Mouth Cues

Question 1

Pursed lips (or sucking your lips)

Answer 1

stress, holding back something, trying to control facial expressions, intimidated, restrained smile, disagreement, disbelief

Question 2

Mouth shrug (upside-down smile)

Answer 2

I have nothing to say, I don’t know, It’s nothing to do with me, I don’t understand, lack of confidence, helplessness, humbleness, bravery

Question 3

Down-mouth expression (A more permanent mouth shrug)

Answer 3

unhappy, despondent, depressed, angry, stressed

Question 4

Lower lip biting

Answer 4

sexual attraction, wanting to say something but can’t or shouldn’t

Question 5

Upper lip biting

Answer 5

nervousness, anxiety

Question 6

Pouting (Puckered lips/pushed-out lips)

Answer 6

manipulative move when something doesn’t go their way, distress, sadness, frustration, vulnerability

Question 7

Bulging lips (bulging cheeks and blowing air out)

Answer 7

manipulative move when something doesn’t go their way, distress, sadness, frustration, vulnerability

Question 8

Lip quivering

Answer 8

fear response, discomfort, concerned, fearful, experience other issues

Question 9

Sucked-in lips (disappearing)

Answer 9

high stress, anxiety

Question 10

Parting lips

Answer 10

wants to speak, attraction

Question 11

Licking lips

Answer 11

interest, attraction, dry lips, stress, lying

Question 12

Upper-lip tongue rubbing

Answer 12

positive, stress

Question 13

Tongue sticking out

Answer 13

playful, mistake, getting away with something

Question 14

Sticking tongue out to side of mouth

Answer 14

concentration, being rude

Question 15

Tongue sloshing (moving tongue back and forth from corner to corner of our open mouth)

Answer 15

thinking, stuck on problem, struggling

Question 16

Licking teeth (back or front)

Answer 16

aggression

Question 17

Teeth tapping

Answer 17

stress, boredom, frustration

Question 18

Tongue in cheek

Answer 18

nervousness, want to hide or get away with something, playful

Question 19

Fingertip on lip

Answer 19

seduction, self-soothing, thinking, contemplating

Question 20

Covering mouth

Answer 20

stress, uncertainty, self-soothing

Question 21

Touching the philtrum

Answer 21

low confidence, anxiety, shyness, doubt, concern, hesitant to speak

Question 22

Palm over mouth

Answer 22

surprise, polite if laughing or eating

Question 23

Putting objects in mouth (nail biting, gum chewing, biting glasses, putting pencil/pen in mouth, biting nails, or cigarette, cigar sucking)

Answer 23

self-soothing, anxious, tense, stressed, impatient, attraction

Question 24

Small gasp of air

Answer 24

upset, feeling defeated, frustrated, pain, desires to talk

Question 25

Large gasp of air

Answer 25

something unbelievable, extremely shocked

Question 26

Sigh of air (letting out some air)

Answer 26

disappointment, relief

Question 27

Cathartic exhale (puffs out their cheeks and holds lips tight)

Answer 27

relief

Question 28

Whistling

Answer 28

relief, happiness, flirting

Question 29

Mouth stretching (expose the bottom row of clenched teeth)

Answer 29

mistake, forgetting

Question 30

Mouth wide open (lips form oval shape)

Answer 30

surprise, agony, alarmed

Question 31

Yawning

Answer 31

tired, stressed, bored, frustrated, relief, hot