What is "A half-smile"?

Not a full-blown grin. Maybe he's feeling sad and doesn't really want to smile so the corners of his mouth go up a little bit, or he's feeling smug or superior. Think Mona Lisa.

Either what Sandi said, or when one side of the mouth smiles but the other side doesn't. I usually consider a half smile to mean the person is reacting to something rueful or ironic.

I agree with TheIT. Also, it feels strange to agree with an it.

I agree, kinda. I guess it's odd because I wouldn't say half-smile. I might say half-hearted smile, or awkward smile, or even fake smile.

I guess if I read "he gave a half-smile" I'd mentally picture someone doing the ironic smile-huff thing, or - depending on the scene and character - I might picture what TheIT said. Rueful smile or grin of irony.

Cat Scratch said:

I agree with TheIT. Also, it feels strange to agree with an it.

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That's all right, I keep wondering why "Cat Scratch" looks like a peacock.

In any case, looking at the smilies available, I consider these to be half smiles:

Yeah, I would think ironic or rueful too.

People often ask me what I'm smiling about when I'm not aware I'm doing it - I think that might be a half-smile: a general, wry kind of amusement about something and nothing (I either get that or, cheer up love, it might never happen I don't think I've very good at controlling my own facial expressions, which is probably a bad thing).

"sardonic grin" = "half-smile"?

I'm with TheIT also...

AKA a wry smirk.

Listen to the IT. :S

Smiling with half your mouth could be defined as a 'lopsided grin'. I picture a half smile as a Mona Lisa type expression, or a wry smile, or a thoughtful smile.