(Discover even more words in The Writer’s Body Lexicon.)

Effective Writing Agrees With Itself

In real life, scowls, smiles, and curled lips reflect underlying emotions. They should do the same in fiction or creative nonfiction.

• A protagonist in pain is unlikely to smile.
• A deceitful character probably won’t maintain eye contact with others.

This post will help you choose emotion beats that harmonize with context. In addition to facial expressions, the following list includes body language involving the face, head, and neck.

See also:

100+ Ways to Say Blush
100+ Ways to Say Cried
200+ Ways to Say Embarrassed
500+ Ways to Describe Faces
200+ Ways to Say Frown or Scowl
300+ Ways to Say Happy
99 Ways to Say Laughed or Smiled
125 Ways to Say Look or See
600+ Ways to Describe Necks
Other Ways to Say Nodded
120 Ways to Say Pout
200 Ways to Say Shake the Head
300+ Ways to Say Sigh
Too Many Sighs of Relief in Your Writing? 75 Alternatives

Emotion Beats and Physical Manifestations Cheat Sheet

Each category heading is followed by several ways a character could show the mentioned emotion(s).

Agony, pain, suffering
– prominent lines between the eyebrows
– gaze directed downward
– raised lips
– raised cheeks
– eyes squeezed shut
– wrinkled nose
– bared teeth
– clenched jaw
– grimacing
– wincing
– gritting teeth
– massaging between one’s eyebrows
– inside corners of eyebrows slanting upward

Anger, hostility
– bulging eyes
– dilated nostrils
– clenched jaw
– red face
– icy stare
– curled lip
– rigid cords in neck
– glaring
– frowning or scowling
– baring one’s teeth
– grinding teeth
– staring somebody down
– pressing one’s lips firmly together
– vein(s) pulsing in neck or temple

Anguish
– skin bunching around the eyes
– clenched jaw
– pinched lips
– sallow features
– facial tics
– visible cord(s) in neck
– tensing one’s facial muscles
– wincing
– grinding teeth
– hyperventilating and then blowing into a paper bag

Apathy, boredom, disinterest, indifference
– blank stare
– glazed eyes
– minimal eye contact
– yawning
– closing or half-closing one’s eyes
– propping one’s head in hands
– picking one’s nose
– focusing on anything or anyone except where attention should be focused (e.g., fingernails, watch, clothing, etc.)

Cautiousness, wariness
– cocked head
– narrowed eyes
– pursed lips
– lowered eyebrows
– lifting one’s chin
– jutting one’s jaw
– chewing on one’s lip
– pressing one’s lips together
– frowning
– gritting one’s teeth
– gazing in direction of perceived hazard
– glances darting about rather than focusing on anything in particular

Compassion, sympathy
– sad smile
– direct eye contact
– wide eyes
– brows pulled together
– moist eyes
– tears
– wiping one’s nose with a tissue
– nodding while listening, one’s mouth half-open
– monitoring the face of the object of sympathy

Conceit, egotism, narcissism, vanity
– pronounced lip-pursing
– thrust-out chin
– nose in the air
– flawless makeup
– one raised eyebrow
– tweezed eyebrows
– signs of plastic surgery
– downturned corners of the mouth
– supercilious gaze through half-lidded eyes
– immaculately trimmed beard and mustache

Concentration
– wide eyes
– dilated pupils
– slight frown
– staring with half-lidded eyes
– nodding
– pursing one’s lips
– making eye contact when listening or conversing
– pressing index finger to one’s cheek and propping chin on rest of clenched fingers

Confusion
– wrinkled nose
– cocked head
– unfocused gaze
– grimacing
– excessive swallowing
– scratching one’s face
– rubbing one’s chin
– touching the base of one’s neck
– pursing one’s lips
– cocking one’s head
– narrowing one’s eyes
– tugging on an earlobe
– chewing on one’s lip
– rapid blinking
– squinting
– pulling one’s brows together in a frown or scowl

Contempt, disgust
– nose in the air
– wrinkled nose
– downturned lips
– pinched mouth
– mocking smile
– flushing
– sneering or snarling
– curling one’s upper lip
– squinting
– frowning
– rolling one’s  eyes
– arching one eyebrow
– sticking out one’s tongue
– vein(s) pulsing in neck or temple

