- [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 wordwordterm ▪ phrase ▪ expression ▪ idiomThese 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.
- technical/legal/scientific terms
- ‘Old man’ is a slang term for ‘father’.
- Who coined the phrase ‘fake news’?
- He tends to use a lot of slang expressions that I’ve never heard before.
- ‘Let the cat out of the bag’ is an idiom meaning to tell a secret by mistake.
- 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 ExamplesTopics Languagea2- 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’!
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- common
- colloquial
- slang
- …
- use
- hear
- mean something
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- [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
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb1- 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
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- clear
- concrete
- material
- …
- achieve
- find
- reach
- …
- beyond expression
- freedom of expression
- a means of expression
- [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.
Extra ExamplesTopics Appearanceb1- 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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- neutral
- blank
- dazed
- …
- have
- hold
- wear
- …
- alter
- change
- grow…
- …
- without expression
- expression of
- the expression in somebody’s eyes
- the expression on somebody’s face
- [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.
- [countable] a group of signs that represent an idea or a quantityOxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
- clear
- concrete
- material
- …
- achieve
- find
- reach
- …
- beyond expression
- freedom of expression
- a means of expression
words
showing feelings/ideas
on face
in music/acting
mathematics
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin expressio(n-), from exprimere ‘press out, express’. Compare with express(verb).
Check pronunciation:
expression