If I see "über jmdn./etw. lächeln" in the dictionary, is the "etwas" ALSO accusative?
Or could it be a different case if it is a thing rather than a person? (because I would have expected it to have the "Akk." next to "etw.", which it doesn't.)

Question

If I see "über jmdn./etw. lächeln" in the dictionary, is the "etwas" ALSO accusative?
Or could it be a different case if it is a thing rather than a person?  (because I would have expected it to have the "Akk." next to "etw.", which it doesn't.)

Answer

It's accusative too. There's no different case for persons and things, so there's no need to specify it again for "etw." when you have "jmdn." already.