Curiosity
– cocked head
– raised eyebrows
– quizzical smile
– focused gaze
– wrinkled nose
– blinking
– pushing up one’s glasses
– partially opening one’s lips

Deceit, deception, dishonesty
– shifty eyes
– avoidance of eye contact
– misleading attempt to maintain eye contact
– sweating
– excessive blinking
– reddening of the ears
– biting one’s fingernails
– chewing the inside of one’s mouth
– rubbing one’s nose
– making inappropriate facial expressions for the circumstances

Depression
– tears
– inappropriate laughter
– lack of eye contact
– infrequent blinking
– red or moist eyes
– vacant stare
– downturned lips
– slack expression
– dark circles under the eyes
– head tilted downward

Disappointment, frustration
– crinkled eyes
– lowered head
– half-hearted smile
– lips pressed together
– pronounced sigh
– lack of eye contact
– moist eyes
– rigid expression
– shaking one’s head
– grinding one’s teeth
– biting one’s nails
– swallowing hard
– gaping
– frowning or scowling
– wincing
– chewing on one’s lip
– pressing one’s lips together
– exhaling noisily through pursed lips

Distraction, preoccupation
– audible exhalations
– facial tics
– darting glances
– pale face
– forced laughter
– lips pressed together
– grinding one’s teeth
– sighing
– glancing askance (sideways)
– chewing on one’s lips, nails, or a personal object

Embarrassment, shame
– downturned head
– downward gaze
– red ears
– chin held close to body
– minimal eye contact
– tense muscles around closed mouth
– blushing or flushing
– trembling chin
– frowning
– fluttering eyes
– biting one’s lip
– glancing away
– sweating
– grimacing
– coughing
– wincing
– gritting one’s teeth
– swallowing hard
– hiding one’s eyes or face behind hands, hair, hat, etc.

Envy, jealousy
– downturned mouth
– jutting chin
– bared teeth
– flared nostrils
– pouting
– squinting
– frequent swallowing
– chewing on one’s bottom lip
– flushing
– glowering
– pressing one’s lips together in firm line
– gritting teeth
– sneering
– scrutinizing object of envy or jealousy

Excitement
– flashing eyes
– dilated pupils
– broad grin
– dimpled smile
– trembling chin
– laughing
– frequent blinking
– flushing
– giggling
– initiating and maintaining eye contact

Exhaustion, fatigue
– dark circles under the eyes
– red eyes
– inability to keep one’s eyes open
– pronounced lines in face
– wan face
– yawning
– slapping one’s cheeks in an effort to stay awake
– closing one’s eyes while standing, and almost falling over

Fear
– brows raised and pulled together
– eyes frozen open
– pale, trembling features
– facial tics
– lack of eye contact
– darting glances
– beads of sweat on face
– bulging eyes
– moist eyes
– shaky smile
– open mouth
– raised brows
– rictus grin (involuntary fake smile)
– rapid blinking
– squinting
– licking one’s lips
– vein(s) pulsing in neck or temple
– chewing on one’s hair, a pen, or another personal object

Flirtatiousness, seductiveness
– fluttering eyelashes
– coy smile
– lopsided grin
– slightly narrowed eyes
– open mouth with tip of tongue showing
– moistening one’s lips with tongue
– head turned away or slightly downturned while one maintains eye contact

Happiness, enthusiasm
– laughter
– dimpled smile
– broad smile
– sparkling eyes
– winking
– humming or singing
– whistling
– a smile that reaches the eyes
– relaxed brow free of frown lines
– crow’s feet around outer corners of eyes

Hatred, hostility
– sideways glances
– tight-lipped smiles
– flared nostrils
– clenched jaw
– bared teeth
– tears
– beads of sweat on face
– flushing
– grinding teeth
– vein(s) pulsing in neck or temple
– rigid cord(s) in neck
– snarling
– sneering
– spitting
– glowering at object of one’s hostility

Hesitation, indecision, uncertainty
– lips turned down
– lopsided grimace
– wrinkled brow
– shaky smile
– repeated swallowing
– chewing one’s lip
– biting the inside of one’s cheek
– squinting
– frowning or scowling
– tugging on one’s bottom lip
– rubbing or stroking one’s jaw
– shaking one’s head slightly
– tugging at one’s earlobes or hair
– scrutinizing others to determine their opinion

