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EMOTION THESAURUS FOR WRITERS – PART 5

10/1/2021

NOTE: Most of the thesaurus content herein comes from various sources, but i have added my share based on experience as a writer. The facial expressions, in part, are from “Entusiasti Blog” (march 19, 2014). Facial expressions and other physical behavior are largely from “The Blog Muse”, emotion thesaurus posted by Angela Ackerman before she and Becca Puglisi published their books. The full list of sources is at the end.

EMOTION THESAURUS - PART 5

CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING
Take all things into account when describing a scene so that the facial expressions, body language, and context all match the situation and the reactions that you, as the author, intend it to mean. Never assume readers know what you mean. They don't know what the author is thinking.

STUBBORNNESS

The truth is that stubbornness, the dogged deter-mination not to change one's attitude or position on something. is inherited, but it generally keeps subdued. It is the situations, upbringing, and the environment that are responsible to activate it. thedeepin.wordpress.com

Facial Expression
● Closing eyes, squishing face up in a pout
● Thrusting out lower lip
● Lips turned down
● A sullen glower or glare
● Head tilted back, chin thrust upward
● Frowning, pursing lips
● Narrowing eyes

Other Physical Behavior
● A hard shake of the head
● Crossing arms
● Swiping arm across the air between yourself and another; “Enough!” gesture
● Holding your palm up to someone, signaling they stop, desist
● Raising voice, forceful or heated tone
● Saying ‘No.” or “Forget it.”
● Sarcasm, bitter words, insults or belittling
● Stiff posture
● Tightness in the face, strong jaw
● Making fists at one’s sides
● An emerging temper/anger display
● Squared shoulders, muscles rigid
● Refusing to listen
● Walking away from another person; retreating into a personal space
● Cranking up music to drown out others
● Ignoring others
● Talking to oneself, ranting or raving to justify feelings/actions
● Trying to sway others to your opinion/idea
● Heavier breathing than normal
● A temper tantrum (kicking,shouting,etc.)
●· Single-minded determination, a keen focus on goal despite pitfalls/opposition
● Refusing to give up, give in

SULLENNESS / SULKINESS

Pouting and sulking are people’s attempt to get their own way. Pouting is selfishness. Indicators are similar to stubbornness.

Facial Expression
Since sullen and sulkiness both relate to wanting your own way, the facial expression is similar to stubbornness.
● Closing eyes, squishing face up in a pout
● Thrusting out lower lip
● A sullen glower or glare
● Head tilted back, chin thrust upward
● Frowning, pursing lips
● Narrowing eyes

Other Physical Behavior
Look at characteristics fork Stubborn.

SURPRISE / SHOCK
entusiastiq.blogspot.com/facial-expressions

Surprise is often confused with fear. But when we’re afraid, our lower eyelids tighten and our eyebrows look flat and tense; with surprise, our upper eyelids rise up and our eyebrows arch. Also, our jaws drop when we’re surprised, but our lip corners go sideways when we’re afraid, making the mouth look tighter.

Some experts believe our eyes open wide like this because when we’re confronted with something surprising—a long-lost friend, an unexpected award—we try to absorb as much of this new information as possible.

Facial Expression
● Upper eyelids rise up and eyebrows arch
● Jaw drops when surprised; mouth loose
● Eyes Widen to extreme; eyes bulge
● Watering eyes

Other Physical Behavior
● Hand flies to chest
● Fingers touch parted lips
● A gasp, squeal
● A small jump, flinching or leaping back
● Takes a shuffling step or two back
● A small yelp, gasp, squeal r scream
● Tingling skin
● Heavy feeling in stomach
● Sudden stiffening posture, rigid muscles
● Shaking head, voicing denial
● Struggle to speak, jittery voice
● Racing heartbeat
● Breathlessness
● Crumpling against someone else, hiding face against their shoulder or chest
● Shaking hands
● A sudden coldness (dread) that hits at the core
● Hand reaches up to lightly clasp throat
● Splay fingers out in a fan against breastbone
● Turning away from others
● Raising hand to ward off others
● A sudden onset of anger or frustration (swearing, screaming, acting violent)
● Shoving or making contact with someone involved (a punch to the arm, poking chest, pushing shoulder)
● Flight reaction; walking/running away
● Dazed look
● Voice shaky, soft, halting, disbelieving
● Asking simple questions for clarification
● A feeling of disorientation, dizziness, euphoria
● A shaky or slow smile that builds as surprise sinks in; a bark of laughter

SUSPICIOUS / WARY / UNCONVINCED

Facial Expression
● Tilting head
● Eyes off to the side; periodic eye roll
● Pouting lips
● A furrowed brow or raised eyebrows
● Jutting chin or chin tucked in
● Licking or biting lower lip
● Pursing lips in thought
● Pressing lips in fine line
● A condescending smile

Other Physical Behavior
● Arms crossed over chest; confrontational
● Rubbing the back of the neck without making eye contact
● Clearing the throat
● General fidgeting
● Opening mouth to argue and then purposefully stopping self and uttering a platitude instead.
● Polite verbal opposition
● Biting fingernails
● Heavy sighing
● An unreadable gaze
● A delayed response
● A shake of the head
● A hesitating nod
● Shrugging
● Questioning, asking for proof, presenting possible consequences; alternatives
●·A quick eyebrow raise/eye widening, either at the person proposing the idea, or behind their back with another person present.
●·An inability to sit still, restless movements

Other Physical Behavior - continued
● Walking away
● Rigid body posture
● Sniping remarks
● Biting the inside of the cheek
● Hmming and Hawing
● A non-committal answer, "Maybe," or "We'll see."
● Avoiding hurting feelings or escalating an argument by changing the topic/diversion rather than open support
● Refusing to speak/answer, let the silence do the talking
● Nodding, but with a pained look to show that one is still not committed
● Delaying actions, asking for more time to consider
●·Making excuses for not falling into line and agreeing
●·A smirk or eye roll
●·Flapping your hand at someone, dismissing them or idea

SYMPATHETIC / EMPATHIC

To be able to orientate towards altruism and compassion requires an ability to attend to it in the verbal and non-verbal presentations of others. In social interactions, approval and disapproval are signaled by facial expressions.

