The Dialogue Thesaurus: A Fiction Writer's Sourcebook of Dialogue Tags and Phrases (16 page)

she clasped her throat with her hand

she croaked, her throat parched

she felt a cry rising to her throat

she felt a curious constriction in her throat

she felt a fluttering in her throat and put her hand to it

she felt a lump at the back of her throat

she felt a lump come into her throat

she felt a lump in her throat

she felt a nervous tightening in her throat

she felt a pulse flutter in her throat

she felt as if her heart had come into her throat

she felt the breath catch in her throat

she laughed against his throat

she managed to suppress the tears swelling in her throat

she muttered, her dry throat rasping

she nodded, her throat was too dry for speech

she nodded, the breath knocked out of her throat

she put a hand to her throat

she said, feeling a sob rising in her throat

she said, her throat contracting painfully

she said, swallowing the lump forming in her throat

she said, swallowing the lump in her throat

she swallowed as if to ease the lump in her throat

she swallowed a sudden dryness from her throat

she swallowed the dryness from her throat

she swallowed the lump in her throat

she swallowed the lump of (emotion) in her throat

she swallowed the lump that came into her throat

she swallowed the nausea in her throat

she swallowed the nervous dryness from her throat

she whispered, a sob strangled in her throat

she whispered, her throat thick with (emotion)

shyness gripped her throat at the thought of (...)

something between a laugh and a sob escaped from her throat

something quivered in her throat and caught at her upper lip

tears rose up in her throat but she managed to quell them

the breath caught in her throat

the words caught (breathlessly) in her throat

the words half-died in her throat

the words jolted nervously from her throat

the words scraped her throat

the words seemed to catch in her throat

the words seemed to drag themselves from his throat

the words seemed to purr (from/in) his throat

the word tore from her throat

"Why can't you be happy for me?"
A lump came into her throat
.

"Do you really believe in magic?"
He laughed low in his throat
.

"I don't care what you think!"
she said, feeling a sob rising in her throat
.

a flash of temper lighted her eyes

a flicker of irritation and impatience shone in his eyes

a glimmer of laughter came into her eyes

a sardonic smile gleamed in his eyes

amusement glinted in his eyes

as he spoke, his eyes stayed fixed on (...)

(emotion) flickered in his eyes

he asked her, a whimsical look in his eyes

he closed his eyes and tried to think

he gazed down into her eyes

he met her eyes moodily

he narrowed his eyes

he queried, his blue eyes twinkling

he raised his eyes and smiled at her

he raked his eyes over her (adjective) face

her blue eyes blazed into his

he replied slowly, his eyes evading hers

her eyes blazed with (emotion)

her eyes brightened

her eyes brightened at the words

her eyes darkened with pain

her eyes flashed to meet his

her eyes had lit up

her eyes held a flash of shock

her eyes held a puzzled look

her eyes lifted to meet his

her eyes lit up with indignation

her eyes misted with tears

her eyes softened a little

her eyes wavered from his

her eyes were fixed upon him

her eyes were glittering

he rubbed his eyes sleepily

he said, a meaningful look in his eyes

he said, closing his eyes in (emotion)

he said, his eyes fixed on the ground

he said, narrowing his eyes

he said as he stared into her eyes

he shot back, his eyes glittering with anger

he slid his eyes up and down her (adjective) body

he swept his eyes up and down her body

his dark eyes settled directly on hers

his eyes blazed down at her

his eyes dwelt on her lips as she spoke

his eyes flashed ominously

his eyes flicked over her

his eyes focused intently on her face

his eyes glinted

his eyes held her captive

his eyes held hers

his eyes looked stern

his eyes mocked her

his eyes narrowed as he searched her face

his eyes narrowed at the words

his eyes narrowed thoughtfully

his eyes raked hers

his eyes sank, and involuntarily he sighed

his eyes shifted nervously

his eyes shone angrily now

his eyes swept her up and down

his eyes watched her

his eyes were bleak as he looked at her

his eyes were hard and scornful

his eyes were suddenly as cold as ice

hot tears welled into her eyes

said (character), opening her eyes wide

she blushed and her eyes were downcast for a moment

she choked, her eyes (burning/filling) with tears

she could feel his eyes boring through her back

she could feel his eyes probing into her

she couldn't take her eyes away from him

she couldn't take her eyes from his face

she cried, protest in her eyes

she gazed at him with reproving eyes

she glanced up enquiringly into his (adjective) eyes

she looked at him with a desperate appeal in her eyes

she looked him straight in the eyes

she looked up at him with slight surprise in her eyes

she met his eyes

she murmured, her eyes downcast

she raised her eyes and looked at him (adverb)

