The Dialogue Thesaurus: A Fiction Writer's Sourcebook of Dialogue Tags and Phrases (14 page)

With the
astuteness
of a scholar, Jonathan reasoned, "Is this not a matter of perception?"

"You can't be that blind," he said,
direct
and to the point.

"The best way to infiltrate is to use a known benefactor," she said,
knowledgeable
about the group's inner workings.

Observant
, David asked, "Isn't there a possibility of overload?"

Shrewd
and
unfazed
, Helen said, "I gladly accept your proposal."

adamant; anarchic; antagonistic; antisocial; argumentative; bossy; bratty; bullheaded; cantankerous; close-minded; combative; contumacious; defiant; determined; disagreeable; disobedient; dogged; dogmatic; formidable; hard-headed; imperious; impertinent; implacable; inflexible; intransigent; mulish; mutinous; noncompliant; nonconforming; obstinate; obstreperous; obtrusive; offensive; opinionated; opposed; persevering; persistent; petulant; pigheaded; rebellious; recalcitrant; refractory; resolute; resolved; rigid; singleminded; stubborn; territorial; unbending; uncompliant; uncompromising; uncooperative; unreceptive; unrelenting; unshakable; unwavering; unwilling; unyielding; willful.

"You need to stay out of my business," she said in a
bossy
tone of voice.

"Leave my stuff alone," he said,
cantankerous
.

"Give it your best shot, buddy," the old man said,
determined
to stand his ground.

Feeling
rebellious
, Alison let loose. "You're not going to tell me what to do!"

"I'm not leaving without it," Martin said,
uncooperative
.

believable; candid; conspicuous; correct; faithful; forthright; frank; genuine; guileless; honest; ingenuous; innocent; just; justified; kosher; open; outspoken; realistic; reliable; righteous; scrupulous; sincere; trusting; trustworthy; truthful; unaffected; unreserved; virtuous.

"I'm telling you the truth," he said, trying to sound
genuine
.

With an
innocent
look on her face, she said, "I think you're confusing me with someone else."

Feeling
righteous
, Eric replied, "There are people here tonight who are trying to deceive you."

"No harm will come to you while I'm around," he said with
sincerity
.

"I would never do such a thing," she said,
virtuous
.

broadcasting; burying; cloaking; concealing; covering up; disguising; displaying; disregarding; exhibiting; exposing; exuding; feeling; giving off; gripped by; harboring; hiding; hinting (about/at/that); holding back; ignoring; in; masking; oozing; quashing; radiating; revealing; showing; smothering; sounding; squashing; stifling; suppressing; with.

"I'm so happy for you both," she said,
concealing
her bitterness.

"Their flight is late," he said,
feeling
nervous.

"You're amazing, Judy," she said
in
awe.

"We still have a few more minutes," Jay said,
sounding
anxious.

"I can't wait to see them," she said
with
enthusiasm.

acknowledged; agonized over; believed; boiled; bristled; brooded; cerebrated; cogitated; conceptualized; concluded; considered; contemplated; daydreamed; decided; deduced; deliberated; doubted; dwelled upon; envisioned; evaluated; examined; fancied; fantasized; figured; fretted; fumed; fussed; hoped; imagined; introspected; knew; lamented; meditated on; moped; mulled over; mused; perceived; pictured; planned; pondered; puzzled over; questioned; rationalized; realized; reasoned; reflected; regarded; repined; ruminated; schemed; seethed; speculated; stewed over; studied; sulked; theorized; thought; vexed; visualized; wondered.

Perhaps it's for the best, she
concluded
.

He
considered
what this all meant.

Jane
doubted
he'd really go through with it.

For a moment, she
pondered
whether she should avoid him at the dance.

Was this injury going to lead to his retirement? Michael
wondered
.

he caught her up in his arms

he put his arms around her

he said, cradling her in his arms

he said, drawing her into his arms

he said, folding his arms across his chest

he said, folding his arms defiantly

he said, his arms (dropping/falling) to his sides

he said, his arm slackening from around her

he said, his arms tightly around her

he said, swinging her up in his arms

he said as he lifted her into his arms

he swept her up in his arms

he touched her arm

he withdrew his arm from around her waist

his arms tightened around her

she attempted to pull away from him, but his arm tightened around her

she felt him slide his arm around her waist

she rubbed the goosebumps from her arms

she said, brushing his arm away

she said, clutching his arm

she said, cuddling her arms around her body

she said, folding her arms behind her head

she said, her arms crossed over her chest

she said, her arms encircling his neck

she said, her arms folded defiantly across her chest

she said, her arms spreading wide

she said, raising her arms in surrender

she said, raising her arms over her head

"Everything is going to be fine,"
he said, drawing her into his arms
.