Facial Expression
● A sad smile or neutral expression of mouth
● Frown
● Eyes narrowing/eyebrows pulling down in concentration

Other Physical Behavior
● Listening; leaning forward, showing interest; not interrupting
● Kind words, a soothing tone
● Telling someone that they aren't alone, how things will work out
offering a sad smile, a nod of understanding
● Fumbling for words; not sure what to say

Other Physical Behavior - continued
● Rubbing someone's back
● Squeezing a shoulder or hand
● Lightly stroking a forearm
● Gently touching another’s face
● Other comforting physical contact
● Offering a deep sigh and thoughtful expression
● A parting hug lasting longer than normal
● An understanding nod
● Crying with the person
● Looking on the bright side
● Overt patience
● Offering advice when asked (caution suggested here)

Other Not So Helpfu Physical Behavior
● Clumsy attempts to comfort: weak smile, awkward hug
● An attempt to cheer up through ‘the bright side’ outlook/analogy "Well, at least now we know," or "This could have been worse if..."
●·Using cliches (this too will pass; keep your chin up, etc)
● Giving comfort through gifts, plying a person with food, attention
● Offering unsolicited advice of a relative or well-known person ("as my grandpa used to say…")
● Fussing over the person’s appearance straightening/fluffing hair, tugging at collar, brushing shoulders, fiddling with a shirt button or tie) while talking in encouraging tones

THREATENING

There are two basic threatening facial expressions: i.e. angry and fearful faces. However, anger has a much greater impact than fear, as it increases both the rates of mistakes and the time of movement execution.

Facial Expression
Threatening expressions are very similar to anger, although a threatening person can assume a non-aggressive expression while body language expresses threat.
● Pursed lips or sneer
● Mouth turned down or open and teeth bared
● Lowered eyebrows and eyes narrowed
● Scrunched nose
● Direct eye contact; penetrating gaze
● Jaw clenched; teeth clenched
● Face may redden
● Nostrils flare

Other Physical Behavior – Overt Threat
● A raised hand, fist, finger; warning of potential physical violence
● Movement toward the person threatened; within striking distance; Getting in some-one's face
● Swearing, yelling,
● Clenching/unclenching fists, nails biting into one’s palms
● Pounding fists against thighs, table, wall
● Slamming doors, cupboards, drawers

Overt Threat - continued
● Body tense; sitting/ standing rigidly
● Muscles quivering
● Breathing noisily
● Pounding heatbeat
● Vein visibly pulsing in various body part

Other Physical Behavior – Veiled Threat
● Laughter with an edge
● Talking in a cold, controlled tone
● Speaking quietly and sarcastically
● False smile that doesn’t reach to eyes
● Eyes that are cold, hard, flinty; narrowed eyes
● Sitting/standing rigidly
● Other indications of power over the threatened person

WORRIED / ILL AT EASE

Facial Expression
● A strained or faked smile
● Wrinkled brow or quirked eyebrows
● Biting lip
● Eyebrows drawing together
● Possible circles under the eye
● Pained or watery gaze

Other Physical Behavior
● General fidgeting and repetitive motions
● Biting nails or chewing at a knuckle
● Door or clock watching
● Clasping hands tight
● A stiff neck, strained muscles
● Rarely blinking
● Throat clearing
● A gaze that flits around the room, never settling on a person or object for long
● Rubbing at face repeatedly
● Clinging to loved ones
● Taking deep breaths in an effort to calm oneself

Other Physical Behavior - continued
● Pinching bridge of nose
● Stooped posture
● Pacing
● Sleeplessness
● Lack of appetite
● Loss of weight
● New wrinkles
● Rumpled, unwashed clothes
● Uncertainty over choices made
● Uncared for apearance
● Premature gray
● Inability to focus
● Jumping at the sound of the phone or doorbell
● Illogical fears, Panic attacks
● Lack of communication with others, Distancing self from others
● Bouts of sighing
● Putting up a "false front", as if everything is okay

JUST SAYIN
■
Sources:
https://www.psychmechanics.com/facial-expressions-disgust/
http://entusiastiq.blogspot.com/2014/03/facial-expressions.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-tell-someones-lying-by-watching-their-face-2016-1#take-note-of-what-youre-asking-them-5
http://www.nlp-secrets.com/how-to-tell-if-someone-is-lying.php
http://www.cccoe.net/social/bodylang.htm
http:/thedreamwithinpictures.com/blog/portrait-analysis-reveals-that-the-human-face-can-express-at-least-21-emotions
https://imotions.com/biosensor/fea-facial-expression-analysis/?creative=377770993338&keyword=facial%20expression%20analysis&matchtype=b&network=s&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImOfH2Zms8QIVi7bICh3HxQGPEAAYAiAAEgLDUvD_BwE
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/cse/2015/11/29/emotion-detection-and-recognition-from-text-using-deep-learning/#:~:text=Sentiment%20Analysis%20aims%20to%20detect%20positive%2C%20neutral%2C%20or,such%20as%3A%20Gauging%20how%20happy%20our%20citizens%20are.
https://allwritealright.com/how-to-describe-facial-expressions-in-writing/
https://kathysteinemann.com/Musings/expressions/
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/thesaurus-category/british/words-used-to-describe-facial-expressions
https://www.nownovel.com/blog/talking-character-face/
https://thoughtcatalog.com/january-nelson/2018/06/list-of-emotions/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24724522/
https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/understanding-the-principles-of-anticipation
https://ricepsychology.com/rice-psychology-team/dr-wendy-rice/being-bored-why-its-a-good-thing-for-your-kids/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/annals-the-emotions/201508/what-do-you-look-when-you-re-bored
https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-pride-and-vs-confidence/#:~:text=%20What%20is%20the%20difference%20between%20Prid
https://listverse.com/2013/07/05/ten-compelling-origins-of-our-facial-expressions/#:~:text=10%20Common%20Facial%20Expressions%20Explained%201%20Confusion.%20An,Fear.%20...%209%20Sadness.%20...%2010%20Happiness.%20
https://thoughtcatalog.com/january-nelson/2018/06/list-of-emotions/#:~:text=Facial%20Expression%2FEmotion%3A%20Happy%20Happiness%20is%20an%20emotion%20that,studied%20throughout%20different%20philosophical%2C%20religious%2C%20and%20biological%20approaches. Go back to this one
https://thetrustambassador.com/2020/04/27/body-language-76-contempt/#:~:text=The%20most%20obvious%20body%20language%20associated%20with%20superiority,by%20looking%20down%20one%E2%80%99s%20nose%20at%20another%20person.
https://www.mindful.org/what-compassion-looks-like/#:~:text=%20This%20means%20literally%20tuning%20in%20to%20the,%E2%80%9CApproach%E2%80%9D%20signals%2C%20such%20as%20learning%20toward...%20More
https://www.ionos.com/startupguide/productivity/body-language/#:~:text=Facial%20expression%201%20Interest%2Fcuriosity%3A%20Your%20eyes%20are%20wide,wide%20and%20eyebrows%20are%20raised.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2008/06/emotion-thesaurus-entry-curiosity/
https://www.presentationprep.com/body-language-face/#:~:text=During%20a%20presentation%2C%20your%20face%20conveys%20more%20to,also%20communicate%20fear%2C%20frustration%2C%20or%20lack%20of%20control.
https://www.verywellmind.com/understand-body-language-and-facial-expressions-4147228
http://rainydaywriting.co.uk/portraying-the-emotion-of-desperation/#:~:text=%20Expressing%20the%20emotion%20of%20desperation%20%201,Needing%20or%20wanting%20something%20very%20much%20More%20
https://accuratebodylanguage.wordpress.com/tag/disgust/#:~:text=DISGUST%20usually%20involves%20the%20sense%20of%20smell%2C%20taste%2C,indicating%20disgust%3A%20Forehead%3A%20usually%20relaxed.%20Eyebrows%20are%20lowered.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_many_different_human_emotions_are_there#:~:text=Psychology%20once%20assumed%20that%20most%20human%20emotions%20fall,emotions%E2%80%94and%20they%20are%20intimately%20connected%20with%20each%20other.
The Bookshelf Muse,
http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/are_emotions_born_or_made

