{
    "term": "expression",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a word or phrase",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What's the meaning of the expression ‘on cloud nine’?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She uses a lot of slang expressions that I've never heard before."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Keep a list of useful **words and expressions**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He's a pain in the butt, **if you'll pardon the expression**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "an old-fashioned expression"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her writing is full of colourful expressions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He tends to use strange expressions like ‘It's enough to make a cat laugh’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I've not heard that expression before."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Until the mid-nineteenth century, ‘Italy’ was just a geographical expression."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Our spooky Hallowe'en weekend breaks give a whole new meaning to the expression ‘chilling out’!"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Language"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["common", "colloquial", "slang"],
                "verb + expression": ["use", "hear"],
                "expression + verb": ["mean something"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "things that people say, write or do in order to show their feelings, opinions and ideas",
            "sensetop": "expression of something",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "**Freedom of expression** *(= freedom to say what you think)* is a basic human right."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The poet's anger **finds expression in** *(= is shown in)* the last verse of the poem."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Only in his dreams does he **give expression to** his fears."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He describes drawing as a very personal form of **artistic expression**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Words, as a means of expression, can be limiting."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the expression of emotion/feelings",
                    "contextForm": "expression of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "expressions of concern/sympathy/support"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We are calling for **expressions of interest** from people wanting to take part in the project."
                },
                {
                    "text": "laws which aim to restrict **free expression** of opinion"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The riots are the most serious expression of anti-government feeling yet."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Expressions of sympathy flooded in from all over the country."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Their frustration needs some form of expression."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The tango is the ultimate expression of love if it is danced the right way."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A constitution is the written expression of the people's will."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Harvest festival was the occasion for the collective expression of a community's religious values."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He wanted to write a verse drama in which the verse would seem a natural expression of modern life."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her statement was a clear expression of her views on this subject."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His highest expression of praise was ‘Not bad!’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Just because there is no direct expression of prejudice, that does not mean the prejudice does not exist."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She suddenly felt happy beyond expression."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Suddenly her deeper feelings demanded expression."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new concept of form reached its fullest expression in the work of Picasso."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The report gave concrete expression to the fears of many immigrants."
                },
                {
                    "text": "an anger and frustration that finds expression in violence"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the highest expression of human creativity"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the open expression of emotion"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the outward expression of inner emotional feelings"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the verbal expression of one's feelings"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to allow scope for individual expression"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["clear", "concrete", "material"],
                "verb + expression": ["achieve", "find", "reach"],
                "preposition": ["beyond expression"],
                "phrases": ["freedom of expression", "a means of expression"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a look on a person’s face that shows their thoughts or feelings",
            "sensetop": "expression of something",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The actors' gestures and **facial expressions** are perfect."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He had a pained expression on his face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The blank expression in her eyes showed that she hadn't understood."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He looked down at the tiny child and his expression softened."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His expression changed from surprise to one of amusement."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her expression betrayed nothing of her thoughts."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She wore an expression of anger.",
                    "contextForm": "expression of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a worried expression on her face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The expression in her eyes told me something was wrong."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A surprised expression appeared on her face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Catching a fleeting expression on Lucy's face, she persisted with her question."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He cracks jokes with a deadpan expression on his face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He hung around with this pathetic hangdog expression on his face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He wore an expression of anxiety on his face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her expression hardened into one of strong dislike."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her expression suddenly turned serious."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His expression grew thoughtful."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His expression softened when he saw her."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His face never changed expression."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His face showed no expression."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His grim expression told her it would be useless."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I looked at her, trying to read the expression on her face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Rose's face took on the fierce expression of a schoolgirl talking about her most hated teacher."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She carefully put on her most innocent expression."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She had a very bewildered expression on her face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She had been watching the expression that crossed his face."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The children's faces all wore the same rapt expression."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They all just looked at me with blank expressions."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "look",
            "topics": ["Appearance"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["neutral", "blank", "dazed"],
                "verb + expression": ["have", "hold", "wear"],
                "expression + verb": ["alter", "change", "grow…"],
                "preposition": ["without expression", "expression of"],
                "phrases": [
                    "the expression in somebody’s eyes",
                    "the expression on somebody’s face"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "a strong show of feeling when you are playing music, speaking, acting, etc.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Try to put a little more expression into it!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She plays the violin with great expression."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "a group of signs that represent an idea or a quantity",
            "examples": [],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["clear", "concrete", "material"],
                "verb + expression": ["achieve", "find", "reach"],
                "preposition": ["beyond expression"],
                "phrases": ["freedom of expression", "a means of expression"]
            }
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪkˈspreʃn/",
                "audio": "ex/expression/expression__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪkˈspreʃn/",
                "audio": "ex/expression/expression__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Latin expressio(n-), from exprimere ‘press out, express’. Compare with express(verb)."
}