grin like a cheshire cat

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.20 in modern English

Syllables: grin -like a cheshire -cat
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Meaning

verb

To smile broadly, especially in a self-satisfied way.

Example Sentences

"John ended the set with a beautiful serve, an ace, and could not help grinning like a Cheshire cat."
"CHESHIRE CAT. He grins like a Cheshire cat; said of any one who shows his teeth and gums in laughing."
"Lo, like a Cheshire cat our court will grin."
"‘It’s almost as if we’ve gone silly with happiness,’ said Marcus two days later. ‘Everyone in the house going round grinning like a lot of Cheshire Cats! The family I mean.’ ‘And Jess,’ said Kitto quickly. ‘Oh well, Jess is as good as family,’ said Fanny comfortably. Jessamy said nothing, but she looked up quickly and her smile would have rivalled any Cheshire Cat."

Etymology

Attested since at least the 1780s. The reason why Cheshire was combined with cat is disputed: see here for more information.

Inflected Forms

grins like a Cheshire cat (present, singular) grinning like a Cheshire cat (participle, present) grinned like a Cheshire cat (participle, past) grinned like a Cheshire cat (past)

Synonyms

smile from ear to ear