What does “bite down on a smile” mean?
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What's the meaning of: "She bit down on a smile"? I found this sentence in a novel but I don't understand what it means exactly. It's a romantic context, a man just kissed her.
meaning
asked yesterday
Gliuò
31319
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
What's the meaning of: "She bit down on a smile"? I found this sentence in a novel but I don't understand what it means exactly. It's a romantic context, a man just kissed her.
meaning
asked yesterday
Gliuò
31319
3
Could you provide some context for the sentence? The meaning could depend on the situation.
– Tashus
yesterday
Yes, sure, I edited.
– Gliuò
yesterday
2
I think it's a "lazy, clumsy, hackneyed" metaphoric usage that comes across as awkward and amateurish, to say the least (it's certainly not particularly common in this exact form). Probably influenced by the unexceptional usage to bite one's lip (refrain from speaking one's mind - usually either through tact or intimidation, occasionally after speaking out of turn, in order to "punish" one's mouth for saying something inappropriate). Not a style you should seek to copy.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
What's the meaning of: "She bit down on a smile"? I found this sentence in a novel but I don't understand what it means exactly. It's a romantic context, a man just kissed her.
meaning
asked yesterday
Gliuò
31319
What's the meaning of: "She bit down on a smile"? I found this sentence in a novel but I don't understand what it means exactly. It's a romantic context, a man just kissed her.
meaning
meaning
asked yesterday
Gliuò
31319
asked yesterday
Gliuò
31319
edited yesterday
asked yesterday
Gliuò
31319
asked yesterday
Gliuò
31319
asked yesterday
Gliuò
31319
31319
3
Could you provide some context for the sentence? The meaning could depend on the situation.
– Tashus
yesterday
Yes, sure, I edited.
– Gliuò
yesterday
2
I think it's a "lazy, clumsy, hackneyed" metaphoric usage that comes across as awkward and amateurish, to say the least (it's certainly not particularly common in this exact form). Probably influenced by the unexceptional usage to bite one's lip (refrain from speaking one's mind - usually either through tact or intimidation, occasionally after speaking out of turn, in order to "punish" one's mouth for saying something inappropriate). Not a style you should seek to copy.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday
add a comment |
3
Could you provide some context for the sentence? The meaning could depend on the situation.
– Tashus
yesterday
Yes, sure, I edited.
– Gliuò
yesterday
2
I think it's a "lazy, clumsy, hackneyed" metaphoric usage that comes across as awkward and amateurish, to say the least (it's certainly not particularly common in this exact form). Probably influenced by the unexceptional usage to bite one's lip (refrain from speaking one's mind - usually either through tact or intimidation, occasionally after speaking out of turn, in order to "punish" one's mouth for saying something inappropriate). Not a style you should seek to copy.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday
3
3
Could you provide some context for the sentence? The meaning could depend on the situation.
– Tashus
yesterday
Could you provide some context for the sentence? The meaning could depend on the situation.
– Tashus
yesterday
Yes, sure, I edited.
– Gliuò
yesterday
Yes, sure, I edited.
– Gliuò
yesterday
2
2
I think it's a "lazy, clumsy, hackneyed" metaphoric usage that comes across as awkward and amateurish, to say the least (it's certainly not particularly common in this exact form). Probably influenced by the unexceptional usage to bite one's lip (refrain from speaking one's mind - usually either through tact or intimidation, occasionally after speaking out of turn, in order to "punish" one's mouth for saying something inappropriate). Not a style you should seek to copy.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday
I think it's a "lazy, clumsy, hackneyed" metaphoric usage that comes across as awkward and amateurish, to say the least (it's certainly not particularly common in this exact form). Probably influenced by the unexceptional usage to bite one's lip (refrain from speaking one's mind - usually either through tact or intimidation, occasionally after speaking out of turn, in order to "punish" one's mouth for saying something inappropriate). Not a style you should seek to copy.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
It seems she may be trying to suppress the smile. When I check it out on Google Ngram, the attestations mostly seem to come from pulp romantic fiction, which suggests that this may be a formulaic phrase which writers in that genre are copying from each other (or one that a series editor is injecting).
