a tentative/reluctant smile...

[alpacinou]

Hello.

Can I say "tentative or reluctant smile"?

Do these work?

1. A tentative smile curved his lips.

2. A reluctant smile curved his lips.

 

[tedmc]

I don't think a smile curve one's lips. It is the reverse - you curve your lips to smile.

He curved his lips to give a tentative smile.

 

[Tarheel]

It doesn't work for me. I don't really understand the concept of either a tentative smile or a reluctant smile.

 

[tedmc]

It is a hesitant or unwilling smile.

 

[alpacinou]

It doesn't work for me. I don't really understand the concept of either a tentative smile or a reluctant smile.

I meant he smiled even though he didn't want to.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Both words are fine. They mean different things. I agree that curved is somewhat unnatural. You might try:

- He smiled tentatively. (That is, uncertainly.)
- He smiled reluctantly. (That is, with misgivings.)

 

[Tarheel]

Well, it might work in a situation in which somebody insisted that the person smile. Them you might say:

He smiled reluctantly.

 

[alpacinou]

I found curve and smiling in the dictionary:

https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/curve

Check the verb definition and example.

What other verb can I use? I know I can use smile as a verb, but I want to see if there are other verbs.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I meant he smiled even though he didn't want to.

Then reluctantly is better.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I found curve and smiling in the dictionary:

https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/curve

Check the verb definition and example.

What other verb can I use? I know I can use smile as a verb, but I want to see if there are other verbs.

Are you asking what a smile does on a face? I guess you could say it curves. But why bother? Everyone knows what a smile looks like.