she raised her eyes to his face

she responded, turning her eyes to the (noun)

she rolled her eyes at him

she said, blinking back tears

she said, dropping her eyes

she said, evading his eyes

she said, her eyes burning with (emotion)

she said, her eyes sparkling with laughter

she said, her eyes suddenly moist (with tears)

she said, trying her best to avoid his eyes

she said with tears in her eyes

she studied him with bright, curious eyes

she was transfixed by his eyes

she went on softly, her eyes on his

she whispered, her eyes wide with fright

she widened her eyes at him

something flashed in his eyes

tears gleamed in her eyes

there was horror in her eyes

triumph gleamed in his eyes

"You're naughty!"
A glimmer of laughter came into her eyes
.

"What did you say he did for a living?"
He narrowed his eyes
.

"You can't treat me like this,"
she cried, protest in her eyes
.

a look of (emotion) flashed over his face

a look of scorn flashed across his face

a mask of reserve seemed to cover her face

a smile creased his face

a smile lit up her face

a smile was spreading over her face

a sudden look of (emotion) passed across the (adjective) face

a teasing smile crossed his face

he agreed, his face like iron

he broke off and a frown clouded his face

he cradled her face in his hands

he flashed a smile at her anxious face

he framed her face with his hands (and looked deeply into her eyes)

he half-turned to face her

he pulled a mocking face at her

he pushed a hand over his face

he remarked, not a vestige of humor showing on his face

he responded, and she could feel his eyes searching her face

her face crinkled in (concern/confusion)

her face grew warm with shame

her face had gone as white as the wall behind her

her face was ashen

her face wrinkled in contempt

he said, cupping her face with both hands

he said, his face looking hard and shadowed

he said with a somber expression on his face

he sat looking at her, his face unreadable

he studied her face for a long moment, then he said

he swung to face her

he turned deliberately to face her

his eyes narrowed as he searched her face

his face (suddenly) became red with shame

his face became livid with anger

his face (darkened/hardened)

his face had a distant look

his face was dark and impassive

his face was grim (with anger)

his face was hard

his face wore a sudden formidable look

his formerly calm face was disturbed by a hard tightening of his jaw

she broke into tears and buried her face in her hands

she broke off as a frown darkened his face

she buried her face against his warm throat

she buried her face in her hands

she could feel her face blushing

she drew her face away from him

she exclaimed, her face flushing bright red

she made a face

she murmured, wiping the tears from her face

she pressed her face against him

she replied with a mutinous look on her face

she said, a shadow of dismay crossing her face

she said, her face bemused

she said, her face blushing in embarrassment

she said, her face crinkling in annoyance

she said, her face showing signs of (agitation/exhaustion/weariness)

she said with her face wrinkled in disgust

she saw a slight smile flicker across his face

she scanned his face

she spoke bravely, though the color had left her face

she stared at her own face in the mirror

she stared at the burnt-gold of his face

she studied his face in the dim light

she touched his face and slowly traced her fingers over his features

she turned her face quickly away

she turned suddenly to face him

she whispered, her face pale at the thought

the color had receded from her face

then his face became stern

"The things people say, eh?"
A smile creased his face
.

"I don't like your attitude,"
he remarked, not a vestige of humor showing on his face
.

"Why are you still here?"
Her face wrinkled in contempt
.

a dash of wild color entered her cheeks

a faint flush tinged her cheeks

a flush stole into her cheeks

a flush stung her cheeks

all the color receded from her cheeks

a pink flush came and went in her cheeks

a smile creased his lean cheek

a tear splashed to her cheek

a tear stole down her cheek