answered yesterday
Tᴚoɯɐuo
102k676167
So, if I understand, she bites her lip suppressing a smile? (And yes, it is a romance book)
– Gliuò
yesterday
1
That's how I understand it.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
yesterday
This is not limited to fiction, though it could be regional, I suppose. It's a fairly common expression in New England meaning roughly "suppressing a smile in a circumstance where showing joy would be inappropriate or disadvantageous". It's commonly used to describe an attempt to mask one's experience of schadenfreude.
– asgallant
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
Imagine this -
You are ecstatic! Maybe you got a promotion in your job or you just heard the news that you are going to be a parent or maybe your novel is finally getting published. But you are in a formal place, you might have the need to keep yourself composed and not start laughing like a lunatic.
You might quite literally, bite down on your smile to keep a straight yet happy face.
This is what the author might want to convey via the said phrase. The girl is happy but might want to retain her composure. Thus, the action.
answered yesterday
LazyGrayMatter
813
New contributor
LazyGrayMatter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
It seems she may be trying to suppress the smile. When I check it out on Google Ngram, the attestations mostly seem to come from pulp romantic fiction, which suggests that this may be a formulaic phrase which writers in that genre are copying from each other (or one that a series editor is injecting).
answered yesterday
Tᴚoɯɐuo
102k676167
So, if I understand, she bites her lip suppressing a smile? (And yes, it is a romance book)
– Gliuò
yesterday
1
That's how I understand it.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
yesterday
This is not limited to fiction, though it could be regional, I suppose. It's a fairly common expression in New England meaning roughly "suppressing a smile in a circumstance where showing joy would be inappropriate or disadvantageous". It's commonly used to describe an attempt to mask one's experience of schadenfreude.
– asgallant
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
It seems she may be trying to suppress the smile. When I check it out on Google Ngram, the attestations mostly seem to come from pulp romantic fiction, which suggests that this may be a formulaic phrase which writers in that genre are copying from each other (or one that a series editor is injecting).
answered yesterday
Tᴚoɯɐuo
102k676167
So, if I understand, she bites her lip suppressing a smile? (And yes, it is a romance book)
– Gliuò
yesterday
1
That's how I understand it.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
yesterday
This is not limited to fiction, though it could be regional, I suppose. It's a fairly common expression in New England meaning roughly "suppressing a smile in a circumstance where showing joy would be inappropriate or disadvantageous". It's commonly used to describe an attempt to mask one's experience of schadenfreude.
– asgallant
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
It seems she may be trying to suppress the smile. When I check it out on Google Ngram, the attestations mostly seem to come from pulp romantic fiction, which suggests that this may be a formulaic phrase which writers in that genre are copying from each other (or one that a series editor is injecting).
answered yesterday
Tᴚoɯɐuo
102k676167
It seems she may be trying to suppress the smile. When I check it out on Google Ngram, the attestations mostly seem to come from pulp romantic fiction, which suggests that this may be a formulaic phrase which writers in that genre are copying from each other (or one that a series editor is injecting).
answered yesterday
Tᴚoɯɐuo
102k676167
answered yesterday
Tᴚoɯɐuo
102k676167
answered yesterday
Tᴚoɯɐuo
102k676167
answered yesterday
Tᴚoɯɐuo
102k676167
102k676167
So, if I understand, she bites her lip suppressing a smile? (And yes, it is a romance book)
– Gliuò
yesterday
1
That's how I understand it.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
yesterday
This is not limited to fiction, though it could be regional, I suppose. It's a fairly common expression in New England meaning roughly "suppressing a smile in a circumstance where showing joy would be inappropriate or disadvantageous". It's commonly used to describe an attempt to mask one's experience of schadenfreude.
