Crack a Smile

Meaning: to smile or grin (sometimes when you do not want to or should not)

Examples:

• The student cracked a smile when the teacher was mad and then had to do extra homework.
• I was trying to be serious, but cracked a smile when I remembered a joke I heard.
• After I saw the girl crack a smile, I went over to talk to her.

Pop Quiz:

My father is very serious, but I saw him crack a smile when he…

a) got some bad news.

b) was playing with my baby sister.

c) when he dropped a beautiful photo.

Read answer below

B, even though he rarely smiled, playing with the baby made him happy.