A rapid raising and lowering of both eyebrows used to signal recognition, interest or greeting.
Two acquaintances catch sight of each other across a room and exchange a quick lift of the brows. Neither says a word, yet the small gesture carries a clear and friendly message of mutual recognition.
Treat the flash as a friendly acknowledgement. It usually signals openness and a wish to engage, and when it is returned you can take it as an invitation to approach.
In some settings a brow raise signals surprise or doubt, so read it together with the surrounding expression. A flash paired with a frown means something quite different from one paired with a smile.
A true smile that engages both the mouth and the muscles around the eyes, creating crinkles at the outer corners.
ExploreA polite smile produced mainly by the mouth, often held to meet social expectation rather than to express joy.
ExploreA very brief flash of true emotion that crosses the face in a fraction of a second before composure returns.
Explore