noun
expression, phrase
B1
Ausdruck (der) means 'expression' or 'phrase', including facial expression or manner of wording. Common collocation: 'etwas zum Ausdruck bringen' (to express). Plural Ausdrücke. Regular declension; genitive singular des Ausdrucks. Used in communication, emotions, and stylistic descriptions. Also appears when describing looks, tone, and printed output.
Examples
Sein Gesicht zeigte keinen Ausdruck.
His face showed no expression.
Der Redner benutzte einen ungewöhnlichen Ausdruck, der bei den Zuhörern Verwunderung auslöste, obwohl er damit nicht provozieren wollte.
The speaker used an unusual expression that caused astonishment among the listeners, although he did not want to provoke with it.
Der Ausdruck "auf gut Glück" ist umgangssprachlich.
The phrase "auf gut Glück" is colloquial.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a face on a sheet of paper being 'printed out' so you can read the expression
Sounds like 'out-druk' — imagine 'printing out' an expression
Der = masculine; picture a male actor (der) making a dramatic expression
Notes
Commonly used both for facial expressions and for fixed wordings/phrases. Do not confuse with 'Ausdruck' vs verb 'ausdrücken' (to express).