21 Oct 2018

Source: http://ieltsliz.com/body-language-vocabulary/

Facial Expressions

• Avoiding eye contact = shy, worried, lying
• Crinkling nose = disgust
• Deadpan face (without any expression) = emotionless or hiding feelings
• Direct eye contact = confidence
• Eyes staring into the distance = dreamy, not concentrating
• Pressing lips together (tight lipped) = annoyed, angry
• Raised eye brows = doubtful, disbelieving
• Smiling = friendly

Physical Actions

• Arms behind back, shoulders back = confidence
• Arms crossed = defensive or insecure but sometimes it means being angry
• Bowing (bending at the waist) = greeting someone new (in some countries)
• Biting nails = nervous
• Blushing (going red in the cheeks) or stammering (speaking with hesitations and repeated letters) = embarrassment
• Eye rubbing = tired or disbelieving
• Hands covering gaping mouth = scared
• Putting arms up with palms facing forward = submission
• Scratching one’s head = confused
• Shaking the head = negative, no
• Shrugging shoulders (moving shoulders up and down) = don’t know, doubt, confused
• Stroking one’s chin = thinking deeply
• Nodding head = agreement, yes
• Firm handshake = strong and decisive / limp handshake = weak