turn up one's nose
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turn up one's nose
- /ˌtɜːn‿ʌp wʌnz ˈnəʊz/ UK
- /ˌtɜɹn‿ʌp wʌnz ˈnoʊz/ US
Rhymes with -əʊz
Where it comes from
From turn (verb) + up (preposition) + one’s + nose (noun), describing a gesture possibly universally understood as indicating contempt, disgust, or scorn which has existed at least since Ancient Greek times: see Ancient Greek ἐκμυκτηρίζω (ekmuktērízō, “to hold in derision”), from ἐκ- (ek-, prefix expressing completion or totality) and μυκτηρίζω (muktērízō, “to turn up the nose, sneer at”) (from μῠκτήρ (mŭktḗr, “nostril”)).
verb turns up one's nose · turning up one's nose · turned up one's nose · turn one's nose up
-
To tilt one's face upwards slightly, thus raising one's nose, and often to look downwards at someone, as a sign of contempt, disgust, or scorn.
When your turn came, you were carefully collared, and led up to the presence, as if even at that awful moment you were mutinously and murderously disposed. The Pasha, looking at you with a vicious sneer, turned up his nose, ejaculated "Ajemi," and prescribed the bastinado.
Similar: hold one's nose up
-
To refuse something offered, especially with contempt, disgust, or scorn, or with apparent disregard about offending the offerer.
I tried to help, but they turned up their noses at my advice.
Similar: hold one's nose up
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To regard or treat someone with contempt or scorn; to scorn; also, to disregard or ignore someone in a contemptuous or scornful way.
[A] Man muſt be nice indeed, that turns up his Noſe at a VVoman, vvho has no vvorſe Imperfection, than ſetting too great a Value upon her Underſtanding.
Similar: hold one's nose up
Translations
Every language
verb to tilt one’s face upwards slightly, and often to look downwards at someone, as a sign of contempt, disgust, or scorn
| Français | faire la fine bouche, lever le nez |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | die Nase rümpfen |
verb to refuse something offered, especially with contempt, disgust, or scorn
| 中文 | 嗤之以鼻 chīzhīyǐbí |
|---|---|
| Français | faire la fine bouche, lever le nez |
| Deutsch | die Nase rümpfen |
| Italiano | arricciare il naso |
| Română | strâmba din nas |
verb to regard or treat someone with contempt or scorn; to disregard or ignore someone in a contemptuous or scornful way
| Português | torcer o nariz |
|---|---|
| Français | faire la fine bouche, lever le nez |
| Deutsch | die Nase rümpfen |
| Italiano | arricciare il naso |
| Română | strâmba din nas |
| Русский | задирать нос zadiratʹ nos |
Talk about this word "turn up one's nose." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/turn%20up%20one's%20nose. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. turn up one's nose. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/turn%20up%20one's%20nose "turn up one's nose." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/turn%20up%20one's%20nose.Cite this
@misc{turn_up_one_s_nose_2026,
title = {turn up one's nose},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/turn%20up%20one's%20nose},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
