highlights the controlled and restrained nature of the expression.

a modest grin

Suggests a humble or unassuming smile, lacking any arrogance or showiness.

FAQs

How can I use "a tiny grin" in a sentence?

You can use "a tiny grin" to describe a subtle or restrained smile, often indicating amusement or satisfaction. For example: "She watched his clumsy attempt with "a tiny grin"."

What can I say instead of "a tiny grin"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight smile", "a small smirk", or "a faint smile", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a tiny grin" or "a small smile"?

Both "a tiny grin" and "a small smile" are correct, but "a tiny grin" suggests more specific nuance of amusement or suppressed emotion, while "a small smile" is a more neutral description.

What's the difference between "a tiny grin" and "a mischievous grin"?

"A tiny grin" describes the size of the smile, while "a mischievous grin" describes the character or intention behind it. You could have "a tiny, mischievous grin" if the smile is both small and indicative of mischief.