https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_27_basic_emotions/article.htm#:~:text=The%2027%20different%20emotions%20include%3A%201%20Admiration%202,Boredom%209%20Calmness%2010%20Confusion%20More%20items...%20
https://online.uwa.edu/news/emotional-psychology/#:~:text=Emotions%20and%20Psychology%201%20Basic%20and%20Complex%20Emotions.,Schachter-Singer%20Theory.%20...%208%20Cognitive%20Appraisal%20Theory.%2
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-cultures/201911/understanding-hate
https://www.scienceofpeople.com/microexpressions/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201407/the-one-emotion-really-hurts-your-brain

https://jenriggs.com/stress/impatience/#:~:text=Impatience%20arose%20from%20our%20hunter-gatherer%20days%20and%20told,details%2C%20see%20%E2%80%9CWhy%20Your%20Brain%20Hates%20Slowpokes%E2%80%9D%20.%29

https://onestopforwriters.com/emotions/RESIGNATION#:~:text=DEFINITION%3A%20The%20state%20of%20surrendering%20because%20one%20must%2C,little%20or%20no%20resistance%20PHYSICAL%20SIGNALS%20AND%20BEHAVIORS%3A
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/body-odd/shy-people-are-better-reading-facial-expressions-flna954293

https://thedeepin.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/psychology-of-being-stubborn/#:~:text=The%20truth%20is%20that%20stubbornness%20is%20inherited%2C%20but,the%20environment%20that%20are%20responsible%20to%20activate%20it.

https://onestopforwriters.com/emotions/RESIGNATION

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Sports Cliches

9/17/2021

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A television program I watched recently was chock full of mispronunciations and clichés ‒ my most proficient language ‒ and the thought struck me how many of the American English metaphors, clichés, and slang words come from the various sports.

Every profession has its own language where the words and phrases describe certain activities and situations. Sports are no exception. These words and phrases are used by the athletes who play, coaches, announcers, and fans ‒ those involved in the sport. However, a sports clichés described by those people are overused descriptions of those activities and situations related to that sport ‒ more in the nature of buzz words.

Take a look at what the “experts” claim as language unique to their sport. Don’t be surprised to see duplications. Can you identify which came first…the general language cliché or the sports terminology?

BASEBALL Whether or not baseball was invented by the Americans ‒ there is still some debate ‒ it is still the All-American-Game.

The Washington Post, not too long ago, studied nearly 7,000 baseball interviews conducted over a time span of twenty years and complied a comprehensive list of what they called baseball clichés. The phrase “we gotta play ’em one day at a time” was used 485 times and “tip your cap”, over 300 times. If you think about it, out of 7000 conversations, these numbers are actually rather small.

● “It’s not over till the fat lady sings.”
The first recorded use of this phase is believed to be from Ralph Carpenter in the newspaper Dallas Morning News, March 1976. To give context for the following quote, a basketball game was being played and the score was tied.

● “Stepping up to the plate”
This phrase tells the batter to step up to home plate and prepare to bat the ball. From the late 1900s on it was frequently transferred to other enterprises, especially business, politics, and other sports even though they don’t use “plates”.

● “Rub some dirt on it”
This origins of this phrase are claimed by both baseball and football. Some claim in comes from very old medical advice. I hope they're wrong.

● “Three strikes and you’re out. ● “It ain’t over ’til it’s over”
● “Grab some bench” ● “Going, going, gone”
● “Ducks on the pond” ● “Back against the wall”
● “A Grand Slam” ● “Kiss that one goodbye”
● “He crushed it” ● “He sent that one into orbit”
● “He tattooed that one ● “He was caught napping”
● “He wishes he could have that one back.”

FOOTBALL
American Football resulted from several major divergences from soccer and rugby, most notably the rule changes were instituted by a Yale University athlete and coach, Walter Camp, considered the "Father of American Football".

The so-called Football clichés sound more like existing clichés and terminology that have been adapted to football, rather than originating first as football language. But that’s just my impression.

● “We have to come together as a team.”                   ● “There’s no “I” in team.”
● “He knows what it takes to win.”                               ● “He just knows how to win”
● "The game will be won in the trenches" ● "We need to air it out"
● “He has a motor that doesn't quit"                            ● “Too good to go down”
● “He gave 110% / he worked his socks off ● “Bad time to concede”
● "The defense is flying around with their ears pinned back"

BASKETBALL
Basketball was invented by James Naismith on or about December 1. 1891, at the International Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Training School, Springfield, Massachusetts, where Naismith was an instructor in physical education. Basketball is the only major sport strictly of U.S. origin.

● “A defense that bends but doesn’t break.”             ● “Take care of the ball.”
● “We left it all on the court” ● “He’s playing his game.”
● “They’re playing within themselves.”   ● “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
● “He always gives 110%.” ● “They've been ice-cold.”
● “They play above the rim.”. ● “It's raining threes.”
● “They're shooting the lights out.” ● “He can fill it up.”
● “He's automatic.” ● “He can really dish the rock.”
● “He has the hot hand.”
● “The winner can punch their ticket to The Dance.”

GOLF
The origins of the sport of golf are still widely debated, but it is generally acknowledges that the modern version of golf developed in Scotland from the middle ages onwards.

Golf did not become popular internationally until the late 19th century, when it spread into the rest of the British Empire and to the United States. Now it is one of the favorite social sports.

● “Fore!”
"Fore" is a word of warning yelled by a golfer who hits an errant shot. If your shot is in danger of hitting or landing very close to another golfer or group of players on the golf course, you should yell "fore!"

