# What is the word for this body expression? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 8, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-for-this-body-expression/363639 "2006-07-08T16:01:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-for-this-body-expression/363639/1 "2006-07-08T16:01:04Z")
Hold your hands upwards, with arms bent and elbows by your sides, shrug and make your mouth wide (but closed) so you dimple your cheeks. What on earth is that called? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-for-this-body-expression/363639/2 "2006-07-08T16:33:55Z")
That’s called a “shrug.” To describe it more completely, you’re going to have to use more than one word. “He threw his hands up and shrugged, his face a mask of comic impotence.” If you want to fit the whole thing into a single noun, you’re going to have to ask a German. _hunches shoulders, faces palms skyward, lowers head and adopts a facial expression intended to convey friendly dismay at being unable to be more helpful_ ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-for-this-body-expression/363639/3 "2006-07-08T23:27:40Z")
“uh-nuh-uh?” ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-for-this-body-expression/363639/4 "2006-07-09T00:36:48Z")
“In answer to the question, she mimed WTF.” ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-for-this-body-expression/363639/5 "2006-07-09T00:38:20Z")
The facial part of it could be characterized as a moue. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-for-this-body-expression/363639/6 "2006-07-09T13:30:30Z")
I would describe it as a “supplicatory grimace” ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-for-this-body-expression/363639/7 "2006-07-09T14:14:24Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Mudd] If you want to fit the whole thing into a single noun, you’re going to have to ask a German. [/QUOTE] _Aufgedimpleschrug?_ I asked Sid Caesar’s German professor. ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-for-this-body-expression/363639/8 "2006-07-14T15:30:33Z")
[QUOTE=Brain Wreck] I would describe it as a “supplicatory grimace” [/QUOTE] Hmm. Not bad.