slightly opened her lips

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly opened her lips" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a subtle action of parting the lips, often in a context related to speaking, breathing, or expressing emotion. Example: "As she listened intently, she slightly opened her lips, as if preparing to speak."

✓ Grammatically correct

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The young woman's face twisted into a grimace, she tilted her head back slightly and forced open her lips.

The New York Times - Books

(She spoke almost without opening her lips).

The New Yorker

She opens her lips, illuminated by her own thoughts.

The New York Times - Arts

She opens her lips and her tongue sticks as she reaches out for my boobs.

Vice

She barely opened her mouth, her lips and jaw immovable.

The New York Times

You can sit in a lotus, half-lotus, or on a chair, with the back straight, not touching the wall, with palms on your lap, eyes closed, tip of the tongue touching the top of the mouth, with lips slightly opened.

WikiHow

Through a powerful glass he watched the invisible sharpen into the visible: the head twisted to one side, the mouth slightly open, the lips drawn back to reveal the teeth.

The New Yorker

All subjects were trained to sing using the syllable /a/ with minimal mouth movement to reduce movement artifacts in the fMRI session – they were instructed to keep their jaws slightly open and lips closed, so that at the beginning and end of every sung note, only their lips, but not their jaws, moved.

Plosone

She wants you to see the slightly open lips and the forever-closed eyes of a teenager who was home-schooled in the nation's capital so that she would stay safe but was killed in a barrage of bullets anyway.

The Washington Post

Slightly open lips may seem relaxed or even suggestive (which is why most models pose this way), but a mouth that cannot close (á la Napoleon Dynamite) can give the impression of perpetual stupefaction.

WikiHow

Big, with red hair clipped tight around her headNshe opens her mouth and runs her tongue around her lips.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly opened her lips" to denote a subtle, often involuntary action, such as when someone is about to speak or is reacting to something surprising.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly opened her lips" when a more dramatic or intentional expression is needed. For example, if someone is gasping in shock, "widened her mouth" or "gaped" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly opened her lips" functions primarily as a descriptive element, typically within narrative writing. It details a subtle physical action that can convey a range of emotions or intentions. As Ludwig AI confirmed, the phrase is valid in English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly opened her lips" is a grammatically sound and descriptive phrase used to convey a subtle expression or the beginning of an action, such as speaking. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in English. While examples are currently limited in the provided data, the phrase is appropriate for neutral registers and is commonly found in narrative contexts, particularly in describing characters in literature or news reports. Related phrases include "parted her lips slightly" and "her mouth was slightly ajar", offering similar nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

parted her lips slightly

Emphasizes the separation of the lips rather than the act of opening.

her lips were slightly parted

Focuses on the state of the lips being open, rather than the action.

her lips began to part

Highlights the beginning of the parting action.

her mouth was slightly ajar

Uses "mouth" instead of "lips" and "ajar" to indicate a small opening.

she cracked her lips slightly

Uses "cracked" to indicate a minimal opening of the lips.

she allowed her lips to part slightly

Adds a sense of permission or allowance to the action.

she slackened her lips a bit

Implies a relaxing or loosening of the lips.

she pursed her lips slightly

Indicates a slight tightening and protrusion of the lips, implying a different emotion.

her lips quivered slightly

Suggests a trembling movement of the lips, often due to emotion.

her mouth gaped slightly

Suggests a wider opening of the mouth, potentially indicating surprise or shock.

FAQs

What does "slightly opened her lips" mean?

The phrase "slightly opened her lips" suggests a subtle action where someone's lips part a little bit, often indicating anticipation, a beginning of speech, or a mild emotional response.

How can I use "slightly opened her lips" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly opened her lips" to describe a character's subtle expression. Example: As she listened intently, she "slightly opened her lips", as if preparing to speak.

What are some alternatives to "slightly opened her lips"?

Alternatives include "parted her lips slightly", "her lips were slightly parted", or "her mouth was slightly ajar".

Is it more correct to say "slightly opened her lips" or "parted her lips slightly"?

Both "slightly opened her lips" and "parted her lips slightly" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the action of opening or the state of being parted.