badassunicorn2016:

A list of body language phrases.

I’ve included a very comprehensive list, organized by the type of body movement, hand and arm movements, facial expressions etc. In some cases, a phrase fits more than one heading, so it may appear twice. Possible emotions are given after each BL phrase unless the emotion is indicated within the phrase. (They are underlined for emphasis, not due to a hyperlink.)

Note: I’ve included a few body postures and body conditions as they are non-verbal testimony to the character’s physical condition.

Have fun and generate your own ideas.:-)

Eyes, Brows and Forehead

• arched a sly brow:  sly, haughty
• blinked owlishly:  just waking, focusing, needs glasses
• brows bumped together in a scowl:  worried, disapproving, irritated
• brows knitted in a frown: worried, disapproval, thoughtful
• bug-eyed:  surprised, fear, horror
• cocky wink and confident smile:  over confidence, arrogant, good humor, sexy humor
• eyes burned with hatred: besides hatred this might suggest maniacal feelings
• eyes flashed: fury, defiance, lust, promise, seduction
• eyes rolled skyward: disbelief, distrust, humor
• forehead puckered:  thoughtful, worried, irritation
• frustration crinkled her eyes
• gaze dipped to her décolletage: sexual interest, attraction, lust
• gimlet-eyed/narrowed eyes: irritation, thoughtful, mean, angry
• gleam of deviltry:  humor, conniving, cunning
• kept eye contact but her gaze became glazed: pretending interest where there is none/bordom
• narrowed to crinkled slits:  angry, distrust
• nystagmic eyes missed nothing (constantly shifting eyes):  Shifty
• pupils dilated:  interested, attraction to opposite sex, fear
• raked her with freezing contempt
• slammed his eyes shut:  stunned, furious, pain
• squinted in a furtive manner:  fearful, sneaky
• stared with cow eyes:  surprised, disbelief, hopeful, lovestruck
• subtle wink:  sexy, humor/sharing a joke, sarcasm
• unrelenting stare: distrust, demanding, high interest, unyielding

Place To Place, Stationary Or Posture

• ambled away:  relaxed, lazy
• barged ahead:  rude, hurried
• battled his way through the melee:  desperate, anger, alarm
• cruised into the diner:  easy-going, feeling dapper, confident
• dawdled alongside the road:  lazy, deliberate delay for motives, unhurried, relaxed
• dragged his blanket in the dirt:   sadness/depressed, weary
• edged closer to him:  sneaky, seeking comfort, seeking protection, seeking an audience
• he stood straighter and straightened his tie:  sudden interest, sexual attraction
• held his crotch and danced a frantic jig: demonstrates physical condition – he has to pee
• hips rolled and undulated:  sexy walk, exaggerating for sex appeal
• hovered over them with malice/like a threatening storm: here it’s malice, but one may hover for many reasons.
• hunched over to look shorter:  appear inconspicuous, ashamed of actions, ashamed of height
• leaped into action feet hammering the marbled floor:  eager, fear, joyous
• long-legged strides:  hurried, impatient
• lumbered across:  heavy steps of a big man in a hurry
• minced her way up to him: timid, sneaky, insecure, dainty or pretense at dainty
• paced/prowled the halls:  worried, worried impatience, impatient, diligently seeking pivoted on his heel and took off:  mistaken and changes direction, following orders, hurried, abrupt change of mind, angry retreat
• plodded down the road:  unhurried, burdened, reluctant
• practiced sensual stroll:  sexy, showing off
• rammed her bare foot into her jeans: angry, rushed
• rocked back and forth on his heels: thoughtful, impatiently waiting
• sagged against the wall:  exhausted, disappointment
• sallied forth:  confident, determined
• sashayed her cute little fanny:  confident, determined, angered and determined
• shrank into the angry crowd:  fear, insecure, seeking to elude
• sketched a brief bow and assumed a regal pose: confident, mocking, snooty, arrogant skidded to an abrupt halt: change of heart, fear, surprise, shock
• skulked on the edges of the crowd: sneaky, ashamed, timid
• slithered through the door:  sneaky, evil, bad intentions
• stormed toward her, pulling up short when: anger with a sudden surprise
• swaggered into the class room:  over confident, proud, arrogant, conceited
• tall erect posture:  confidence, military bearing
• toe tapped a staccato rhythm:  impatience, irritation
• tottered/staggered unsteadily then keeled over:  drunk, drugged, aged, ill
• waltzed across the floor:  happy, blissful, exuberant, conceited, arrogant

