The Dialogue Thesaurus: A Fiction Writer's Sourcebook of Dialogue Tags and Phrases (18 page)

"She likes you."
A smile crinkled her mouth
.

"Did they see you?"
Her mouth went dry
.

There was a twist to his mouth
. "Tomorrow will be different."

he breathed deeply

he broke off and took a deep breath

he drew a deep, audible breath

he drew a deep, harsh breath

he drew in his breath sharply

her breath caught on a sigh

her breath caught sharply in her throat

her breath quickened

he said, his warm breath fanning her skin

he said, slowly releasing his breath

he slowly released his breath

he took a deep breath

he whispered, his warm breath against her temple

his breath stirred against her neck

his breath stirred her hair

his warm breath fanned her skin

she barely breathed the word

she breathed

she breathed a quiet sigh of relief

she breathed the words

she caught her breath

she caught her breath, shocked

she caught her breath audibly

she drew a breathless sigh

she drew a shaky breath

she felt the breath catch in her throat

she gasped for breath

she gave a breathless laugh

she held her breath

she paused for breath

she said, catching her breath

she said, her breathing quickening

she said breathlessly

she spoke breathlessly

she took a deep, steadying breath

she took a deep breath of air

she waited breathlessly for his reply

she was breathing quickly now

the breath caught in her throat

"Is Helen alright?"
He drew a deep, audible breath
.

"Let's go out tonight,"
he said, his warm breath fanning her skin
.

She was breathing quickly now
. "Kiss me!"

a brief laugh broke from her

a laugh broke through her lips

he answered with a soft laugh

he gave a brief laugh

he gave a gruff laugh

he gave an exasperated laugh

he gave a shaken laugh

he gave a small derisive laugh

he laughed against her throat

he laughed as he spoke

he laughed at the very idea

he laughed lazily

he laughed low (down) in his throat

he laughed to himself (in satisfaction)

he laughingly murmured

he laughingly shook his head

her laughter rang out

he said, with a slight laugh

he said with an indulgent laugh

he said with a shrug and a laugh

he softly laughed

he was actually laughing as he said it

he was laughing at her

he was laughing deep in his throat

laughter came into her eyes

she broke into a short laugh

she broke into spontaneous laughter

she broke in with a laugh

she couldn't help but laugh

she forced a laugh

she gave a scoffing laugh

she gave a throaty little laugh

she had to laugh

she half laughed

she heard a little laugh escape him

she heard him laugh

she laughed

she laughed back

she laughed in confusion

she laughed shyly

she made herself laugh

she met his eyes and gave a nervous laugh

she said with a laugh

she was shaking with laughter

the woman laughed with delight

"You win,"
he answered with a soft laugh
.

"Of course not!"
He laughingly shook his head
. "What do you take me for?"

"Is it always like this?"
She laughed shyly
.

a (adjective) smile came and went on her lips

a (adjective) smile clung to his lips

a cynical smile twisted his lips

a sardonic smile flickered on his lips

a smile flickered on her lips

a smile played about his lips

a smile ran around his lips

a smile took possession of her lips

a smile tugged at her lips

a smile was on the edge of his lips

as soon as the words escaped from her lips, she wished she could take them back

as soon as the words escaped her lips she regretted them

a sudden sigh escaped from her lips

a thin smile edged his lips

a tremor of a smile (came to/touched) her lips

a vagrant smile touched her lips

he allowed his lips to quirk

he buried his lips in her hair

he pressed a napkin to his lips

he replied, a grin on his lips

her lips asked the question

her lips curled like flames

her lips fell apart

her lips formed an oval of surprise

her lips moved in a smile

her lips quivered

her lips trembled around the words

her lips trembled into a smile

her lips twisted with scorn

her lips were tense around the words

her lips were thin with rage

her lips were tremulous

her name broke from his lips

he said, a curl to his lips

he said, a mocking little smile playing (about/on) his lips

he said, a wry smile touching his lips

he said, his eyes fixed upon her lips

he said, slipping a (...) between his lips

he said, smoke curling from his lips

his eyes dwelt on her lips

his fingers came to her lips as she spoke

his lips brushed across her forehead

his lips brushed her cheek

his lips curled

his lips curled (slowly) into a smile

his lips curled around the words

his lips curled in self-appreciative amusement

his lips expressed amusement

his lips moved in a momentary smile

his lips quirked

his lips twisted when she said that

his lips twitched

his lips were drawn into a thin line

his lips were edged by a faintly mocking smile

his lips were quirking as his gaze drifted to her (...)

