The Dialogue Thesaurus: A Fiction Writer's Sourcebook of Dialogue Tags and Phrases (19 page)

she smiled at the idea

she smiled at thoughts of (...)

she smiled back at him

she smiled back at him rather tensely

she smiled but didn't look at him

she smiled but felt at the same time a (...)

she smiled faintly at the thought

she smiled her relief

she smiled her secret smile

she smiled in answer

she smiled in memory

she smiled most flirtatiously at him

she smiled rather wistfully

she smiled reassuringly at him

she smiled sweetly as she said it

she smiled to herself

she smiled up at him

she smiled with a certain wistfulness

she smiled with a touch of disdain

she smiled with delight

she smiled with eagerness

she smiled with the utmost satisfaction

she smiled wryly to herself and wondered

she then smiled (adverb) at him

suddenly the man smiled

the girl smiled happily

then he shrugged and smiled (adverb)

the woman actually smiled

the woman smiled maliciously

understanding dawned in her eyes and she smiled

"I don't blame you for wanting it."
He smiled, as if reading her thoughts
.

"Anything else I can help you with?"
He smiled with satisfaction
.

"It's alright, dear."
She smiled reassuringly at him
.

he bared his teeth

he bit the words out with his strong white teeth

he drew in air between his teeth

he fixed his eyes on her face, his teeth gritted

he grinned, his teeth flashing white against his tanned face

her teeth bit down on her lip

her teeth caught at her lip

he said, displayed his perfect teeth

he said, his teeth glinting in a friendly smile

he said, his teeth glinting white as he gazed down at her

he said through his teeth

he smiled, showing his bone-white teeth

his smile showed a neat line of white teeth

his smile was a flash of white teeth

his teeth clenched angrily around the words

his teeth flashed in a smile

his teeth gleamed in a half smile

his teeth gleamed white against his dark skin

his teeth glimmered

his teeth glimmered in a smile

his teeth glinted in a brief smile

his teeth seemed to bite out the words

his teeth snapped in a laugh

his teeth snapped in spite

his teeth were a flash of white against his bronzed skin

his white teeth flashed in a smile

she caught her bottom lip between her teeth

she clenched her teeth in a grimace

she drew her lower lip between her teeth

she pleaded through chattering teeth

she said, showing her white teeth in a smile

she said, sinking her teeth into her lower lip

she said it through her teeth

she said through clenched teeth

she spoke through gritted teeth

the edge of his teeth showed in a brief smile

"I was hoping you were available for dinner."
Her teeth bit down on her lip
.

"What time do you want me to pick you up?"
His teeth flashed in a smile
.

"Get out,"
she said through clenched teeth
.