● “Drive for show and putt for dough.”
Putting is the difference between winning and losing on the major tours and this is probably how and why this golf term originated.

● “Never up, never in”
This is another one for the award of ‘captain obvious’ clichés that gets commonly heard around golf courses. It gets said when a golfer leaves a putt short of the hole that appears to be right on line.

● “That will bring rain”
● "It's pure golf."

● "You've got to know where to miss it."
Tour pros and average golfers both trot this one out often -- their way of saying it's taken them years of painstaking study to discover you don't want to hit your ball into one of the ponds.

SOCCER
● “Caught sleeping
Usually used when a player has made a silly or foolish mistake that could have been entirely, easily avoidable.
● “Class act”
A phrase used in soccer to describe players or figures who have done something respectable or remarkable, on or off the pitch.

● “Clean sheet”
When a team manages to not concede a single goal for the duration of the match.

● “Consolation”
A late goal in a loss that won’t change the score is a consolation goal.

● “Early doors”
Used by commentators to describe the opening stages of the game. For example, 'It’s just gone 10 minutes so it’s still early doors.'

● “End-to-end stuff”
Describing a match that is so action-packed and engrossing that it’s impossible to take your eyes off of it.

● “Hairdryer treatment”
This is Sir Alex Ferguson’s preferred post-match tactic. The legendary Scotsman would yell at his players mercilessly in the dressing room in order to motivate them – acting as the ‘hairdryer’ in this analogy.

● “In his pocket”
When a player has dominated their marked target for the duration of the game, usually used for defenders marking their forward counterparts.

● “Kill the game”
Used when a goal is scored to define the score line of the game and put an end to it.

● “Lost the dressing room”
When a manager or key figure in the team has lost the backing of the team or coaching staff.

● “Park the bus”
A favored tactic which involves setting up your entire team in a defensive shape in order to tire out opponents and preserve the clean sheet.

● “Couldn’t Hit A Cow's Backside With A Banjo"
This particular phrase relates directly to those players whose job it is to find the back of the net.

● "Got The Bottle"
If someone does or does not have the bottle, it means that will they stand up to a high pressured scenario.

● "Stepping Up To The Plate"
This means that no matter what side of the bed a player falls out of, it is up to them to give 110% when they step on to the hallowed turf.

●"Putting In a Shift"
A player can often turn in a great performance but if they have gone above and beyond the call of duty then this is referred to at times as putting in a shift.

● "Into the mix”
When games are tense and run into overtime, teams often launch the ball into the 18 yard box. This is done for a host of reasons but ultimately, it is to force the issue of trying to score. This is often referred to by commentators as putting the ball “into the mix.”

● "Not Over Till The Fat Lady Sings"
Under normal circumstances, it is down to the referee to call a game to an end. Yet, as many commentators know, the match is definitely not over until the fat lady sings. This phrase is one of the most common used and has been utilized in numerous situations by numerous sports.

● "Onion Bag"
Another phrase for the goal, the onion bag has often been spoken about by a wealth of commentators around the globe. But the onion bag signifies a bulging net full of not vegetables but footballs. It is believed that the onion bag originated back because goal nets were previously made from an onion bag, or so the rumor goes.

THE "SWEET" SCIENCE" OF BOXING
For those you who aren’t boxing fans, the “Sweet Science” is the term used for sport of pugilism.

British sportswriter Pierce Egan called boxing the ‘sweet science’ in 1813 since it is a sport that requires fighters to be tactical and scientific in their approach. The term is still used today by many fighters and analysts. A modern example of a boxer that exemplifies the essence of the sweet science is Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Mayweather is methodical, and uses his left jab to break his opponents down. He is the master of defensive boxing. He is a safety first fighter that sticks to his game plan to ensure victory. His record is 50 fights fought, fifty fights won. Looks like the strategy works.

This sport brings to the table many terms, metaphors, and clichés used by many people, whether or not they know where the words came from.

● “Beat someone to the punch”
The cliché means throwing the first punch before your opponent can. This boxing sense is from 1913 while the figurative meaning came about just couple of years later.

● “Below the belt”
This term, meaning unfair, comes from the unfair and illegal boxing maneuver of hitting someone in the nether regions. The phrase gained its figurative meaning around 1889.

● “Blow by Blow”
This term relates to a very detailed description of a boxing match and was originally used starting in the early 1920s. By the 1940s, blow-by-blow was being used in a non-boxing sense, perhaps first by mystery writer Hilda Lawrence in her novel Death of a Doll: "Maybe we'd better get together. Blow by blow description."

● “Glutton for punishment”
Glutton meaning an enthusiast for something—a glutton for books, for example—has been in use since the early 1700s. However, the phrase glutton for punishment, one who refuses to leave a losing situation, is a mid-1800s term that comes from pugilism.

● “Groggy”
The word we know as meaning sleepy or out of it originally meant “intoxicated,” and came from grog, an old-time alcoholic beverage. Groggy meaning “dazed” is from the boxing ring, meaning weakened in a fight, hence staggering, shaky, and unsteady.

● “Killer instinct”
Killer instinct was first used to describe American prize fighter Jack Dempsey in the early 1930s. Now the term refers the drive to succeed in anything and at any cost.

● “On the ropes”
When a fighter is pushed up against the ropes of the boxing ring by his opponent, he’s in big trouble. Hence, the figurative meaning of on the ropes is being near defeat or in poor condition.

● “Palooka”
The word palooka originally referred to a mediocre prizefighter. The prizefighter sense originated around 1926, and is credited to Jack Conway, the editor of Variety magazine. Joe Palooka was a 1920s comic that featured a dim-witted boxer with a heart of gold, which helped popularize the “oafishness” connotation of the word.

● “Pluck”
In late 18th century pugilism slang, a brave fighter was said to have pluck. Pluck earlier referred to the heart and entrails of a slaughtered animal, or that which could be “plucked” from a carcass. The figurative sense in fighting was that of courage, which at the time was believed to reside in the heart.

●.”Punch-Drunk”
This term meaning dazed and confused originated in boxing parlance referring to a fighter stupefied by too many punches to the head. Later, punch-drunk came to mean a neurological condition seen often in boxers and formally known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

● “Roll with the punches”
Originally, to roll or ride with the punches, or to adapt easily to adverse circumstances, comes from the fighting maneuver of moving or rolling one’s head and body away from a blow to lessen its impact. Now it’s used to mean go along with what happenes. Go with the flow.

● “saved by the bell”
Saved by the bell is an idiom meaning to be rescued at the last moment from a sticky situation, usually by a stroke of good luck. While there’s a wide-held belief that the origin of the phrase has to do with a 17th-century fear of being buried alive and subsequent coffins equipped with bells to save any such unlucky individuals, it’s actually—you guessed it—a boxing term referring to a losing fighter being “saved” by a bell that signals the end of a round.