his voice brought a reluctant smile to her lips

she (dampened/eased/licked/moistened/wet) her dry lips with the tip of her tongue

she bit her lip

she felt his lips against her (forehead/lashes/temple)

she felt his lips touch her hair

she forced a smile to her lips

she huffed, her lips sewn into a grimace

she laid a hand to his lips

she moistened her lips

she pouted her lips at him

she raised her glass to her lips

she said, (blotting/dabbing) her lips with (...)

she said, and a tremor shook her lips

she said, a wry smile lifting the corners of her lips

she said, her lips tremulous

she said, laughter breaking through her lips

she said, pursing her lips

she said, turning away from the smile on his lips

she said with a little twist to her lips

she shaped her lips into a smile

she spoke through pursed lips

smoke curled from his lips (as he spoke)

smoke drifted (lazily) from his lips

the question came from the lips of (...)

the retort sprang to her lips of its own accord

the words faded on her lips when she (...)

the words leapt to her lips

the words left her lips before she could stop them

A thin smile edged his lips
. "Are we having fun yet?"

She moistened her lips
. "Is this really necessary, Donald?"

"I see you don't agree."
She spoke through pursed lips
.

for a moment longer he smiled

he (adverb) smiled

he nodded and slowly smiled

her eyes flashed, and then she smiled

her smile faded

he said, and they smiled at one another

he shot a grin at her

he smiled (adverb) to himself

he smiled, almost to himself

he smiled, and a hint of arrogance glimmered in his eyes

he smiled, as if reading her thoughts

he smiled, but his eyes were empty

he smiled, taking in (...)

he smiled, uncaring that she (...)

he smiled, unsurprised that (...)

he smiled a brief sardonic smile

he smiled a little

he smiled as he said it

he smiled as if he enjoyed the thought of (...)

he smiled at her

he smiled at her exclamation of delight

he smiled at her flight of fancy

he smiled at her insistence

he smiled at the thought

he smiled at the way (she/her) (...)

he smiled back

he smiled down at her (with brief amusement)

he smiled down at her, his teeth glimmering against his dark skin

he smiled down deliberately into her eyes

he smiled grimly as (...)

he smiled in his grave way

he smiled into her (eyes/face)

he smiled rather dangerously

he smiled through his cigarette smoke

he smiled through narrowed eyes

he smiled up at her impudently

he smiled wistfully upon her

he smiled with a touch of mockery

he smiled with his lips, but his eyes (remained/revealed) (...)

he smiled with satisfaction

his eyes closed, and he smiled to himself

his lips smiled faintly

his lips smiled slowly in self-appreciative amusement

she braved his eyes and smiled (adverb)

she forced a (demure) smile

she grimaced as she smiled

she half smiled (at the thought)

she slowly shook her head and smiled

she smiled (adverb)

she smiled, and then sighed

she smiled, but deep inside she (...)

she smiled, but it ached a little on her mouth

she smiled, but she was thinking to herself that (...)

she smiled, grateful for (...)

she smiled, recalling that (...)

she smiled, revealing a dimple in her (left/right) cheek

she smiled, though she still felt as if (...)

she smiled across the table at (character)

she smiled a little as she thought of (...)

she smiled a little at his (...)

she smiled a little to herself as (...)

she smiled an agreement

she smiled and breathed again

she smiled and for the first time in a long time

she smiled and nodded

she smiled as if fine

she smiled as she recalled the (...)

she smiled as she spoke

she smiled at him in a slightly absent way

she smiled at him with doubt in her eyes

she smiled at that