gappy smile

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A smile that shows teeth with visible spaces between them.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a gappy smile' or 'gappy smiles'. Often used with 'have' or 'give'.

   Patterns

   • have a gappy smile
   • give someone a gappy smile
   • with a gappy smile

   The little boy gave me a gappy smile, proud of the tooth he had just lost.

   She has a gappy smile that many people find charming.

   He flashed a gappy smile in the photograph, showing the gap where his front tooth used to be.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   A way of smiling that reveals missing teeth, often seen as friendly or childlike.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in descriptions of children or people who have lost teeth.

   Patterns

   • a gappy smile
   • smile a gappy smile

   The old man's gappy smile made everyone feel welcome.

   She greeted us with a warm, gappy smile that put us at ease.

Word forms

Common combinations

have a gappy smile

Many children have a gappy smile when their baby teeth fall out.

give someone a gappy smile

He gave me a gappy smile and waved.

flash a gappy smile

She flashed a gappy smile at the camera.

warm gappy smile

The teacher welcomed us with a warm gappy smile.

Synonyms and how they differ

toothy smile

A 'toothy smile' shows a lot of teeth but does not necessarily have gaps; 'gappy smile' specifically highlights spaces between teeth.

gap-toothed grin

This is a more literary or descriptive phrase, often used for a single prominent gap; 'gappy smile' can refer to several gaps and is more everyday.

Commonly confused: gappy smile or gaping?

Practice

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