Unit 9: Describing people: appearance and mannerisms

Question 1

Thin in an attractive way

Answer 1

slender

• She introduced me to a tall, slender woman who looked very serious.

Question 2

Unattractively thin and bony-looking

Answer 2

scrawny

• He was too scrawny to be a football player.

Question 3

Very tall and thin, often moving awkwardly

Answer 3

lanky

• A lanky teenager walked in.

Question 4

often used of men and boys

Tall, with long, thin arms and legs, moving awkwardly

Answer 4

gangling/gangly

• A gangly youth approached him.

Question 5

Increased in body size, especially muscle

Answer 5

bulked up

• Rob has really bulked up since college.

Question 6

Thin and healthy

Answer 6

lean

• He used to be so lean and wiry.

Question 7

Thin but strong

Answer 7

wiry

• He has a wiry frame but looks very strong.

Question 8

Untidy or scruffy

Answer 8

unkempt

• He still looks so unkempt after all these years.

Question 9

Always well-dressed and neat

Answer 9

never a hair out of place

• She always has immaculate clothes and never a hair out of place.

Question 10

In perfect condition, smart

Answer 10

immaculate

• Her clothes were always immaculate.

Question 11

Dark-coloured, used about skin

Answer 11

swarthy

• He has a rather swarthy complexion.

Question 12

Yellowish complexion

Answer 12

sallow

• Her skin looked sallow and unhealthy.

Question 13

Looking ill and tired

Answer 13

haggard

• He looked haggard and exhausted.

Question 14

Giving a big smile

Answer 14

grinning

• What are you grinning at?

Question 15

Positioning lips attractively

Answer 15

pouting

• Look at those models pouting for the photographers!

Question 16

Positioning lips in annoyance

Answer 16

pout

• She pouts if she doesn’t get her way.

Question 17

Expression of pain or strong dislike

Answer 17

grimace

• You don’t have to grimace every time I eat garlic.

Question 18

to look at someone angrily

Answer 18

scowl

• She scowled at me when I arrived late.

Question 19

to look at someone in an unpleasant and sexually interested way

Answer 19

leer

• He was leering at us, making us uncomfortable.

Question 20

Lifting shoulders to show not knowing

Answer 20

shrugged

• He shrugged his shoulders when asked for advice.

Question 21

Crossing arms over the body

Answer 21

fold arms

• He folded his arms and waited for me to speak.

Question 22

to make small nervous movements

Answer 22

twitch

• He was twitching nervously during the interview.

Question 23

Biting fingernails often

Answer 23

bites her nails

• She bites her nails all the time.

Question 24

Closing hand tightly in anger

Answer 24

clench

• She clenched her fist and shouted at him.

Question 25

Making quick, light movements with fingers

Answer 25

tapping/drumming fingers

• He kept drumming his fingers on the table.