● “throw in the towel”
To throw in the towel, or give up, came from the early 20th-century boxing practice of literally throwing a white towel into the ring when admitting defeat. This convention comes from an earlier one of throwing up a sponge to admit defeat, hence another giving-up phrase, “to throw (or chuck) up the sponge.”

● “throw one's hat in the ring”
While throwing in the towel signifies giving up, throwing one’s hat in the ring shows you’re ready for a fight. This custom is from at least the early 1800s, a time when most men wore hats, and would have been more reliable than trying to make yourself heard over a noisy, fight-thirsty crowd.

● “bare-knuckle”
This means fierce or determined (from boxing done without gloves).

● “come out fighting/swinging”
The term means the boxer should be immediately aggressive or energetic.

There are far fewer sports terms than I expected which have become common metaphors or clichés. The majority are from boxing and some from baseball.

That makes sense. Pugilism in some form has been around since the 3rd millennium BC. The earliest appearance of boxing in history comes from Sumerian artifacts found in Iraq. Other evidence has been found in Assyria and Babylonia. Later, the sport moved on to Greece and Rome.

Modern boxing was introduced by Jack Broughton, a bare-knuckle boxing champion, with boxing’s first set of rules for modern times, and many of these are present in ever rules used today.

Given the history, it is not surprising that the sport terminology evolved before it was absorbed into the English language as metaphors and clichés.

JUST SAYIN
■
Sources:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63958/15-common-phrases-come-boxing#:~:text=15%20Common%20Phrases%20that%20Come%20from%20Boxing%201,...%206%20KILLER%20INSTINCT.%20...%20More%20items...%20

https://www.theboxingplanet.com/why-is-boxing-called-the-sweet-science/#:~:text=Boxing%20is%20called%20the%20sweet%20science%20because%20it,1813%20by%20British%20journalist%20and%20sportswriter%20Pierce%20Egan.

https://rotisserieduck.com/2018/09/07/baseball-cliches-good-bad/
https://www.sportsfeelgoodstories.com/sports-cliches/#:~:text=%EE%80%80Basketball%EE%80%81%2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_baseball

https://evolve-mma.com/blog/the-history-and-origins-of-boxing/#:~:text=The%20earliest%20appearance%20of%20boxing%20in%20history%20comes,wrapped%20fists%20for%20the%20first%20time%20in%20sport.

https://sportslens.com/football-cliches/86789/#:~:text=The%20https://www.dailywritingtips.com/55-boxing-idioms/12%20most%20annoying%20football%20clich%C3%A9s%201.%20Football,player%2C%20and%20almost...%203.%20A%20great%20advert%20

https://247sports.com/college/byu/LongFormArticle/College-football-cliches-byu-football-2021-season-projection-167967562/#167967562_8

https://www.dailywritingtips.com/55-boxing-idioms/
https://www.sporcle.com/games/Rocky123/basketball-cliches
https://www.sportsfeelgoodstories.com/sports-cliches/#:~:text=%EE%80%80Basketball%EE%80%81%2
https://www.sportsfeelgoodstories.com/sports-cliches/#:~:text=%EE%80%80Basketball%EE%80%81%2
https://hittingitsolid.com/blog/golf-cliches/
http://www.sportscliche.com/basketball.html
https://hittingitsolid.com/blog/golf-cliches/
https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/soccers-slang-cliches-idioms-explained-what-do-they-mean/io4qmsxgr1j516fthrel36lvh
https://www.britannica.com/sports/basketball
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_golf
□

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Emotion Thesaurus For Writers - Part 4

9/10/2021

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EMOTION THESAURUS – PART 4

LONELINESS

Facial Expression
● Unsmiling, or sad smile; expressionless
● Dull or watery eyes/a gaze that convey longing
● half-lidded eyes; a downcast gaze
● A lack of eye contact
● Downward tilt of head
● Slight frown

Other Physical Behavior
● Avoids crowds or large events
● People watches, craving contact
● Wears comfort clothes
● Uses books, the Internet, TV to 'escape' and generate a feeling of interaction
● Rubbing shoulders through clothes, hugging shoulders

Other Physical Behavior continued
● Bringing feet up when sitting, scrunching up
● A desire to be included, wanted
●Expression crumples at people showing expression
● Pain in the chest
● False bravado that one is fine or happy as things are
● Tears, sadness, depression
● Gives an abnormal amount of love and attention to someone or something, trying to fill the void
● Overeating
● Binging in other ways (home shopping network, buying self 'treats' to perk up mood like shoes, candles, jewelry--items that aren't needed)
● Frequent phone calls to family or friends
● A willingness to talk to strangers just to interact
● A disinterest in appearance or an abnormal/obsessive interest in appearance
● Slumped shoulders, limp posture
● Adheres to routine; schedules things on certain days to look forward to it, keeps busy with
● Workaholic, filling the void with work
● Avoids social situations because a feeling of inadequacy
● Over friendliness, pushing self on people in hopes of being liked

LOVE / ATTRACTION / FLIRTATION
Love Flirtatiousness/Falling in Love
entusiastiq.blogspot.com/facial-expressions entusiastiq.blogspot.com/facial-expressions

Facial Expression
When we feel longer-lasting love, our facial expression often resembles happiness: The zygomatic major muscle pulls the lip corners up, and there’s a tightening of the lower eyelid.

But the distinct expression of love combines these muscle movements with a tilt of the head to the side. That’s a sign of intimacy and connection beyond just happiness.

● A genuine, soft smile
● Wrinkles around eyes, pouching of the lower lid
● Crinkling of the face with a genine smile
● Frequent eye contact, particularly when talking
● Eyes sparkle and are alert

Other Physical Behavior - Love
● The whole body seems to smile frequently
● Gazing into each other’s eyes
● Shoulders leaning in, particularly when talking
● Paying attention to details
● Small gestures of physical contact, holding hands, brushing fingers across cheek, etc.
● Walking side by side; touching
● Feelings of warm fuzzies in the core
● Sitting together in quietness without needing to speak
● Finishing each other’s sentences

Facial Expression
● A coy, flirtatious smile.
● Turning head away to signal ‘I’m not interested in you,’ but simultaneously making eye contact. [That’s a universal display that reflects the ambivalence of flirtation]
● The zygomatic major muscle pulling the lip corners up, which also raises the cheeks slightly.
● Eyes are narrower than in a neutral state because the orbicularis oculi muscles around the eyes contract, suggesting feelings of happiness
● Staring, mouth slightly open
● Eyes wide

