smile for him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smile for him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when instructing or encouraging someone to smile, particularly in the context of doing so for someone else's benefit or to please them. Example: "When you see him, just remember to smile for him; it will make his day brighter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The dishwasher still makes him smile: for him it's a relative novelty, a toy of privilege.

The New Yorker

"Buonasera, Signore," she said with a nice smile for him, and the man smiled and nodded.

Vice

He quickly kisses my cheek and, careful not to look wounded, I conjure a smile for him.

Huffington Post

Even if he's in a group of people, reserve the biggest smile for him.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

She saw how Anton stared at her, as if her smile were for him.

The New Yorker

He was a man of few words (even though he spoke 7 languages), but His subtle, mischievous smile spoke for him.

The New York Times

He replied, with a smile, that for him theatre was sacred, even in its most debased forms, and that his primary objective was to expose his daughters to popular culture at its crudest in order to give them some perspective.

The New Yorker

Mollah smiled because for him, a man convicted of beheading a poet, raping an 11-year-old girl and shooting 344 people during the 1971 Bangladesh war of independence – charges that have earned him the nickname the Butcher of Mirpur – the life sentence came as a surprise.

The Guardian

I smiled, waited for him to finish, then I asked, "If I delivered this to you tomorrow, could you use it?" His response: "No".

TechCrunch

When you are around him smile for now and then get to know him better.

WikiHow

Take your time to think about what your saying, have topics ready to talk about and remember, SMILE! if you lose all your words, just smile and wait for him to pick up the conversation 2.Flirt!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "smile for him" to indicate that someone is smiling specifically to please or reassure another person. It emphasizes the intent behind the smile.

Common error

Avoid using "smile for him" when simply describing a smile directed at someone. If there's no implied intent to please or comfort, "smile at him" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smile for him" functions as a verb phrase, where "smile" is the verb and "for him" acts as an adjunct prepositional phrase modifying the verb to indicate the beneficiary or the reason for the action, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "smile for him" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that conveys the action of smiling with a specific intention to please, comfort, or support another person. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is versatile and appears across various contexts, including news, media, and informal communications. While it is considered correct, be mindful of using it in contexts where the intent to please or reassure is not present; in such cases, "smile at him" may be a more appropriate choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give him a smile

Replaces the verb "smile" with "give a smile", focusing on the action of offering a smile.

offer him a smile

Similar to 'give him a smile' but uses a slightly more formal verb.

smile at him

Changes the preposition to "at", indicating the direction of the smile.

flash him a smile

Uses "flash" to imply a quick, bright smile.

wear a smile for him

Suggests the smile is worn or displayed specifically for someone.

beam a smile his way

Employs "beam" to suggest a radiant and directed smile.

put on a smile for him

Implies the smile might be forced or not entirely genuine.

crack a smile for him

Uses "crack" to indicate a subtle or reluctant smile.

summon a smile for him

Suggests effort to produce a smile that might not come naturally.

bestow a smile upon him

A more archaic and formal way to suggest a smile is given.

FAQs

How can I use "smile for him" in a sentence?

You can use "smile for him" to express that someone is smiling to please or reassure another person. For example, "She tried to "smile for him", even though she was nervous."

What's the difference between "smile at him" and "smile for him"?

"Smile at him" simply means directing a smile towards someone. "Smile for him" implies a specific intent or reason behind the smile, such as to offer comfort or support.

What are some alternatives to "smile for him"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "give him a smile", "smile at him", or "offer him a smile".

Is "smile for someone" grammatically correct?

Yes, "smile for someone" is grammatically correct. It's used to describe the act of smiling with someone's benefit or feelings in mind.