expression

noun

OPAL WOPAL S

/ɪkˈspreʃn/

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words

[countable] a word or phrase

What's the meaning of the expression ‘on cloud nine’?
She uses a lot of slang expressions that I've never heard before.
Keep a list of useful words and expressions.
(informal) He's a pain in the butt, if you'll pardon the expression.

Synonyms wordword

term
phrase
expression
idiom

These are all words for a unit of language used to express something.

word
a single unit of language that means something and can be spoken or written:
- Do not write more than 200 words.
- He uses a lot of long words.
term
(rather formal) a word or phrase used as the name of something, especially one connected with a particular type of language:
- technical/legal/scientific terms
- ‘Old man’ is a slang term for ‘father’.
phrase
a group of words that have a particular meaning when used together:
- Who coined the phrase ‘fake news’?
In grammar, a phrase is a group of words without a finite verb, especially one that forms part of a sentence: ‘the green car’ and ‘on Friday morning’ are phrases.
expression
a word or phrase:
- He tends to use a lot of slang expressions that I’ve never heard before.
idiom
a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words:
- ‘Let the cat out of the bag’ is an idiom meaning to tell a secret by mistake.

Patterns

a word/term for something
a new word/term/phrase/expression
a technical/colloquial word/term/phrase/expression
a slang word/term/phrase
an idiomatic phrase/expression
to use a(n) word/term/phrase/expression/idiom
to coin a(n) word/term/phrase/expression
a(n) word/term/phrase/expression/idiom means something

Extra Examples

an old-fashioned expression
Her writing is full of colourful expressions.
He tends to use strange expressions like ‘It's enough to make a cat laugh’.
I've not heard that expression before.
Until the mid-nineteenth century, ‘Italy’ was just a geographical expression.
Our spooky Hallowe'en weekend breaks give a whole new meaning to the expression ‘chilling out’!

Topics Languagea2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

common
colloquial
slang
…

verb + expression

use
hear

expression + verb

mean something

See full entry

showing feelings/ideas

[uncountable, countable] things that people say, write or do in order to show their feelings, opinions and ideas

Freedom of expression (= freedom to say what you think) is a basic human right.
(formal) The poet's anger finds expression in (= is shown in) the last verse of the poem.
Only in his dreams does he give expression to his fears.
He describes drawing as a very personal form of artistic expression.
Words, as a means of expression, can be limiting.
expression of something the expression of emotion/feelings
expressions of concern/sympathy/support
We are calling for expressions of interest from people wanting to take part in the project.
laws which aim to restrict free expression of opinion

on face

[countable] a look on a person’s face that shows their thoughts or feelings synonym look

The actors' gestures and facial expressions are perfect.
He had a pained expression on his face.
The blank expression in her eyes showed that she hadn't understood.
He looked down at the tiny child and his expression softened.
His expression changed from surprise to one of amusement.
Her expression betrayed nothing of her thoughts.
expression of something She wore an expression of anger.

Wordfinder

beam
expression
frown
grimace
grin
leer
scowl
smirk
sneer
wince

Extra Examples

There was a worried expression on her face.
The expression in her eyes told me something was wrong.
A surprised expression appeared on her face.
Catching a fleeting expression on Lucy's face, she persisted with her question.
He cracks jokes with a deadpan expression on his face.
He hung around with this pathetic hangdog expression on his face.
He wore an expression of anxiety on his face.
Her expression hardened into one of strong dislike.
Her expression suddenly turned serious.
His expression grew thoughtful.
His expression softened when he saw her.
His face never changed expression.
His face showed no expression.
His grim expression told her it would be useless.
I looked at her, trying to read the expression on her face.
Rose's face took on the fierce expression of a schoolgirl talking about her most hated teacher.
She carefully put on her most innocent expression.
She had a very bewildered expression on her face.
She had been watching the expression that crossed his face.
The children's faces all wore the same rapt expression.
They all just looked at me with blank expressions.

Topics Appearanceb1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

neutral
blank
dazed
…

verb + expression

have
hold
wear
…

expression + verb

alter
change
grow…
…

preposition

without expression
expression of

phrases

the expression in somebody’s eyes
the expression on somebody’s face

See full entry

in music/acting

[uncountable] a strong show of feeling when you are playing music, speaking, acting, etc.

Try to put a little more expression into it!
She plays the violin with great expression.

mathematics

[countable] a group of signs that represent an idea or a quantity

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

clear
concrete
material
…

verb + expression

achieve
find
reach
…

preposition

beyond expression

phrases

freedom of expression
a means of expression

See full entry

Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin expressio(n-), from exprimere ‘press out, express’. Compare with express(verb).