– asgallant
yesterday
add a comment |
So, if I understand, she bites her lip suppressing a smile? (And yes, it is a romance book)
– Gliuò
yesterday
1
That's how I understand it.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
yesterday
This is not limited to fiction, though it could be regional, I suppose. It's a fairly common expression in New England meaning roughly "suppressing a smile in a circumstance where showing joy would be inappropriate or disadvantageous". It's commonly used to describe an attempt to mask one's experience of schadenfreude.
– asgallant
yesterday
So, if I understand, she bites her lip suppressing a smile? (And yes, it is a romance book)
– Gliuò
yesterday
So, if I understand, she bites her lip suppressing a smile? (And yes, it is a romance book)
– Gliuò
yesterday
1
1
That's how I understand it.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
yesterday
That's how I understand it.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
yesterday
This is not limited to fiction, though it could be regional, I suppose. It's a fairly common expression in New England meaning roughly "suppressing a smile in a circumstance where showing joy would be inappropriate or disadvantageous". It's commonly used to describe an attempt to mask one's experience of schadenfreude.
– asgallant
yesterday
This is not limited to fiction, though it could be regional, I suppose. It's a fairly common expression in New England meaning roughly "suppressing a smile in a circumstance where showing joy would be inappropriate or disadvantageous". It's commonly used to describe an attempt to mask one's experience of schadenfreude.
– asgallant
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
Imagine this -
You are ecstatic! Maybe you got a promotion in your job or you just heard the news that you are going to be a parent or maybe your novel is finally getting published. But you are in a formal place, you might have the need to keep yourself composed and not start laughing like a lunatic.
You might quite literally, bite down on your smile to keep a straight yet happy face.
This is what the author might want to convey via the said phrase. The girl is happy but might want to retain her composure. Thus, the action.
answered yesterday
LazyGrayMatter
813
New contributor
LazyGrayMatter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
Imagine this -
You are ecstatic! Maybe you got a promotion in your job or you just heard the news that you are going to be a parent or maybe your novel is finally getting published. But you are in a formal place, you might have the need to keep yourself composed and not start laughing like a lunatic.
You might quite literally, bite down on your smile to keep a straight yet happy face.
This is what the author might want to convey via the said phrase. The girl is happy but might want to retain her composure. Thus, the action.
answered yesterday
LazyGrayMatter
813
New contributor
LazyGrayMatter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
Imagine this -
You are ecstatic! Maybe you got a promotion in your job or you just heard the news that you are going to be a parent or maybe your novel is finally getting published. But you are in a formal place, you might have the need to keep yourself composed and not start laughing like a lunatic.
You might quite literally, bite down on your smile to keep a straight yet happy face.
This is what the author might want to convey via the said phrase. The girl is happy but might want to retain her composure. Thus, the action.
answered yesterday
LazyGrayMatter
813
New contributor
LazyGrayMatter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Imagine this -
You are ecstatic! Maybe you got a promotion in your job or you just heard the news that you are going to be a parent or maybe your novel is finally getting published. But you are in a formal place, you might have the need to keep yourself composed and not start laughing like a lunatic.
You might quite literally, bite down on your smile to keep a straight yet happy face.
This is what the author might want to convey via the said phrase. The girl is happy but might want to retain her composure. Thus, the action.
answered yesterday
LazyGrayMatter
813
New contributor
LazyGrayMatter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
LazyGrayMatter
813
New contributor
LazyGrayMatter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
LazyGrayMatter
813
answered yesterday
LazyGrayMatter
813
813
New contributor
LazyGrayMatter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
LazyGrayMatter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
LazyGrayMatter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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3
Could you provide some context for the sentence? The meaning could depend on the situation.
– Tashus
yesterday
Yes, sure, I edited.
– Gliuò
yesterday
2
I think it's a "lazy, clumsy, hackneyed" metaphoric usage that comes across as awkward and amateurish, to say the least (it's certainly not particularly common in this exact form). Probably influenced by the unexceptional usage to bite one's lip (refrain from speaking one's mind - usually either through tact or intimidation, occasionally after speaking out of turn, in order to "punish" one's mouth for saying something inappropriate). Not a style you should seek to copy.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday