expression
C1 (Very High Frequency)Neutral; used across all registers from formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
The act of making your thoughts, feelings, or ideas known through words, gestures, art, etc.
1. A word or phrase, particularly one used in a specific situation or by a particular group. 2. The look on someone's face that conveys a feeling. 3. The process of making a mathematical quantity known in terms of its variables. 4. The production of a protein or other substance by a gene.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has a strong conceptual link to 'pressing out' (from its Latin root), implying the externalisation of something internal (e.g., thoughts, genes). It spans concrete (a facial expression) and abstract (freedom of expression) domains.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling differences in derived forms (e.g., BrE 'expressionism', AmE also 'expressionism'). No significant difference in core usage.
Connotations
Largely identical. In academic contexts, 'gene expression' is universal.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
expression of [NOUN] (e.g., expression of grief)expression for [NOUN/PHRASE] (e.g., an expression for 'very tired')expression on [POSSESSIVE] face (e.g., an expression on his face)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pardon my French (as an expression of apology for swearing)”
- “Turn of phrase”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to brand expression, market expression of demand, or expressing concerns in a meeting.
Academic
Common in linguistics (fixed expression), mathematics (algebraic expression), biology (gene expression), and arts (creative expression).
Everyday
Used for facial looks, common phrases ('What's the expression?'), and talking about feelings.
Technical
In computing: regular expression; in genetics: gene expression; in music: musical expression.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She expressed her dismay at the council's decision.
- The gene expresses a particular protein.
American English
- He expressed concern about the project's timeline.
- The artist's work expresses a deep melancholy.
adverb
British English
- He gestured expressively while telling the story.
- She sang the aria very expressively.
American English
- The poet wrote expressively about loss.
- He looked at her expressively, conveying his sympathy without words.
adjective
British English
- She has a very expressive face.
- The data is shown in an expressive graph.
American English
- He gave an expressive performance.
- The law was expressive of the community's values.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She had a happy expression on her face.
- 'Break a leg' is a funny expression for 'good luck'.
- Freedom of expression is an important human right.
- I couldn't think of the right expression to describe the feeling.
- His paintings are a powerful expression of his inner turmoil.
- The algebraic expression needed to be simplified before solving.
- The study focused on the differential expression of genes in cancerous cells.
- His polemical essay was a trenchant expression of dissent against the prevailing ideology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of EX-PRESS-ION: you EXit your inner thoughts by PRESSing them out (ION makes it a noun).
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE FLUIDS (contained within) -> EXPRESSION IS RELEASING THE FLUID (e.g., 'She poured out her feelings').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'impression' (впечатление).
- The phrase 'freedom of expression' is a set term; avoid translating 'expression' here as 'выражение лица'.
- In mathematics, 'expression' (выражение) is correct, but in computing, 'regular expression' is a specific term.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He has a good expression of English.' Correct: 'He has a good command of English.' or 'He expresses himself well in English.'
- Confusing 'expression' (the act or the phrase) with 'face' (the body part).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'expression' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An 'expression' is any word or phrase used to convey an idea. An 'idiom' is a specific type of expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meanings of its individual words (e.g., 'kick the bucket'). All idioms are expressions, but not all expressions are idioms.
Yes, it is often countable when referring to specific phrases or looks (e.g., 'He used several old-fashioned expressions', 'She had a puzzled expression'). It is uncountable when referring to the general act or process (e.g., 'Freedom of expression', 'artistic expression').
Not quite. While 'expression' alone often implies a facial look, 'facial expression' is a very common and accepted collocation used for clarity, especially in contrast to 'verbal expression' or 'written expression'.
In mathematics, an 'expression' is a combination of numbers, variables, and operators (like +, -, ×, ÷) that represents a value. It does not contain an equals sign (that would be an 'equation'). For example, '5x + 2' is an algebraic expression.
Collections
Part of a collection
Cultural Topics
B2 · 47 words · Analyzing culture, society and identity.