turn up one's nose
turn up one's nose
English
Verb
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Definition
To make the gesture of raising one's nose, as a sign of scorn, contempt or disgust.
Etymology
A description of a gesture possibly universally understood as indicating scorn, contempt or disgust. Already found in Ancient Greek as ἐκμυκτηρίζω (ekmuktērízō, “I hold in derision”), from ἐκ- (ek-) (intensifier with additional senses of out from or of the nature of) and μυκτηρίζω (muktērízō, “I turn up the nose, I sneer at”), from the stem μυκτήρ (muktḗr, “nostril”).
Example Sentences
- "When your turn came, you were carefully collared, and led up to the presence, as if even at that awful moment you were mutinously and murderously disposed. The Pasha, looking at you with a vicious sneer, turned up his nose, ejaculated "'Ajami," and prescribed the bastinado."
- "Sir Felix, when he read this letter at his club in the afternoon of the Monday, turned up his nose and shook his head. He thought if there were much of that kind of thing to be done, he could not go on with it, even though the marriage was certain, and the money secure. "What an infernal little ass!" he said to himself as he crumpled the letter up."
- "The actors paused, their arms hanging limply by their sides, while Fontan turned up his nose and asked with a sneer : 'What do you mean? What's not like that?'"
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