cười ruồi
Definition
Noun:
- A forced or polite smile: A brief, slight, and often insincere smile, typically used as a social courtesy when one is not genuinely amused or happy. It is a smile that is made out of politeness rather than genuine emotion.
Verb phrase:
- To give a forced/polite smile: The act of producing such a smile.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Cô ấy đáp lại bằng một nụ cười ruồi. (She responded with a forced smile.)
- Verb phrase:
- Anh ấy chỉ biết cười ruồi cho qua chuyện. (He could only manage a polite smile to let the matter pass.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often describes a smile used in awkward, uncomfortable, or formal situations where a social response is expected, but genuine laughter or joy is absent.
Variants and Related Words
- Nụ cười gượng (n): A strained, awkward smile.
- Trên khuôn mặt anh là một nụ cười gượng. (On his face was a strained smile.)
Synonyms
- Forced smile: A smile produced with effort, not spontaneous.
- Polite smile: A smile offered out of courtesy.
- Thin smile: A slight, often unenthusiastic smile.
Related Idioms
- Cười trừ: To smile vaguely to avoid answering or to dismiss something.
- Khi bị hỏi khó, anh ấy chỉ cười trừ. (When asked a difficult question, he just smiled vaguely and avoided answering.)