But is there a verb to describe the motion one makes with one's hands when messing up their hair? "Thrashing about" just sounds like they're having a convulsive episode, and shaking their hands sounds too "weak" too describe the act. Thanks in advance!
Tousling. That's what I would use, at any rate. Though I've heard some English people say "mussed." Tussle is actually a different thing altogether. To "tussle" with someone means to get into an altercation, usually physical, with another person.
AH! Yes, that's the one. Thank you, and sorry to trouble you all. I told you I felt silly asking, because it did feel like it was at the tip of my tongue.
Well, if you're really stuck for a word, you can always use the Scottish all-rounder "thingme." He thingme-d his hair. Then he thingme-d his watch, shut the thingme behind him, and headed off for his daily thingme. Those of us with aphasia use this word a lot, in conversation! :redface: Funny—we nearly always know what it means!
Definitely ruffle or tousle. As an English person I've never used mussed, but i might be an exception
Tousling sounds right but the spelling looks wrong. Never heard of "mussed" here in the states. Other possibilities: tossed, flipped, fluffed. Ruffle and "tousle" are probably the best suggestions.
I agree. I always imagined it as "tussling", not "tousling". The latter just looks weird. Never heard of "mussed", either, but I do like the way it sounds and looks.
Tousling and ruffling are the words I normally use/see. Dishevel, mess up, mess, muss up, muss are all other words you could use as well, but they've been said. I enjoy muss/muss up. The words themselves create the image you're trying to portray, don't they?
