Subtle expressions occur when a person's emotional response to a situation, to another person or to the environment around them is of low intensity.^{[1][unreliable source?]} They also occur when a person is just starting to feel an emotion.

Unlike microexpressions, subtle expressions are not associated with the length of time that they are on the face, but rather with the intensity of the emotion that is occurring.

As their name suggests, subtle expressions are very subtle. Even a slight tightening of the lips can be a reliable sign that someone is angry.