1. essential life

    essential life New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2009
    Messages:
    55
    Likes Received:
    0

    Something to substitute for "shrug"

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by essential life, Nov 3, 2009.

    I always use the word shrug.

    He shrugged. He is shrugging. He shrugs his shoulders.

    Anyone have any ideas for a like-minded word or a combination of words to replace "shrug"?

    For some reason the thesaurus isn't helping.
     
  2. marina

    marina Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2008
    Messages:
    1,275
    Likes Received:
    55
    Location:
    Seattle
    What's wrong with just using "shrug"? You don't want a character shrugging more than a couple times in the book, so it's not like the word will be too repetitive and you need alternative words. The only alternative I can think of is: "He gestured by hunching his shoulders"--but that sounds kind of lame.
     
  3. Punctuate THIS!

    Punctuate THIS! New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2009
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    0
    He raised his sholders in confusion.

    I have the same problem with smile. I find its best to use a short phrase in place of the word. Her face curled from ear to ear.
     
  4. evelon

    evelon Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2009
    Messages:
    609
    Likes Received:
    24
    Location:
    England

    You were joking, right?
     
  5. DragonGrim

    DragonGrim New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2008
    Messages:
    817
    Likes Received:
    21
    Location:
    Iowa
    His shoulders jerked up. “I don’t friggin know, man,” he said.

    I always just use shrug, however
     
  6. architectus

    architectus Banned

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2008
    Messages:
    1,795
    Likes Received:
    14
    Location:
    Ca
    "I don't know," he said more with his shoulders than anything else.

    He pulled his shoulders up by his ears while raising his eyebrows? << hmm, bleh.

    Maybe you can solve the problem with a dash of comedy?

    John shrugged, again.

    Geez, Bill had never met someone who shrugged so often. He must have shrugged three times in the last few hours. John was a damn shrugging machine. Bill felt like saying something but didn't.

    He slapped John on the shoulder. "Let's go."
     
  7. TragicJuliet

    TragicJuliet New Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2009
    Messages:
    192
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Arizona, US
    I can understand needing another word for shrug, sometimes it's just not the right thing for a character to do, like if it's a really childish guy you could say

    He bobbed his shoulders, "I dunno! Let's just try it!"

    or if it was a really like, a old old man
    His shoulders gave a heavy hunch ," If I knew that...I wouldn't be here."

    or a graceful woman!
    She shifted her shoulders,"I could not really tell you much of what I saw."

    A shrug can totally define a person and who they are
     
  8. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,827
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    Don't try so hard. If your character shrugs that often, another character can take note of ut, perhaps with a bit of sarcasm or humor. But if he shrugs, then a couple questions later shrugs again, just say so. You'll make yourself conspicuous if you jump through hoops for alternate words.
     
  9. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2006
    Messages:
    19,150
    Likes Received:
    1,034
    Location:
    Coquille, Oregon
    yup!... listen to cog...
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice