PHYSICAL FEATURE THESAURUS

JAW



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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:
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COMMON ACTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE WORDS TO DENOTE THEM:
Things Jaws Do: clench, break, lock, slide back and forth, pop or crack, creak, jut, tense, drop open, snap closed

EMOTIONS AND RELATED GESTURES:
  • In anger, a person will often grind the teeth in a way that results in a clenched jaw. Muscles will sometimes jump near the chin or jawline, making tendons stand out.
  • When someone is experiencing fear, the jaw may quiver, which in turn makes the teeth chatter. He may also drop the jaw, opening the mouth wide to breathe in more oxygen in preparation for what's to come.

SIMILE AND METAPHOR EXAMPLES:
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CLICHÉS TO AVOID:
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BODY DESCRIPTION NOTES:
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