Head Movement

• cocked his head:  curiosity, smart-alecky, wondering, thoughtful
• cocked his head left and rolled his eyes to right corner of the ceiling:  introspection
• droop of his head: depressed, downcast, hiding true feelings
• nodded vigorously: eager
• tilted her head to one side while listening:  extreme interest, possibly sexual interest

Mouth And Jaw

• a lackluster smile:  feigning cheerfulness
• cigarette hung immobile in mouth: shock, lazy, uncaring, relaxed casualness
• clinched his jaw at the sight:  angered, worried, surprised
• curled her lips with icy contempt
• expelled her breath in a whose:  relief, disappointment
• gagged at the smell: disgust, distaste
• gapped mouth stare:  surprised, shock, disbelief
• gritted his teeth:  anger, irritation, holding back opinion
• inhaled a sharp breath:  surprise, shock, fear, horror
• licked her lips:  nervous, sexual attraction
• lips primed: affronted, upset, insulted
• lips pursed for a juicy kiss
• lips pursed like she’d been chewing a lemon rind: dislike, angry, irritated, sarcasm
• lips screwed into: irritation, anger, grimace, scorn
• lips set in a grim line: sorrow, worried, fear of the worst
• pursed her lips:  perturbed, waiting for a kiss
• scarfed down the last biscuit:  physical hunger, greed
• slack-mouthed:  total shock, disbelief
• slow and sexy smile:  attraction, seductive, coy
• smacked his lips: anticipation
• smile congealed then melted into horror
• smile dangled on the corner of his lips: cocky, sexy
• smirked and tossed her hair over her shoulder:  conceit, sarcasm, over confident
• sneered and flicked lint off his suit: sarcasm, conceit
• spewed water and spit: shock
• stuck out her tongue: humor, sarcasm, teasing, childish
• toothy smile:  eagerness, hopeful
• wary smile surfaced on her lips

Nose

• nose wrinkled in distaste/at the aroma
• nostrils flared:  anger, sexual attraction
• nose in the air:  snooty, haughty

Face in General

• crimson with fury
• handed it over shame-faced
• jutted his chin: confident, anger, forceful
• managed a deadpan expression:  expressionless
• muscles in her face tightened:  unsmiling, concealing emotions, anger, worried
• rested his chin in his palm and looked thoughtful
• rubbed a hand over his dark stubble:  thoughtful, ashamed of his appearance
• screwed up her face:  anger, smiling, ready to cry, could almost be any emotion
• sneered and flicked lint off his suit: conceit, derision, scorn

