It's not easy being friendly these days. When after an early rise and crush in an electric train, come to the office and try to make a cordial expression, those around you suddenly start to stutter and scatter. Why? It is possible that the resulting grimace is a grin, not a smile. But what's the difference between them?
Realities of the animal world
If we are talking about predators, we must remember the difficult circumstances of life in the forest. Wolves from one pack fight for a leader’s place, lions protect females and territory from competitors, hyenas try to seem formidable, getting close to the remains of a delicious carcass. And they all grind their teeth! This action is characterized by three points:
- the corners of the mouth diverge to the sides;
- upper lip rises;
- a row of teeth appears from under it.
Sometimes the jaw swings open completely, and in dogs the nose also wrinkles. A terrible fanged mouth demonstrates the beast's readiness for battle, inspires terror to the victims and fear to potential hunters. Not the most pleasant image, although it is popular as the basis for a tattoo, because it shows the strength, power and fighting character of the owner.
Features of human facial expressions
Did you notice something familiar in the description? Contemporaries often use the “grin” in the meaning of “smile” because people do the same things to express emotions. But if in most cases the lips are tightly closed or barely open their teeth, sometimes you can see an unrestrained surge of emotions and at the same time count all the crowns in the mouth of the interlocutor. The situation can be sweet, funny, or creepy, depending on the context.
This word is often called unnatural facial expressions, as in the Joker. It seems strained or too aggressive, causes rejection in others. Also grin your expression of joy will be called if the smile does not match the situation. The speaker seems to indicate immoral, animal behavior and lack of sensitivity towards those present.
Appropriateness of use
The definition of “grinning” thrown at a person is an insult. Implicit! You can make fun of your buddies or advise your best friend to practice in front of a mirror so that your first date goes smoothly. However, it strictly indicates an excess of animal in the personality of the interlocutor, which does not attract a compliment.
If we are talking about pets, feel free to describe to friends and acquaintances how cute the doggie is rocking. Even more amusing are those animals that in ordinary life eat nothing but grass. A grinning horse or a warlike hamster is not only a reason to smile, but also a great opportunity to break the sea of likes on Instagram!