anger and nerves shook her voice

a sudden note of contempt crept into his voice

a voice hissed

a voice murmured

came (character)'s soothing voice

he asked, in a voice devoid of emotion

he asked in a dangerous voice

he demanded, his voice almost savage

he interrupted in a loud voice

her delight rang warm in her voice

her voice cracked

her voice faded

her voice held a tremor

her voice shook just a little, betraying her true feelings

her voice shook slightly

her voice shook with fury

her voice throbbed

her voice was laden with emotion

her voice was quiet and tense

her voice was so husky as to be almost inaudible

he said, a hint of mockery in his voice

he said, a note of firmness in his voice

he said, astoundment in his voice

he said, his voice emptied of emotion

he said, his voice firm as a rock

he said, his voice suddenly empty

he said, in a deliberate voice

he said in a deep voice that seemed to vibrate along her nerves

he said in a dry tone of voice

he said in the most curious tone of voice

he said with his menacing tone of voice

he spoke in a consoling voice

he spoke in an amused voice

he spoke in a rather weary tone of voice

he spoke the words in a low, pained voice

his tone of voice was sardonic

his voice came from a distance

his voice came low from his throat

his voice cut across her thoughts

his voice cut like a whip across her thoughts

his voice grew caustic

his voice had a savage edge to it

his voice had risen almost to a scream

his voice had softened a little

his voice held a bitter note

his voice held a distant note

his voice lashed at her

his voice matched the hardness of his gaze

his voice mocked her

his voice softened

his voice was harsh

his voice was laced with concern

his voice was low-pitched, almost crooning

his voice was suddenly as hard as steel

his voice went rough

his voice went soft and almost dangerous

sarcasm rang in his deep voice

she accused him in a frigid voice

she asked, her voice sounding strained all of a sudden

she asked, in a reluctant tone of voice

she asked in a cool, tempered voice

she asked in a low, shaky voice

she asked in a polite voice

she caught the sudden note of hardness in his voice

she fought to keep her voice steady

she heard the faint catch in his voice

she heard the smile in his voice

she kept her voice steady

she lowered her voice

she replied, her voice growing increasingly shaky

she said, a tinge of apprehension in her voice

she said, her voice husky but subdued

she said, her voice husky with tears

she said, in a cold voice

she said, in a rather strained voice

she said, keeping her voice low

she said, making her voice cool

she said in a choked voice

she said in a cool voice

she said in a low, fierce voice

she said in a thrilled voice

she spoke in a strained voice

she spoke in a strangled voice

she spoke in her most demure voice

she spoke the words in a barely audible voice

she stiffened at the curt note in his voice

she tried to keep her voice steady

snapped a woman’s voice

something in his voice made her look up

the crisp voice cut in

the deep voice echoed

the panic pitched her voice almost to a scream

there was a deep note in his voice

there was an edge to his voice

there was an excited catch in her voice

there was ice in his voice

the sarcasm deepened in his voice

the voice broke in on her thoughts

the voice was harsh

when she finally spoke, her voice was hesitant

"What's your name?"
he asked in a dangerous voice
.

"Stay the hell away from him!"
Her voice shook with fury
.

"Susan can do whatever she wants."
His voice held a bitter note
.

a tear (fell/trickled) down the side of her nose

cigarette smoke slid from his (adjective) nose

(grinning/smiling), she tapped a finger against the tip of (character)'s (adjective) nose

he dropped a kiss (onto/on the tip of) her nose

he flared his nostrils

he lifted his nose and sniffed

he looked down his nose

he ran a finger across the bridge of his nose

her nose took a scornful tilt

he said, staring down his nose at her

he slid the (glasses/spectacles) off his nose

he touched his handkerchief to his (adjective) nose

his nostrils drew in the crisp air

remarked (character) with a scornful tilt of her nose

said (character), putting her nose in the air

said (character) as she powdered her nose

she (crinkled/scrunched) her nose (at him)

she buried her nose in her cup, trying to avoid his gaze

she drew (...) to her nose

she looked down the slope of her nose at (...)

she peered down her nose at him

she perched her (glasses/spectacles) (back) on her nose

she put her nose to the (...)

she rubbed a finger against her (adjective) nose

she rubbed her nose against his

she said (adverb), her nose tilting upward

she said, a haughty tilt to her nose

she said, dabbing at her nose with a handkerchief

she said, her nose in her drink

she said, pressing her nose to the window

she said, wrinkling her nose

she tilted her nose (in the air)

she tilted her nose in scorn

she took hold of (...) and held it up to her nose

she took out her compact and powdered her nose

she turned up her nose (at him)

she turned up her nose at the idea of (...)

she wriggled her nose above her glass of (...)

she wrinkled her nose (like a rabbit)

she wrinkled her nose as if she had smelled something bad

she wrinkled her nose at him in disgust

she wrinkled her nose with disapproval

the nostrils of his (adjective) nose were flaring

the smoke tickled her nose

He lifted his nose and sniffed
. "Is that roast chicken I smell?"

"You can't do anything right, can you?"
he said, staring down his nose at her
.

"Leave us,"
she said, a haughty tilt to her nose
.