单词	expression
释义	expression noun OPAL WOPAL S /ɪkˈspreʃn/ /ɪkˈspreʃn/ jump to other results words [countable] a word or phrase What's the meaning of the expression ‘on cloud nine’? She uses a lot of slang expressions that I've never heard before. Keep a list of useful words and expressions. (informal) He's a pain in the butt, if you'll pardon the expression. Synonyms wordword term phrase expression idiom These are all words for a unit of language used to express something. word a single unit of language that means something and can be spoken or written: Do not write more than 200 words. He uses a lot of long words. term (rather formal) a word or phrase used as the name of something, especially one connected with a particular type of language: technical/legal/scientific terms ‘Old man’ is a slang term for ‘father’. phrase a group of words that have a particular meaning when used together: Who coined the phrase ‘fake news’? In grammar, a phrase is a group of words without a finite verb, especially one that forms part of a sentence: ‘the green car’ and ‘on Friday morning’ are phrases. expression a word or phrase: He tends to use a lot of slang expressions that I’ve never heard before. idiom a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words: ‘Let the cat out of the bag’ is an idiom meaning to tell a secret by mistake. Patterns a word/term for something a new word/term/phrase/expression a technical/colloquial word/term/phrase/expression a slang word/term/phrase an idiomatic phrase/expression to use a(n) word/term/phrase/expression/idiom to coin a(n) word/term/phrase/expression a(n) word/term/phrase/expression/idiom means something Extra Examples an old-fashioned expression Her writing is full of colourful expressions. He tends to use strange expressions like ‘It's enough to make a cat laugh’. I've not heard that expression before. Until the mid-nineteenth century, ‘Italy’ was just a geographical expression. Our spooky Hallowe'en weekend breaks give a whole new meaning to the expression ‘chilling out’! Topics Languagea2 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective common colloquial slang … verb + expression use hear expression + verb mean something See full entry showing feelings/ideas [uncountable, countable] things that people say, write or do in order to show their feelings, opinions and ideas Freedom of expression (= freedom to say what you think) is a basic human right. (formal) The poet's anger finds expression in (= is shown in) the last verse of the poem. Only in his dreams does he give expression to his fears. He describes drawing as a very personal form of artistic expression. Words, as a means of expression, can be limiting. expression of something the expression of emotion/feelings expressions of concern/sympathy/support We are calling for expressions of interest from people wanting to take part in the project. laws which aim to restrict free expression of opinion see also self-expression Extra Examples The riots are the most serious expression of anti-government feeling yet. Expressions of sympathy flooded in from all over the country. Their frustration needs some form of expression. The tango is the ultimate expression of love if it is danced the right way. A constitution is the written expression of the people's will. Harvest festival was the occasion for the collective expression of a community's religious values. He wanted to write a verse drama in which the verse would seem a natural expression of modern life. Her statement was a clear expression of her views on this subject. His highest expression of praise was ‘Not bad!’ Just because there is no direct expression of prejudice, that does not mean the prejudice does not exist. She suddenly felt happy beyond expression. Suddenly her deeper feelings demanded expression. The new concept of form reached its fullest expression in the work of Picasso. The report gave concrete expression to the fears of many immigrants. an anger and frustration that finds expression in violence the highest expression of human creativity the open expression of emotion the outward expression of inner emotional feelings the verbal expression of one's feelings to allow scope for individual expression Topics Opinion and argumentb1 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective clear concrete material … verb + expression achieve find reach … preposition beyond expression phrases freedom of expression a means of expression See full entry on face [countable] a look on a person’s face that shows their thoughts or feelings synonym look The actors' gestures and facial expressions are perfect. He had a pained expression on his face. The blank expression in her eyes showed that she hadn't understood. He looked down at the tiny child and his expression softened. His expression changed from surprise to one of amusement. Her expression betrayed nothing of her thoughts. expression of something She wore an expression of anger. Wordfinder beam expression frown grimace grin leer scowl smirk sneer wince Extra Examples There was a worried expression on her face. The expression in her eyes told me something was wrong. A surprised expression appeared on her face. Catching a fleeting expression on Lucy's face, she persisted with her question. He cracks jokes with a deadpan expression on his face. He hung around with this pathetic hangdog expression on his face. He wore an expression of anxiety on his face. Her expression hardened into one of strong dislike. Her expression suddenly turned serious. His expression grew thoughtful. His expression softened when he saw her. His face never changed expression. His face showed no expression. His grim expression told her it would be useless. I looked at her, trying to read the expression on her face. Rose's face took on the fierce expression of a schoolgirl talking about her most hated teacher. She carefully put on her most innocent expression. She had a very bewildered expression on her face. She had been watching the expression that crossed his face. The children's faces all wore the same rapt expression. They all just looked at me with blank expressions. Topics Appearanceb1 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective neutral blank dazed … verb + expression have hold wear … expression + verb alter change grow… … preposition without expression expression of phrases the expression in somebody’s eyes the expression on somebody’s face See full entry in music/acting [uncountable] a strong show of feeling when you are playing music, speaking, acting, etc. Try to put a little more expression into it! She plays the violin with great expression. mathematics [countable] a group of signs that represent an idea or a quantity Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective clear concrete material … verb + expression achieve find reach … preposition beyond expression phrases freedom of expression a means of expression See full entry Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin expressio(n-), from exprimere ‘press out, express’. Compare with express(verb).
随便看	see to see-to see to it that see-to-it-that segment segment_1 segmental segmentation segregate segregation segregationist segregationist_1 segregationist_2 segue Segway™ seine Seinfeld seismic seismograph seismological seismologist seismology seize seize on seize-on