crack a smile

idiom

: to smile
I tried to get him to laugh, but he never even cracked a smile.

Examples of crack a smile in a Sentence

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At a difficult time for America, Super Bowl advertisers ask viewers to take care of themselves and others — and maybe even crack a smile. Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026 When nothing else seems to work, making silly faces is bound to crack a smile—even if just for a second. Alex Vance, Parents, 23 Jan. 2026 King handled the situation well, but even such a pro couldn't help but crack a smile at that remark. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026 Didn't crack a smile or anything. Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crack a smile

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“Crack a smile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crack%20a%20smile. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.

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