Other Physical Behavior – Flirtation and Falling In Love
● Unsteady on feet
● Mouth going dry ; unable to speak
● Non-stop talking
● Shyness
● Throat clearing, swallowing
● Fluttering in stomach, feeling of nausea
● Tongue getting tangled, going speechless
● Nervous behaviors: shuffling feet
● Moistening lips
● Worrying over appearance
● Feelings of insecurity
● Mental fuzziness, lightheadedness
● Difficulty focusing on tasks
● Feeling faint
● Quick, shallow breathing
● Pulse racing
● Heart beating, banging, hammering
● Jangling nerves, jumpiness
● Tingling skin, limbs, a hyper-awareness of the body
● Weak knees or legs
● Exhibiting obsessive behavior
● Showing affection—stroking an arm, cheek; holding hands, kissing, hugging
● Swaying to bump against other person
● Electric feeling at accidental touches
● Exchanging personal effects
● Sitting together, legs touching, arm around shoulders
● Feeling or displaying jealousy at the attention from another toward your love interest

LYING

Lying isn’t exactly an emotion but it is something writers need to handle in novels. Not every lie involves emotions, but those that do cause special problems for the liar… and maybe the author.

An attempt to hide a feeling or conceal an emotion at the moment it is felt could be betrayed in words, but except for a slip of the tongue, it usually isn’t. But it can be detected in facial expression.

Mark Bouton, an FBI agent for 30 years and author of "How to Spot Lies Like the FBI” gives some practical hints on how to tell when someone is lying.

Body Language
● Eyes dart back and forth.
"This is a physiological reaction to him feeling uncomfortable or trapped by your questions that he doesn't want to answer," Bouton says.

Body Language Continued

● Eyes blink rapidly, five or six times in rapid succession.
"A person will ordinarily blink about five or six times a minute, or once every 10 or 12 seconds," Bouton says. "When stressed — for instance, when someone knows he's lying — he may blink five or six times in rapid succession."
● Closing eyes for more than one second at a time.
● Right landed people usually look to the right when they are trying to remember what they saw.
"When you ask a normal, right-handed person about something he's supposed to have seen, if he looks upward and to his left, he's truly accessing his memory of the incident,"
● Right landed people usually look directly to the right when lying about something they heard.

● Right handed people look down to the right when lying about smells or sensations.
"His eyes will shift downward and to his left if he's going to tell you his memory of a smell or touch or sensation, such as a cold draft or a terrible odor," Bouton explains. "But his eyes will shift down and to his right if he's going to lie."

● Bunched skin beneath and wrinkles beside the eyes indicate a real smile
●Face touching
● Excessive sweating
● Pursed lips

Quoting Mark Bouton
Authors: Rachel Gillett and Samantha Lee
Jan 11, 2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-tell-someones-lying-by-watching-their-face-2016-1#take-note-of-what-youre-asking-them-5

PAIN

Physical
Pain is the body’s “dashboard light” when something is wrong. It is the distressing feeling often caused by intense or damaging stimuli, which can be both physical and emotional.

Physical responses can vary depending on which kind of pain is involved. In medical diagnosis, pain is regarded as a symptom of an underlying condition.

Facial Expression
When we feel pain, our facial muscles move in ways that contract the face and protect us from harm.

● In the upper half of the face, the orbicularis oculi muscles around the eyes contract, closing the eyes tightly. Eyes can also squeeze shut
● The corrugator muscle lowers the eyebrows; deep frown with lines between eyes
● Lips tighten and press upwards.
● If eyes open, they appear glassy or glazed over
● Pale or Blotchy skin
● Clenched teeth
entusiastiq.blogspot.com/facial-expressions

Other Physical Behavior – Physical Pain
● Probing the pained area and wincing
● Hobbling about, taking tentative steps
● Tightness in the expression
● Shuddering breaths
● Taking a deep breath before moving
● Tight muscles, rigidness
● Expelling a grunt or pained hiss at exertion
● Asking for aid (to move, to get something, to call for help)
● Trying to sleep it off
● Short-temperedness
● Depression
● Gripping onto people or nearby objects for additional support
● Arms wrapped around middle
● Rocking back and forth

Emotional
Emotional pain can be described as heart-ache which results from a painful experience, such as the loss of a loved one. It can stem from depression, anxiety, disappointment, fear or guilt, and tends to worsen when you replay and relive painful, traumatic events that occurred in the past.

Other Physical Behavior - Emotional
Physical behavior may resemble other emotions such as disappointment, empathy, loneliness, or sadness.

● Clenched stomach
● Tight chest
● Hearing one's own heartbeat in ears
● A throbbing pain in chest
● Speechlessness
● Mouth opening in shock, gaping
● Shaking head in denial
● Tears, sobbing, wailing
● A clogged throat or thickness in throat
● Weariness; Numbness; ● Weak knees
● Shaking, trembling

Other Physical Behavior – Physical Pain\
● Rubbing at the offending spot
● Nausea
● Dizziness
● Fainting/blacking out
● Buckling knees
● Hallucinations
● Racing heart
● Pulsing blood
● Shaking fingers; Trembling limbs
● Pale or Blotchy skin
● Feeling cold or feverish
● Dry mouth
● Gasping for breath
● Screaming or crying; Moaning/groaning
● Sweating
● Biting lip

● Unable to articulate self to others
● Depression
● Flight response
● Unsteady of feet; stumbling
● Falling into a chair or slumping to the floor
● An inability to eat or sleep
● Obsessing on the person/event that causes the pain
●Anger; lashing out at those around you
● Wanting to be alone; avoiding others
● Closed body language: pulling knees to chest, curling up, slumping over chest, etc
● Kneading/rubbing or pressing at chest
● Loss of breath; ● Hyperventilation
● Head hanging down, hair in face
● Unkempt appearance
● Not caring about other's needs

RELIEF

Other Physical Behavior - continued
● Breaking down/tears
● A gasp, moan, shout
● Breaking down/tears
● A gasp, moan, shout

Facial Expression
● Pursed mouth,
● Eyes turn up, looking heavenward
● Wide eyes or lowered lids
● Slightly raised eyebrows
● A slow smile

Other Physical Behavior
● Hand covering mouth or eyes
● Back or palm of hand to forehead
● Letting out a long breath; whew!
● Shaking head and closing eyes
● Dry mouth
● Repeating self, talking too much
● A need to sit down and let the relief sink in

● Hands tremor
● Reaching out to another for comfort
wanting to be held
● Body slumping, losing stiff posture
● Shaky laughter
● Falling back into a chair; sagging against a wall
● Ask/demand someone to repeat good news
● Shaky knees, legs
● Struggle to speak, find the right words
● Crying/calling out in release
● Touching face, hair
● Rocking back and forth
● Mouth gaping in shock
● A compulsion to thank others involved
● Pressing hands to stomach, over heart
● Head bowing down briefly
● Compulsive nodding
● Letting head fall back
● Uttering a soft curse or thanking God

RELUCTANCE

You feel reluctance when you have to do something that you don’t feel like doing. For instance, when you remember you still have to do the dishes, when you have to spend money on a necessary car repair, or when friends urge you to tell an embarrassing story.

