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German frequency list

No. 14,185 in German

grinsen

To smirk or grin.

In a sentence

  • Er konnte nicht anders, als breit zu grinsen, als er die gute Nachricht hörte.

    He couldn't help but grin widely when he heard the good news.

    Here, 'grinsen' is used as a verb describing the act of smiling broadly in response to pleasant news, emphasizing a joyful and involuntary facial expression.

  • Ihr Grinsen verriet, dass sie genau wusste, wovon geredet wurde.

    Her grin revealed that she knew exactly what was being talked about.

    In this example, 'Grinsen' is used as a noun, referring to the physical expression—a smile—that gives away understanding or amusement.

  • Ich konnte sein spöttisches Grinsen deutlich sehen, was mich ärgerte.

    I could clearly see his mocking grin, which annoyed me.

    Here, 'spöttisches Grinsen' frames 'grinsen' in a specific manner—'mocking grin,' showing its flexibility to convey subtleties of emotional expression.

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