to wipe the smile off one's face
to wipe the smile off one's face
01
to destroy someone's happiness or self-assurance through a remark, action, or event
![to [wipe] (the|that) (smile|grin|smirk) off {one's} [face] definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/44702/original/?type=jpeg "to [wipe] (the|that) (smile|grin|smirk) off {one's} [face] definition and meaning")
Idiom
Informal
Exempel
The principal's stern words managed to wipe the grin off the troublemaker's face as he realized the consequences of his actions.
