belly-grin

English translation: slash across the belly that looked like a grin/smile

00:23 Jan 18, 2021
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Historical detective novel set in New York in 1702.
English term or phrase: belly-grin
The enigmatic swordsman, Count Anton Mannerheim Dahlgren, who'd so nearly slashed Matthew a ***belly-grin*** with the point of a dagger. (This sentence refers to the previous book of the series, in which the fight is described as follows:

"As Matthew fought for his life, he had one thing in mind.
Something Hudson Greathouse had said.
You’ll someday cross swords with a villain who’ll long to get a short blade in your belly. You’ll know him, when the time comes.
Matthew knew him.
He saw Dahlgren’s left hand go under the waistcoat. He grabbed at the wrist to trap it, but another blow from the hilt rattled his brains. Where was Dahlgren’s hand? Panic flared in him. Where was-
Suddenly Dahlgren’s hand emerged. It had six fingers, one formed of steel and deadly sharp.
With a whuff of air and a burst of demonic strength, the Count drove his hidden dagger squarely into Matthew’s stomach.
There was a sudden loud crack. No more, no less.
Dahlgren screamed like a woman. He fell back, the dagger dangling and then dropping from the hand that hung off a broken wrist. His rapier also clattered to the floor. His eyes were wide with shock, and perhaps they widened even farther when Matthew reached under his own waistcoat and pulled out the silver fruit tray-about the size of an open hand-that he’d slid down to protect his belly from the dagger attack that Greathouse had warned him in the wisdom of experience to anticipate.
One thing could be said about Dahlgren, Matthew thought. The man certainly kept his thumb locked down.")
Alexander Alexandrov
Russian Federation
Local time: 13:03
Selected answer:slash across the belly that looked like a grin/smile
Explanation:
I would say in your context

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Note added at 3 hrs (2021-01-18 04:14:15 GMT)
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picture it

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Note added at 4 hrs (2021-01-18 04:40:52 GMT)
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I certainly can and not a pleasant prospect
Selected response from:

David Hollywood
Local time: 07:03
Grading comment
Thank you very much!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +8slash across the belly that looked like a grin/smile
David Hollywood
3Glasgow Smile
Saro Nova


  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +8
slash across the belly that looked like a grin/smile


Explanation:
I would say in your context

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2021-01-18 04:14:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

picture it

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2021-01-18 04:40:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I certainly can and not a pleasant prospect

David Hollywood
Local time: 07:03
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 118
Grading comment
Thank you very much!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: That's a 5.
1 hr

agree  Shilpa Baliga
2 hrs

agree  Sheila Wilson
5 hrs

agree  Yvonne Gallagher: of course
7 hrs

agree  Jessica Rees
12 hrs
  -> ty all

agree  BdiL
1 day 6 hrs
  -> ty all

agree  Daryo
2 days 17 hrs
  -> ty all

agree  Seamus O Donnell: agree
10 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Glasgow Smile


Explanation:
This is just a suggestion. There is a gruesome practice that used to happen between football hooligans in England, particularly with Chelsea and Glasgow fans, wherein the perpetrator slashes the opposing fan from one corner of the face to the other, so as to create an extended grin/smile across the mouth. I've listed a link below. Thought it would give you some creative ideas.

Example sentence(s):
  • He slashed his belly as if to give him a Glasgow smile.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_smile
Saro Nova
Canada
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Daryo: there is also a "Glasgow kiss" // but it won't work here: New York in 1702
2 days 4 hrs

neutral  Sarah Maidstone: I feel compelled to point out that Glasgow has never been in England.
6 days
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