His arms tightened around her
. "You're not going anywhere."

"Don't leave me alone with her,"
she said, clutching his arm
.

he asked, his fingers seeking the (...)

he closed her fingers over the (...)

he ordered with a snap of his fingers

her fingers clenched

her fingers curled around his

her fingers wrenched free of his

he said, his fingers pressing into her tender flesh

he said, his fingers tightening on hers

he said, his fingertips traveling down her arm to her hand

he said, pointing a finger at (...)

he snapped his fingers

his fingers brushed her arm

his fingers closed around hers

his fingers dug into her

his fingers gripped her chin

his fingers gripped hers

his fingers gripped hers as she tried to pull away

his fingers gripped her wrist tightly

his fingers slid down her arm, leaving their warmth on her skin

his fingers slid down to her wrist

his fingers tightened on her arm

his lean fingers enclosed hers

she said, her fingernails digging into his (arm/back/shoulder)

she stroked a finger against his cheek

she touched a finger to (...)

she touched her fingertips to (her/his) lips

she traced a fingertip over (...)

"Would you like a drink?"
he asked, his fingers seeking the
light switch.

He snapped his fingers
. "Charles, get me a drink."

His fingers gripped her wrist tightly
. "I need you here with me."

as she spoke, he placed his strong hands on her waist

he extended a hand

he handed her a (...)

he held out his right hand

he held up a hand

he lifted a hand and removed his sunglasses

he raised a hand and stroked his jaw

he reached out a hand

he reached out and took her firmly by the hand

he rested a hand on her arm

her fingernails dug into the palms of her hands

her hands clenched into fists

her hands crept together in her lap

her hands gripped each other (in her lap)

her hand shook as she reached for it

he said, handing her (...)

he said, his hands gripping (...)

he said, holding out a hand

he said, holding out his palm

he said, throwing out a hand toward (...)

he stretched out a beckoning hand

he swept a hand around the room

he took her by the hand

he took hold of her (left/right) hand

his hands thrust into the pockets of his (...)

his hands tightened on her arms

his hands took hold of hers

she broke into tears and buried her face in her hands

she buried her face in her hands

she could feel her hand shaking

she extended a hand across the table

she felt her palms growing clammy

she felt his hand cup her elbow

she held out a hand to him and he took it

she placed the (object) in his palm

she raised her hand in protest

she rested a hand on her hip

she said, clenching her hands at her sides

she said, handing him a (...)

she said, her palms growing clammy

she said, letting go of his hand

she said, shaking his hand

she spread her hands

she stood there with her hands in the pockets of her (...)

she waved a hand

she waved a hand towards the (...)

withdrawing her hand from his, she said

He extended a hand
. "Come with me."

"Take your excuses elsewhere."
Her hands clenched into fists
.

"Are you sure no one else is here?"
She felt her palms growing clammy
.

a (burst/rush) of heat ran over her body

a cold sweat filmed her body

a cold tremor ran through her body

a rush of (emotion) stormed through her body

a shiver of emotion ran through her body

a shiver ran through her body

as she stood there a tremor shook her body

a tremor shook her body

(emotion) stirred through her body

every fiber of her body was taut with (emotion)

every nerve in her body seemed to (cry out/shrink)

he felt (emotion) in every fiber of his body

he felt as if every single muscle in his body was on fire

he felt a sudden chill sweep through his body

he let his gaze wander slowly down her body

her body felt as if it was floating

her body felt as if it were on fire

her body felt cold

her body reacted to his words

her body tensed

her body tensed and her mind cried a warning

her body was rigid with tension

her body went rigid hearing the words

her body went tense with shock

her entire body was vibrating to the thump of her heart

her heart thumped and a quiver ran through her body

her nerves tingled throughout her body

her tired body slumped against (...)

he said, his body pressing against hers

he said, pressing her close to the warmth of his body

he said, pressing her to his body

his entire body seemed to tauten

his touch moved down her body to her hand

pain shot upwards through her body

panic spread through her body

perspiration pricked his body

she felt (emotion) with every atom of her body