bashful smile

USAGE SUMMARY

"bashful smile" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
" Bashful smile" describes a shy or timid smile, often associated with feeling embarrassed or self-conscious. Example: " Sarah couldn't help but let out a bashful smile as her crush walked by, making her cheeks turn a rosy shade of pink."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Mosshart confirms this with a bashful smile.

The Guardian - Music

At that remarkable moment, even a bashful smile would have brought down the house.

The New York Times

"Like my friends say, I'm crying in my limo," he jokes, letting out a bashful smile.

The Guardian - Books

"I was just praying we could stop them," Niumatalolo said with a bashful smile.

The New York Times

A highly self-contained young man, Smith has dark, puppyish eyes and a bashful smile.

The New Yorker

"He told me to get back up," Adu recounted with a bashful smile.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Guests erupted in applause; the bride and groom traded bashful smiles.

The New York Times

Wiry, intense, but given to bashful smiles, he has just come from giving a guitar lesson, and the instrument case lies at his feet.

The New York Times - Magazine

Seated between his interlocutor, the critic Serge Daney, and the documentary's director, Claire Denis, Mr. Rivette -- a slight, thoughtful man who punctuates his answers with reflexive shrugs and bashful smiles -- declares, "It seems that Scheherazade is our patron saint".

The New York Times

Hearing your friends or colleagues relate their triumphs with bashful smiles might produce a warm feeling of pride in your own breast so much so, in fact, that you no longer feel the need to accomplish your own task.

The Economist

He'd flown with little more than the flying togs that, captured in untold miles of newsreel footage, became the indelible sartorial image associated with Lindbergh, a man Will Rogers described as a "slim, tall, bashful, smiling American boy".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bashful smile" to depict a character's inner feelings of shyness or embarrassment, adding depth to their portrayal.

Common error

Avoid using "bashful smile" excessively, as it can become repetitive. Vary your descriptions with alternatives like "timid smile" or "shy grin" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bashful smile" primarily functions as a descriptive element, adding detail to character portrayal by illustrating a specific emotional state. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bashful smile" is a grammatically sound and semantically rich phrase used to depict a specific kind of smile reflecting shyness or timidity. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English. While not exceedingly common, it appears primarily in News & Media contexts, adding nuance to character descriptions. When aiming for variety, consider employing synonyms like "timid smile" or "shy grin" to prevent repetition. Over all "bashful smile" helps conveying subtle emotions effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

timid smile

Replaces "bashful" with "timid", emphasizing a lack of confidence or nervousness in the smile.

shy grin

Substitutes "smile" with "grin", suggesting a broader, yet still restrained, expression of happiness or amusement, coupled with shyness.

reserved smile

Uses "reserved" instead of "bashful" to denote a smile that is restrained and not openly expressive.

modest smile

Employs "modest" to highlight the humility or lack of pretension in the smile.

sheepish smile

Replaces "bashful" with "sheepish", indicating embarrassment or guilt along with the smile.

demure smile

Uses "demure" to suggest a coy and reserved quality in the smile, often associated with modesty.

coy smile

Similar to demure, "coy" suggests a playful shyness or pretended innocence in the smile.

reticent smile

Indicates a smile that is hesitant or unwilling, replacing "bashful" with "reticent".

self-conscious smile

Directly describes the smile as being affected by self-awareness and unease.

hesitant smile

Suggests a smile that is given with uncertainty or reluctance.

FAQs

How can I use "bashful smile" in a sentence?

You can use "bashful smile" to describe someone's expression when they are feeling shy or embarrassed. For example: "She gave a "bashful smile" when he complimented her dress."

What are some synonyms for "bashful smile"?

Alternatives to "bashful smile" include "timid smile", "shy grin", or "modest smile", which all convey a sense of shyness or reservation.

Is "bashful smile" formal or informal?

"Bashful smile" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the overall style of the writing.

What does a "bashful smile" imply about a person's character?

A "bashful smile" often suggests that a person is shy, modest, or perhaps slightly embarrassed. It can also imply a sense of innocence or naivety.