exchanged smiles

USAGE SUMMARY

"exchanged smiles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express an exchange of smiles between two people. For example, "The two old friends exchanged smiles when they saw each other after many years apart."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

We exchanged smiles.

The New York Times - Travel

We exchanged smiles at the wash basins.

Independent

The two hugged and exchanged smiles.

The New York Times

He exchanged smiles and handshakes with his teammates during timeouts.

The New York Times - Sports

The two exchanged smiles and glances throughout the service.

The Guardian

We exchanged smiles and you went first... but then all bets were off.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

For such a serial winner he was unusually emotional afterwards, and not just because he had exchanged smiling post-race nods with the watching US President George W Bush.

The Guardian - Sport

Mother and I exchange smiles and laughs.

The New York Times

Refugee women from Bhutan, Iraq, Myanmar, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia sat at the machines, exchanging smiles and nods, but few words.

The New York Times

A photograph taken that day shows the two exchanging smiles as Papa gives Castro a big silver cup; it remains a great favorite of official Cuba.

The New Yorker

I savored those injuries, imagined what a delight it would be to go through one of those boys' houses, to exchange smiles and handshakes.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exchanged smiles" to convey a mutual and often brief acknowledgment or connection between two people. It's particularly effective in describing initial encounters or moments of understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "exchanged smiles" when only one person is smiling. The phrase inherently implies a mutual action; if the smile is one-sided, use "smiled at" or "gave a smile to" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exchanged smiles" typically functions as a verb phrase within a sentence, describing a reciprocal action between two or more individuals. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in narrative contexts, often depicting initial encounters or moments of shared understanding.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exchanged smiles" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a mutual act of smiling between two or more individuals, often conveying a sense of acknowledgment or connection. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans various contexts, with a strong presence in news and media. While semantically related phrases like "shared smiles" or "smiled at each other" offer alternatives, it's important to maintain reciprocity in its application. The examples reveal its prevalence in painting social interactions in a positive light, making it a valuable tool in descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shared smiles

Implies a mutual experience of smiling, focusing on the shared aspect rather than the act of exchange.

traded smiles

Suggests a reciprocal action of giving and receiving smiles, emphasizing the trade-off.

gave each other smiles

Highlights the act of giving smiles reciprocally, framing it as an action directed towards each other.

returned smiles

Focuses on the act of responding to a smile with another smile, emphasizing reciprocity.

offered smiles

Implies a more deliberate or intentional offering of a smile from both parties.

smiled at each other

A more general expression indicating that two people smiled in each other's presence.

greeted with smiles

Emphasizes that smiles were used as a form of greeting or acknowledgment.

acknowledged each other with smiles

Highlights that smiles served as a form of recognition and acknowledgment.

passed smiles

Indicates a brief, often fleeting, exchange of smiles.

beamed at one another

Implies a more intense and joyful expression of smiling.

FAQs

How can I use "exchanged smiles" in a sentence?

You can use "exchanged smiles" to describe a moment of mutual acknowledgment or connection through smiling. For example, "They "exchanged smiles" upon recognizing each other in the crowd".

What's the difference between "exchanged smiles" and "smiled at each other"?

"Exchanged smiles" implies a reciprocal action, where both individuals smile at each other. "Smiled at each other" is more general and doesn't necessarily emphasize the reciprocity as strongly.

What can I say instead of "exchanged smiles"?

You can use alternatives like "shared smiles", "traded smiles", or "smiled at one another" depending on the context.

Is "exchanged smiles" formal or informal?

"Exchanged smiles" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's a common phrase used in various types of writing and speech.