summon a smile

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "summon a smile" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to convey the idea of encouraging or eliciting a smile from someone, often in a lighthearted or positive manner. Example: "Her warm words seemed to summon a smile from even the grumpiest of faces in the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Similarly, designer Anjana Iyer illustrates words that describe emotions and situations so precisely they summon a smile of recognition.

BBC

Not another day cooped up in the house trying to summon a smile for a child drooling on plastic toys.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Patsy summons a smile - in fact, she even grins.

The Guardian

Nixon summoning a smile through his tears, throwing his arms into a V. Reagan exchanging a brisk salute with President Bush.

The New York Times

He emerged at noon from his hotel room, walked slowly down three flights of stairs and then out a back entrance and into a waiting S.U.V. His gaze seemed unfocused, but when hotel staff members called him "President," he summoned a brief smile and waved.

The New York Times

When asked in an interview how it had been for them to face the American border police officers, José Cruz shook his head to say he was not afraid, and summoned an unconvincing smile.

The New York Times

"Sometimes we shop, sometimes we listen to classical music," she said with a smile, summoning her high school English to converse with a visitor.

The New York Times

This time the other US golfers were paired off, so Tiger made the walk alone, summoning the semblance of a smile for those who had stayed to applaud the teams' passage back to the clubhouse.

The Guardian - Sport

Some however have probably not summoned up too broad a smile today -- the other non-democratic regimes of the Middle East for instance.

Huffington Post

"Yes," he said, and he wanted to flash a smile but couldn't seem to summon the energy.

The New Yorker

El Rey recalled with a smile how the priest who was summoned to perform the ceremony "looked a little bit nervous".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the connotation of 'summon' which implies bringing something forth, suggesting that the smile might not be readily apparent but is encouraged by external factors.

Common error

While "summon a smile" is generally appropriate, be mindful of using it in overly serious or somber contexts where a lighter, more natural expression of happiness might be more suitable. Overuse in such scenarios can feel tonally incongruent.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "summon a smile" is a verb phrase, where "summon" acts as a transitive verb taking "a smile" as its object. This phrase describes the act of causing or encouraging a smile to appear. Ludwig's examples show how it is used to describe both internal and external triggers for a smile.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "summon a smile" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that describes the act of causing or encouraging a smile. Ludwig indicates its appropriateness and common usage. While relatively infrequent, primarily appearing in news and media, the phrase conveys a positive emotional response, suggesting a gentle or deliberate effort to bring about happiness. Remember to consider the context to ensure the tone remains appropriate, and explore alternatives like "elicit a smile" or "bring forth a smile" to enrich your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elicit a smile

This alternative focuses on drawing out a smile that is already potentially present.

bring forth a smile

Similar to 'summon', but emphasizes causing a smile to appear or emerge.

evoke a smile

Highlights the act of creating a smile as a response or reaction to something.

generate a smile

Focuses on the active creation of a smile, often through humor or kindness.

inspire a smile

Suggests that the smile is a result of inspiration or positive influence.

draw a smile

Implies a gentle or persuasive action that causes a smile to appear.

call forth a smile

A more emphatic way of saying 'summon', adding a sense of urgency or purpose.

produce a smile

Focuses on the result of creating a smile, similar to 'generate'.

conjure a smile

Similar to summon, but often carries a slightly whimsical or magical connotation.

muster a smile

This implies an effort to create a smile, even when one doesn't naturally feel like it.

FAQs

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

You can use "summon a smile" to describe actions or words that encourage someone to smile, such as, "Her kind words seemed to "summon a smile" from the weary traveler."

What does it mean to "summon a smile"?

To "summon a smile" means to create or encourage a smile to appear, often implying a gentle or deliberate effort to bring about that expression. It suggests that the smile might not have been there naturally but was evoked by something.

Which is a better fit, "summon a smile" or "elicit a smile"?

"Summon a smile" and "elicit a smile" are similar, but "summon" suggests a more active or intentional effort to create the smile, while "elicit" implies drawing out a smile that was already present. The best fit depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What are some alternative ways to say "summon a smile"?

Alternatives include "bring forth a smile", "evoke a smile", or "generate a smile", each with slightly different connotations regarding the cause and effect of the smile.