Although these routine examples are quite different, they follow the same principle: there is an activity that is unpleasant, but that you have to engage in for reasons that are more important than the displeasure.

The opposite is also possible; sometimes we refrain from doing something that is pleasant, but we know we shouldn’t do.

Facial Expression
● Pressing lips together
● Gritting teeth
● A grimace, a pained look
● Eyebrows squeeze together, a focused inward look of discomfort
● Eyes glance around uneasily
● The head pulling back as the shoulders push forward.
● A faked smile, filled with discomfort
● Biting lips
Facial expression may look similar to guilt.

Other Physical Behavior
● Hesitation in speech and in movement
● Tense arms, shoulders, or face.
● Pressing a hand to stomach
● A hard, obvious swallow
● Wetting lips and giving a jerky nod of assent
● Tension in arms, shoulders, face
● Biting nails
● Pinching the bridge of the nose and squeezing eyes tight
● Tapping a fist against the lip or other repetitive behaviors

Other Physical Behavior - continued
● Reaching out slowly to assist or take something
● Experiencing a moral dilemma
● Taking a deep breath before acting
●Backing away from a situation, avoiding notice
● Shaking hands, nervous twitching
●· Hands half curling into fists and then straightening
● Stuttering, stammering
● Making excuses, lying
● Holding a hand up, warding someone off
●Asking for someone else to help/ act instead
● A pained or look of guilt
● Hand fluttering to lips or neck, as if to cover
● General Fidgeting: running hand through hair distractedly, pacing, looking for an exit
● Trying to brush off the situation or pretend things are fine to avoid responsibility
● Jumpiness
● Trying to change the topic, divert attention, etc to not become involved
● Citing a list of things to prove why they are too busy, not well enough equipped to handle the task or is the wrong person to ask
● Closed body language; hands up in front

RESENTMENT

Facial Expression
Most often resentment causes a pinched and bitter facial expression.

Unlike many emotions, resentment does not have physical tags exclusively related to it that telegraph when a person is feeling this emotion. However, physical expressions associated with related emotions such as anger and envy may be exhibited, such as furrowed brows or bared teeth.

● Narrowed eyes; glaring eyes or refusing to make eye contact
● Frown
● Lips compressed and turned down
● Bared teeth
● Pouting
● Scrunched face

Other Physical Behavior
●·Crossing arms over chest
●·Hunched shoulders, pouting
●·Spinning away in a huff
●·Lifting your chin up sharply
●·Refusing to apologize, or giving a forced apology
● Rolling eyes
●·Rudeness
●·Complaining to others
●·Mumbling, muttering, cursing
●·Sulking, moping, whining

Other Physical Behavior - continued
●·A dark look, giving someone the 'stink eye'
●·Tension in neck, shoulders, arms
●·Sharp movements: stalking off, stomping up the stairs, swinging arms determinedly to show defiance
●·Displaying anger such as giving someone a shove, breaking something
●·Shouting
●·Locking oneself into a bedroom or bathroom, refusing to come out
●·Refusing to speak to someone or interact with others
●·Refusing to eat
●·Showing defiance through other means (doing or not doing something)
●·Purposely trying to push people's hot buttons to get them upset or ruin their time
●·Kicking at the table when sitting, thumping foot against a table leg or chair on purpose to annoy others
●·Having vengeful thoughts towards others
●·Angry tears
●·Accusing people (parents, teachers, a girlfriend/boyfriend, etc) of not loving them, or favoring someone else above them.
●·A desire to spoil other peoples moods
●·Gossip-mongering, trying to damage someone's reputation
●·Cattiness
●·Purposeful ignoring

RESIGNATION

Resignation is the state of surrendering because one must, often with little or no resistance. It is a kind of acceptance of the state of things and hoping the outcome will be favorable but accepting that it may not be. In a way, it’s giving up hope.

Facial Expression
● Loose jaw
● Lips slightly compressed and turned down at one corner or both
●Eyebrows pulled into a slight frown in center and turned up at sides
● Wrinkled forehead
● A dimming gaze; glazed eyes
● Trembling chin
● Bunching up bottom lip, then loosening
Facial expression much like sadness.

Other Physical Behavior
● Sighing dejectedly; A long exhale
● Slumped or sagging shoulders
● Blank features
● Stooped posture
● Shuffling footsteps
● Small steps
● Tears
● A monotone voice
● Becoming less verbal over time
● Answering with a small nod
● A half-hearted shrug
● Expression leaves face
● Looking down or away
● A mirthless smile
● Muttering, mumbling
● Movements are stilled
● Head in hands, silent tears
● Propping cheek up with fist

Other Physical Behavior - continued
● Being at a loss for words
●A shake of the head
● Head tipping back on neck to look skyward
● 'Falling' into a seat
● Agreeing without caring
● Rubbing hand through the hair in distraction
● Clasping hands together
● Leaning forward, elbows on knees
● Limp hands & arms
● Staring off at nothing
● Head hanging
●Feeling directionless
● Becoming less verbal; words trickle off
● General disinterest in everything
● Non responsive or slowed response to stimulus (loud noises, activity, a person speaking)
● A desire to sleep or tune out
● Depressed hunger and thirst

SADNESS / GRIEF

Sadness is a transient, or short-lived, emotional state generally associated with with negative moods and unhappy feelings.

Sadness is considered to be one of the basic human emotions and it is a natural response to those situations which involve psychological, emotional, and/or physical pain or loss.
entusiastiq.blogspot.com/facial-expressions

Sadness is characterized by oblique eyebrows, where the corrugator muscles pull the eyebrows in, but the inner part of the frontalis muscle pulls them up. There’s also a little pouching in the inner part of the forehead, and people will often look down. Plus, the corners of the lips are pulled straight down, giving the mouth a curved look.

The expression of sadness is often confused with shame, and it shares the oblique eyebrow muscle movements of compassion.

