Too lame for GQ, but a question nonetheless; I’m wondering if there’s a description or name for a particular facial expression.
It’s that facial expression when you’re walking past someone down a hallway at work, or out on the street in a public place. You may/may not be acquainted with that someone, but a level of “acknowledgement” is socially warranted to avoid awkwardness. It’s that facial expression where both sets of eyes meet, and there may or may not be a slight smile or audible acknowledgement; there may or may not be a slight nod or “chin pop.” It has that distinctive closed-mouth, steely-jawed, half-constipated look that generally conveys pleasantries, but leans more towards neutral. I think it could be equated to a silent, physical indication of “Hi.”
Is there some obscure name for this sort of neutral, stoic, momentary surrogate acknowledgement of “Good Day.”?
I think it’s an American thing. I started to notice it in supermarket aisles or the public library stacks, when I encounter a woman. If she notices that I make eye contact, I get that one-second-three-step: Fake smile on => fake smile off => eyes quickly dart away. I say American Thing, because when I shop in Canada, I don’t get that. In Canada, people of all (ok, both) genders are happy to engage in casual conversation with complete strangers in the aisles of supermarket.
I don’t know, but I got a kick watching Timeless (a time travel show) the other day, and there was a scene where Rufus (a black guy from the present) did the “chin bob” acknowledgement thing back in the 20’s or something and another black guy was going “why do you keep doing that?”
They also used a riff on that in The Force Awakens between Finn and Han for laffs. It definitely is a modern thing though I can’t remember it not existing, so I can’t put a year on it.
I can’t help other than to say I know exactly what you mean. It’s a semi-grimace. I’m trying to decide what it is meant to convey. Something like, “Here we are, just trying to slog through another day”.
Especially appropriate when you cross paths with someone you barely know during the work day.
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I seem to recall Seinfeld having a bit about it (I didn’t watch the show often, and may be mixing it up with another program). Elaine talks about neighbor or something and how you start out chatting when you see each other, then later move on to just smiling and going on your way, then later just nod. Only this time the other person didn’t nod.