Smile

social lubricant

In many cultures, a forced smile acts as a social lubricant to ease tension during awkward first encounters.

maintain a facade

Public figures often have to maintain a facade of happiness even when they are going through personal struggles

professional decorum

Employees are expected to uphold professional decorum by smiling at customers, regardless of their own mood.

feign

It is quite common to feign a smile when receiving an underwhelming gift to avoid hurting the giver's feelings.

customer-facing roles

People in customer-facing roles are often trained to display a friendly smile as part of their service standards.

social etiquette

According to social etiquette, one should smile back when greeted, even if they are feeling somewhat grumpy.

conceal

Many people use a smile to conceal their anxiety or discomfort during high-pressure situations like job interviews

put on a brave face

When a project fails, a leader might put on a brave face and smile to keep the team's morale high

social obligation

Smiling at a wedding is a social obligation to ensure the festive atmosphere is preserved for the couple

plastic smile

You can usually tell it is a plastic smile because the warmth doesn't reach the person's eyes.

emotional labor

Waitstaff perform a lot of emotional labor by pretending to be cheerful even when dealing with rude customers.