Insecurity
– excessive makeup
– tight-lipped smile
– lowered eyebrows
– puckered forehead
– minimal eye contact
– biting one’s nails
– chewing on one’s lips
– frowning or scowling

Insolence, rudeness, disrespect
– thumbing one’s nose at someone
– sticking out one’s tongue
– snorting
– curling one’s lip
– rolling one’s eyes
– openly picking one’s nose
– laughing at someone
– yawning while someone is talking
– refusing to face the person who is speaking

Irritability, petulance, sulkiness
– lips pressed together
– pursed lips
– fake smile
– forced laughter
– narrowed eyes
– small flushed circles on cheeks
– gritting one’s teeth
– squinting
– frowning or scowling
– glaring at the object of irritation
– biting the inside of one’s cheek

Nostalgia
– unfocused gaze
– touch of a smile
– moist eyes
– tears
– cocked head
– sparkling eyes
– closed eyes

Pessimism
– wrinkled nose
– knitted brows
– pursed lips
– curled lip
– staring
– squinting
– grinding one’s teeth
– frowning or scowling
– tilting one’s head and looking askance (sideways)

Pride [in oneself]
– dimpled grin
– face-wide smile
– Cheshire cat grin [cliché]
– gleaming eyes
– half-lidded eyes
– elevated chin
– maintaining eye contact
– thrusting one’s jaw forward
– holding one’s head high or tilting it back

Pride [in someone else]
– moist eyes
– tilted head
– dimpled grin
– adoring gaze
– glowing cheeks
– broad smile
– nods of encouragement
– tears trickling down face

Relaxation
– gentle smile
– smooth forehead
– creases beside the eyes
– a smile that reaches the eyes
– direct eye contact without staring but with minimal blinking

Remorse, regret
– head down while one is talking
– moist eyes
– pale face
– hollowed cheeks
– runny nose
– trembling chin
– dark circles under the eyes
– sobbing or crying
– staring at one’s toes
– holding one’s head in one’s hands

Resentfulness
– pinched lips
– narrowed eyes
– lack of eye contact
– twisted mouth
– curled lip
– bared teeth
– frowning or scowling
– pouting
– shaking one’s head
– orange-peel consistency appearing on skin of tightened chin

Sadism
– curled lip
– evil grin
– clenched jaw
– bared teeth
– twisted scowl
– horizontal wrinkles between eyebrows
– lips stretched so tightly over teeth that they seem to disappear

Sadness, unhappiness
– downturned head
– red eyes
– moist eyes
– puffy face
– runny makeup
– splotchy complexion
– trembling chin
– empty stare
– drawn-down corners of the mouth
– pouting
– squinting
– rubbing one’s eyes
– staring at floor
– crying
– wiping one’s nose with a tissue
– wincing
– covering one’s face with the hands
– holding one’s head in one’s hands
– staring at toes or floor

Secrecy, stealthiness
– sly smile
– faraway look
– winking
– biting one’s lip
– avoiding eye contact
– forcing one’s lips closed into a firm line

Shyness
– minimal eye contact
– closed mouth
– biting one’s lip
– glancing away
– lowering one’s head
– looking down
– biting one’s nails
– blushing
– covering one’s mouth with a hand
– playing with one’s hair or mustache

Surprise
– raised and curved brows
– wrinkles across the forehead
– gaping jaw
– wide eyes with the whites showing
– blinking

Worry
– tight-lipped smile
– knitted brows
– puckered forehead
– moist eyes
– minimal eye contact
– dark circles under the eyes
– biting one’s nails
– chewing on one’s lip
– rubbing an eyebrow
– kneading one’s face
– blinking

If you need additional beats, consult a body language dictionary. (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Avoid Boilerplate Beats

Whenever possible, create original phrases rather than rely on generic beats. For example, a slight smile could be referred to as an almost smile, the ghost of a smile, or an enigmatic quirk of the lips.

If you’re stuck for a facial expression, try a YouTube search similar to the following: facial expressions __________, where the blank specifies the expression you’d like to see. Then, fire up your creativity to show the emotion behind that expression.

Context Is Crucial

Many emotion beats can be caused by multiple emotions. Ensure that your context provides clear direction for readers.