smile (up)on (someone or something)
To express, bestow, or look with favor or approval on someone or something. Usually (though not always) used in reference to figurative concepts such as fate, fortune, luck, etc. I hear that Jenny just won some major award, so soon after her huge promotion. It seems that fortune smiles on her at the moment! May luck smile upon our voyage. The boss made it clear that she smile on individual initiative, so I decided to be brave and submit an application for a project I wanted to lead.
smile (up)on someone or something
to bestow approval on someone or something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) Fate has smiled upon me at last! I wish good luck would smile on me.
smile on someone or something
to be favorable to someone or something. Fate smiled on me and I got the job. Lady luck smiled on our venture and we made a profit.
smile on
Look with favor or approval on, as in The current administration smiles on anyone who gives it helpful publicity. [c. 1400]
smile on
v. To regard someone or something with favor or approval: Good fortune smiled on our efforts, and our plan succeeded.