Mannerisms

The following is a list of mannerisms that comes in handy while writing. 

What comes to mind when you think of mannerisms? 

Who do you see and what are they doing?

Here's the list!

• Biting fingernails

• Jiggling leg up and down

• Tapping foot

• Twirling hair

• Running fingers through hair or tucking hair behind ear. 

• Smacking gum

• Whistling

• Slurping

• Burping

• Yawning

• Glancing at watch

• Talking with a full mouth

• Potty mouth

• Eye-rolling

• Constantly apologizing

• Snapping fingers

• Cracking knuckles (cliche)

• Humming

• Stuttering

• Apprehension: Locked ankles
• Anticipation: Rubbing hands
• Anger, frustration, apprehension: Hands clasped behind back
• Boredom: Prolonged tilted head, Sitting with legs crossed, foot kicking slightly, Head resting in hand, eyes downcast
• Confidence, superiority: Sitting with hands clasped behind head, legs crossed. Brisk, erect walk
• Doubt, disbelief: Rubbing the eye.
• Defensive: Arms crossed on chest.
• Dejection: Walking with hands in pockets, shoulders hunched.
• Looks down, face turned away in disbelief.
• Evaluation, thinking: Hand to cheek.
• Impatience: Tapping or drumming fingers.
• Interest: Quickly tilted head
• Insecurity, nervousness: Biting nails
• Indecision: Pulling or tugging at ear
• Lack of self-confidence; insecurity: Patting/fondling hair
• Negative evaluation: Pinching bridge of nose, eyes closed.
• Open, relaxed: Sitting, legs apart
• Readiness, aggression: Standing with hands on hips
• Rejection, doubt, lying: Touching, slightly rubbing nose
• Opens his palm, sincere and innocent.
• Strokes chin, tries to decide.

• Licking lips

• Sniffing

• Squinting

• Applying Chap Stick to lips

• Picking at nail polish

• Raising eyebrows as they speak

• Winking

• Pulling at bottom lip

• Pinching skin

• Rubbing hands together

• Pointing

• Rubbing eyes/chin

• Twirling a ring around finger

• Picking at facial hair—eyebrows/eye lashes/moustache

• Excessive eye blinking

• Shifts in their seat when nervous

• Cross/uncross legs

• Clicking or tapping teeth with a nail

• Shrugging

• Slapping people on the back

• Jaw clenching/jaw muscle jerking (mainly a male attribute)

• Gesturing a lot when speaking

• Slouching

• Putting their feet on a desk or table

• Toying with objects before them

• Chewing on their pencil

• Chewing bottom lip

• Speech patterns 

• Nervous cough

• Picking at teeth

• Saluting

• Constantly touching up makeup using a compact mirror

• Constantly checking cell phone for messages (text or voice)

• High pitch/low raspy voice depending on mood

• Sliding the tip of one's index fingernail up and down along the side of the thumb beside it

 • Playing with their glasses (spectacles) either pushing them up their nose or taking them off and twirling then by one of the arms.