PHYSICAL FEATURE THESAURUS

NOSE



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:
Twitch: tic, jerk, spasm, twinge, jiggle
Wrinkle: crinkle, pucker, crimp, twist, crease
Sniffle: sniff, snort, wheeze, inhale
Run: drip, dribble, pour, drool, leak, spout, weep
Noises Noses Make: sniffle, snuffle, sniff, whistle, huff, wheeze, snore, snort, blow, honk, gurgle, puff, inhale, exhale, sneeze

EMOTIONS AND RELATED GESTURES:
  • When someone is experiencing defensiveness, smugness, or pride, the nose will lift, along with the head, shoulders, and overall bearing. It also lifts when a smell is detected.
  • Noses run when people cry, giving the voice a stopped-up, nasal quality to indicate sadness.
  • Disgust and contempt are displayed by a wrinkling of the nose, while a flaring of the nostrils is a good sign of anger.
  • Frequent scratching or rubbing of the nose is a common sign of nervousness or unease. Also, people often touch their noses when they're being dishonest.

SIMILE AND METAPHOR EXAMPLES:
...

CLICHÉS TO AVOID:
...

BODY DESCRIPTION NOTES:
...