The parents smiled and watched their children eat.

Meaning: The people who have children showed pleasure by turning up the corners of their mouths and observed the young people consume food.

Choice of Words: Parents are the people who have a child. Smiled means showed pleasure or amusement by turning up the corners of the mouth. Watched means looked at attentively. Children are young people.

Alternative Expressions

The grown-ups grinned and observed their offspring consuming their nourishment.

Meaning: This sentence means the same as the first sentence, but it uses more formal language. It means that the parents were happy to see their children eating. They were watching the children closely and enjoying the moment.

Choice of Words: Grown-ups is a more formal word for parents. Grinned means that the grown-ups showed their teeth in a wide smile. Observed means that the grown-ups were watching the children closely. Offspring is a formal word for children. Consuming means that the children were eating their food. Nourishment is a formal word for food.

The folks beamed and looked on as their young'uns chowed down on their grub.

Meaning: This sentence means the same as the first two sentences, but it uses slang language. It means that the parents were happy to see their children eating. They were watching the children closely and enjoying the moment.

Choice of Words: Folks is a slang word for parents. Beamed means that the folks showed their happiness by smiling broadly. Looked on means that the folks were watching the children. Young'uns is a slang word for children. Chowed down means that the children were eating their food quickly and with gusto. Grub is a slang word for food.

Related Expressions