Arm and Hand

• a vicious yank
• arm curled around her waist, tugging her next to him:  possessive, pride, protective
• bit her lip and glanced away:  shy, ashamed, insecure
• brandished his fist:  anger, threatening, ready to fight, confident, show of pride
• clamped his fingers into tender flesh:  anger, protective, wants to inflict pain
• clenched his dirty little fists: stubborn, angry
• clapped her hands on her hips, arms crooked like sugar bowel handles:  anger, demanding, disbelief
• constantly twirled her hair and tucked it behind her ear:  attracted to the opposite sex, shy crossed his arms over his chest: waiting, impatient, putting a barrier
• crushed the paper in his fist:  anger, surrender, discard
• dived into the food: hunger, eager, greedy
• doffed his hat:  polite gesture, mocking, teasing
• doodled on the phone pad and tapped the air with her foot:  bored, inattention, introspection
• drummed her fingers on the desk:  impatient, frustrated, bored
• fanned her heated face with her hands: physically hot, embarrassed, indicating attraction
• fiddled with his keys: nervous, bored
• firm, palm to palm hand shake:  confident, honest
• flipped him the bird: sarcastic discard
• forked his fingers through his hair for the third time:  disquiet/consternation, worry, thoughtful
• handed it over shame-faced:  guilt, shame
• held his crotch and danced a frantic jig:  physical need to relieve himself
• limp hand shake:  lack of confidence, lack of enthusiasm
• propped his elbow on his knee: relaxed, thoughtful
• punched her pillow:  restless, can’t sleep, angry
• rested his chin in his palm:  thoughful, worried
• scratched his hairy belly and yawned:  indolent, bored, lazy, relaxed, just waking
• shoulders lifted in a shrug:  doubtful, careless discard
• slapped his face in front of God and country:  enraged, affronted/insulted
• snapped a sharp salute:  respect, sarcastic gesture meaning the opposite of respect
• snapped his fingers, expecting service:  arrogant, lack of respect, self-centered
• sneered and flicked lint off his suit
• spread her arms wide: welcoming,  joy, love
• stabbed at the food: anger, hunger, determined
• stood straighter and smoothed his tie:  sudden interest, possible sexual interest
• stuffed his hands in his pockets: self-conscious, throwing up a barrier
• sweaty handshake:  nervous, fearful
• touched his arm several times while explaining:  sign of attraction, flattery, possessive
• wide sweep of his arms:  welcoming, all inclusive gesture, horror

Sitting or Rising

• collapsed in a stupor:  exhausted, drunk, drugged, disbelief
• enthroned himself at the desk:  conceit, pronouncing or taking ownership
• exploded out of the chair:  shock, eager, anger, supreme joy
• roosted on the porch rail like a cock on a hen house roof:  claiming ownership, conceit, content
• sat, squaring an ankle over one knee:  relaxed and open
• slouched/wilted in a chair and paid languid attention to:  drowsy, lazy, depressed, disinterest, sad, totally relaxed, disrespectful
• squirmed in his chair: ill at ease, nervous, needs the bathroom

Recline

• flung himself into the bed: sad, depressed, exhausted, happy
• prostrated himself: surrender, desperate, miserable, powerless, obsequious, fawning, flattering
• punched her pillow:  can’t sleep, anger, frustrated
• threw himself on the floor kicking and screaming: tantrum

Entire body and General

• body stiffened at the remark:  offended, anger, alerted
• body swayed to music:  dreamy, fond memories, enjoys the music
• bounced in the car seat, pointing:  excitement, fear, eager
• cowered behind his brother:  fear, shyness, coward, desperate
• curled into a ball:  sorrow, fear, sleepy, defensive
• heart galloping:  anxiety, joy, eager
• held his crotch and danced a frantic jig
• humped over his cane, each step shaking and careful: pain, aged
• inhaled a deep breath and blew out slowly: buying time to find words/thoughtful, reconciled
• quick and jerky like rusty cogs on a wheel:  unsure of actions, self-conscious, tense, edgy
• rocked back and forth on his heels:  impatient, cocky, gleeful
• manhandled the woman into a corner:  bully, anger
• slumped shoulders: defeat, depressed, sad, surrender
• stiff-backed:  priggish, haughty, affronted
• stood straighter and straightened his tie:  sexual interest, wants to make an impression
• stooped and bent: aged, arthritic, in pain
• stretched extravagantly and yawned:  tired, bored, unconcerned
• sweating uncontrollably: nervous, fear, guilt
• tall erect posture:  confidence, military bearing
• was panting now at:  afraid, exhausted, out of breath, sexual excitement

-Sharla Rae