List of Facial Expressions and Body Language for Writers

List of Facial Expressions and Body Language

SURPRISE/SHOCK

his eyes widened
her eyes went round
she blinked

she gaped
he gawked

her mouth fell open
his jaw dropped
her jaw went slack
his face went blank

he pulled away
she jerked away
he turned away
she jolted upright

CONFUSION

he squinted

his brows knitted
her forehead creased
his forehead furrowed

his brows drew together
her brows snapped together
his eyebrows rose
she raised a brow
he lifted an eyebrow
his eyebrows waggled
he screwed up his face
she scrunched up her face

ANGER/DISPLEASURE

his eyes flashed
his eyes glinted
his eyes burned with...
her eyes blazed with...
he glared

she sneered

her mouth set in a hard line
he pressed his lips together
he gritted his teeth
her jaw clenched
his jaw tightened
a muscle in her jaw twitched

he glowered

her expression hardened

her hands squeezed into fists
his hands tightened into fists
she clenched her fists
she balled her fists

she put her hands on her hips

she rested a hand on her hip
she folded her arms
he crossed his arms over his chest

he let out a harsh breath
she huffed
he sighed

she gave a bitter laugh

she turned her face away

SADNESS/DISTRESS

tears filled her eyes
his eyes welled up
her eyes swam with tears
his eyes flooded with tears
his eyes glistened
tears shimmered in her eyes
tears shone in his eyes
her eyes were glossy
he was fighting back tears
tears ran down her cheeks
his eyes closed
she squeezed her eyes shut
her lower lip trembled
his lower lip quivered

her face contorted
sadness clouded his features

her smile faded
his smile slipped

he lowered his head
she hung her head
she bowed her head
he covered his eyes with a hand

he wrapped his arms around himself
she rocked back and forth

he went limp

she turned her face away

her shoulders sagged
his shoulders slumped

ANXIETY/FEAR

she bit her lip
he chewed on his bottom lip

her jaw clenched
his jaw tightened
a muscle in her jaw twitched

she paled
he blanched
she went white
the color drained out of his face

his breaths quickened

he drew in a long breath
she took in a sharp breath
he gasped

she cringed
he shuddered
she flinched
he shivered
she trembled
his body shook
she cowered
he shrank from...
she huddled in the corner

HAPPINESS/AMUSEMENT

his eyes lit up
her eyes twinkled
her eyes sparkled
the corners of his eyes crinkled

she beamed
her mouth curved into a smile
the corners of his mouth turned up
the corner of her mouth quirked up
a corner of his mouth lifted
his mouth twitched
he gave a half-smile
she gave a lopsided grin
her whole face lit up
she brightened

she rolled her eyes

she winked

she snorted

he giggled
she guffawed
he chuckled

she bounced on her toes

SUSPICION/THOUGHTFUL

his eyes narrowed
his eyes darted

she gave him a once-over
he sized her up
her eyes bored into him

she scrutinized
he studied
he pursed his lips

EMBARRASSMENT

his face reddened
her cheeks turned pink
his face flushed
she blushed
he turned red
she turned scarlet
he turned crimson
a flush crept up her face

DETERMINATION

she raised her chin
he lifted his chin

he puffed out his chest

she squared her shoulders

FIDGETS

she rubbed her shoulder
he kneaded his shoulder

she rubbed her temples
she ran her hand through her hair
he threaded a hand through his hair
he raked his fingers through his hair

she inspected her fingernails
she fiddled with her earring / bracelet

she smoothed down her skirt

he rubbed his forehead

he leaned against the wall

she folded her hands in her lap
she drummed her fingers on the table
he tapped his fingers on the table
he leaned back in his chair
she jiggled her foot
she crossed her ankles in front of her
she stretched out her legs in front of her
he sprawled out
he propped his chin on his hand
she rested her chin on her palm

she shifted from one foot to the other

OTHER

his eyes gleamed

her eyes sparked with...
her eyes flickered with...
_____ glowed in his eyes

her nose crinkled

she forced a smile
his mouth snapped shut
he grimaced
she winced
recognition dawned on her face

he shrugged
she gave a half shrug
he lifted his shoulder in a half shrug

he bobbed his head

she slouched
he loomed closer