PHYSICAL FEATURE THESAURUS

CHEEKS



Never struggle with Show-and-Tell again. Activate your free trial or subscribe to view the Physical Feature Thesaurus in its entirety, or visit the Table of Contents to explore unlocked entries.

CHOOSE MY PLAN

HELPFUL TIP:

Physical features should do more than simply describe how a character looks. Just like their occupation or area of giftedness, a character's appearance can say a great deal about them. Hinting at traits through clothing choices, alluding to an emotional state through movements, and highlighting certain details for comparison or contrast purposes can help readers form opinions on who the character really is.
DESCRIPTORS AND KEY ELEMENTS:
...
COMMON ACTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE WORDS TO DENOTE THEM:
Blush: redden, pinken, flush, glow, gild, rouge, stain, tint, burn, heat, warm
Retract: suck or draw in, deflate, narrow
Inflate: blow out, expand, balloon, distend, bloat

EMOTIONS AND RELATED GESTURES:
  • Nervousness or uncertainty may be shown when a person taps, rubs, or chews on her cheeks. A tic could also form, causing the skin in that area to jump.
  • A person might blow out her cheeks when she's experiencing impatience or frustration.
  • The cheeks will redden (along with the rest of the face and neck) when embarrassment or anger sets in.
  • And of course, happiness is most easily shown with a smile, which raises the cheeks and brightens the face.

SIMILE AND METAPHOR EXAMPLES:
...

CLICHÉS TO AVOID:
...

BODY DESCRIPTION NOTES:
...