those forced smiles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "those forced smiles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe smiles that are not genuine, often indicating discomfort or insincerity in a social situation. Example: "In the tense meeting, everyone wore those forced smiles, masking their true feelings about the decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Obama's grin is genuine, effortless -- not at all like those forced smiles politicians so often wear.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Cue the forced smiles.

The New Yorker

Even forced smiles promote cheerful feelings, Dr. Fried said.

The New York Times

They must endure intrusive interviews and muster up forced smiles.

The New York Times

His actors sometimes look on the bright side with such determination that they seem absolutely giddy, albeit with forced smiles.

The New York Times

The post-match lap of appreciation featured forced smiles and heavy hearts.

The Guardian - Sport

Forced smiles and tough hides abound in the workplace, where always being "fine" is a badge of honour.

The Guardian - Opinion

The women behind the stalls seem to wear forced smiles, as if they've been painted on, and their eyes follow you around the room.

The Guardian

She's known for her tight, forced smiles and her officious demeanor.

Forbes

Like a lot of people, all he could envision were awkward conversations, forced smiles and brown-nosing.

Forbes

You decide: forced smiles or totally awkward?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "those forced smiles" to describe a situation where people are trying to appear happy or agreeable, but their true emotions are not reflected in their expressions. It's effective in highlighting underlying tension or insincerity.

Common error

Avoid using "those forced smiles" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and predictable. Vary your descriptions of insincere smiles with alternatives like "strained smiles" or "fake smiles".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "those forced smiles" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It combines a determiner ("those"), an adjective ("forced"), and a noun ("smiles") to vividly depict smiles that lack sincerity. As Ludwig AI states, this expression is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "those forced smiles" is a grammatically correct and usable noun phrase that describes smiles lacking sincerity. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is effective in portraying insincerity or discomfort, commonly found in news and media contexts. While not overly frequent, the phrase is useful for conveying specific nuances of social pretense. Alternatives like "artificial grins" or "strained smiles" can add variety to your writing. Remember to use the phrase judiciously to avoid repetition and maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

those artificial grins

Replaces "smiles" with "grins" and "forced" with "artificial", emphasizing the lack of naturalness.

those fake smiles

Substitutes "forced" with "fake", indicating insincerity.

those strained smiles

Replaces "forced" with "strained", highlighting the effort involved in producing the smile.

those unnatural smiles

Emphasizes the lack of naturalness by using "unnatural" instead of "forced".

those plastered smiles

Uses "plastered" to suggest the smiles are superficially applied and not genuine.

those insincere smiles

Directly indicates the lack of sincerity behind the smiles.

those uncomfortable smiles

Highlights the discomfort associated with the smiles.

those uneasy smiles

Suggests the smiles are given due to nervousness or tension.

those superficial smiles

Emphasizes the shallowness and lack of depth in the smiles.

those contrived smiles

Indicates that the smiles are deliberately created and not spontaneous.

FAQs

How can I use "those forced smiles" in a sentence?

"Those forced smiles" are used to describe smiles that are not genuine or sincere. For example: "Despite the bad news, they offered "those forced smiles" to appear strong".

What's a good alternative to "those forced smiles"?

Alternatives to "those forced smiles" include "artificial grins", "fake smiles", or "strained smiles". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean when someone gives "those forced smiles"?

When someone gives "those forced smiles", it usually means they are trying to appear happy or agreeable, but their true emotions are different. It often indicates discomfort, insincerity, or an attempt to mask negative feelings.

Is it grammatically correct to say "those forced smiles"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Forced" is an adjective modifying the noun "smiles", and "those" is a determiner specifying which smiles are being referred to. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.