Facial Expression
● Eyebrows frowning, wrinkled forehead
● A little pouching in the inner part of the forehead
● Eyes half-lidded, looking down
● Teary eyes; eyes red and swollen from crying
● Downturned lips

Other Physical Behavior
● Tears pouring, dripping, coursing
● Makeup running
●·Splotchy skin● Stiff eyelids
●·Aching chest
● Scratchy throat; soreness in the throat, lungs
● Hyperventilating/can't catch breath
● Fainting
● World seems slow down
● Heaviness in chest, limbs
●·Wincing
●·Voice breaking; tearful voice
● Heart that is breaking, aching
● Difficulty responding to questions, interacting with people
● Staring down at hands

Other Physical Behavior – Longer-term Grief
● Constant ache
● Uncontrollable crying
● Lashing out at others
● Addictive behaviors
● Premature aging: wrinkles, tired eyes, gray/white hair
● Weight loss or gain
● Sickness; Lethargy
● Throwing oneself into activities
● Losing interest in usual hobbies
● Failing grades at school, lack of success
● Isolation; drops previous activities,
● Inward focus; forgetful
● Desire to not be alone or to be left alone
● Compulsive actions: cleaning, etc.
● Desire to live in the past
● Suicidal thoughts
● Loss of appetite
● Inability to focus; Aversion to noise, crowds
● Over-sensitive to jokes, comments
● Bulky clothes, unkempt appearance

SCARCASM / VERBAL DISRESPECT

Sarcasm is a thinly veiled attempt to disguise feelings of anger, fear, or hurt. It can be a means of diminishing feelings of vulnerability that may be experienced in the willingness to acknowledge the underlying feelings.

Facial Expression
● Pursing lips; A smirk or sneer
● Tilted head
● A deliberately raised eyebrow
● Eyes averted; rolling eyes or looking up
●A bemused smile (not all sarcasm is biting)
● Raising the chin so to create impression of looking down
● Narrowed eyes, eyes glittering with a hard or unkind amusement

Other Physical Behavior
● A toss of the head
● Stiffening posture
● Arms crossing the chest
● Cover face with hand
● Asking questions that imply you already know the answer or are asking loaded questions
● Choosing words that cut/degrade/diminish
●Sharing an unkind look with others, drawing attention to the object of sarcasm
● A stance that conveys haughtiness/power
● A dismissive hand wave, not important

Other Physical Behavior - continued
● Tossing out a rapid, snappy response
● A languid hand gesture that suggests you want the other person to speak or take the floor when it's clear you think they'll only prove their idiocy
● Encouraging someone to please add their thoughts in a tone that suggests they have nothing worthy to add
● Adding a low blow or derogatory comment to 'slam dunk the moment'
● Muttering or belittling under the breath, just enough to be heard
● Raising hands in the 'I give up gesture' and backing away, but with a smile that suggests you still feel they are in the wrong but it isn't worth the battle
● Shaking the head while another is speaking
● A loud smacking of the lips or tsk-ing in a condescending manner
● Verbally agreement infused with impatience or rudeness "Okay, sure. Whatever you say."
● Parroting someone else's words, but in such a way as to make them sound ridiculous (and therefore the idea)
● Making someone the center of attention in a negative way
● Belittling one's ideas, words or viewpoint
● Raising the voice to draw attention to one's words

SATISFACTION

Right now, things are looking pretty good!

Facial Expression
● Lifted Chin
● Tilted head
● A smirk, a twisting smile; Confident grin
●·A raised eyebrow and a 'See?' look
● Relaxed features
●An expression of supreme confidence (glow)

Other Physical Behavior
●·Crossing the arms over chest
●·A sleek walk that draws the eye (catlike, deliberate)
● Hands behind head and leaning back (sitting)
●·Apt dialogue that sums up the situation perfectly, a biting comment
●·Justified possessiveness
●·Telling someone, 'I told you so."

Other Physical Behavior - continued
●·Gossipy behavior at another's downfall (talking loud enough for them to hear, faking sympathy or empathy but secretly running them down, enjoying the fall from grace)
●·Shoulders back, head held high, straight posture
●·Taking deep breaths, savouring the moment
●Faking surprise or shock to remind someone you have the upper hand (rubbing it in)
●Tutting, patting another's hand, telling them it's all right, that you will take care of everything
●·Bragging
●·Jeering, taunting
●·A hand casually anchored on the hip
●Stretching arms out wide and taking a deep breath, relaxed, and in control of the moment
●·A hyper awareness of others, to see how your actions and words affect them
●·A deep, gratifying sigh
●·A lightness in the chest, tingling
●·Warmth spreading through body
●·Happiness over work done well, euphoria
●·Whistling, humming, contentment
●·Self-congratulations
●·Uncharacteristically generous/indulgent to others as a result of feeling gratification
●·A direct manner (eye contact, strength in voice, controlling the conversation)
●·Exhibiting power through confidence and alpha-male/female body language in group settings

SHAME
entusiastiq.blogspot.com/facial-expressions

Shame is a very simple display but a powerful one. It simply involves gaze aversion, with the head moving down so that the chin tucks into the neck. It's the opposite of pride: Whereas with pride our head tilts back and our chin goes up, shame often constricts our posture as a sign of submissiveness.

This expression is frequently confused with sadness. But shame doesn't involve the muscle movements of the sad face—the eyebrows pulled in and partly up, with the lip corners moving down.

Facial Expression
● Gaze aversion; inability to make eye contact
● Head down so chin tucks into the neck
● Flushed cheeks or neck
● A vacant or glazed stare
● Wet eyes; tears

Other Physical Behavior
● Constricted posture as a sign of submissiveness
● Hyper-sensitivity to noise, crowds, activity
● Flight reaction triggered: desire to flee,
● Pressing hands against cheeks, hard
● Crumpling onto a chair or sofa, pulling body limbs in toward the core
● Muttering, ‘How could I let this happen?’
● Hide face with hair, hat pulled low, hand
● Glancing down blankly at fingertips
● Shaking, trembling, shivering
● Hunched shoulders
● Feeling flu-like symptoms (nausea,sweat)
● Retreating from life, signs of depression (stop contact with friends, loved ones)
● Pressing palm over lips to hold back a cry or words
● Shaking head
● Letting out an uncontrolled moan
● Self-loathing, berating oneself, anger, disgust
● Punching fists against thighs to release frustration and/or to cause pain to self
● Violence to self (scratching, cutting, jabbing fingernails into skin)
● Lashing out at others to transfer anger or blame
● Vandalism, especially a desire to destroy one’s own things, to ruin things most important to self
● Taking risks, almost hoping to have something happen to ‘balance the scale’
● A scruffy look: baggy, bland clothing; a lost of interest in own appearance
● Feverish actions toward others involved (fawning, begging, following, even stalking) in order to be granted a chance to regain self-worth

SHYNESS

Shyness (also called diffidence) is the feeling of apprehension, lack of comfort, or awkwardness especially when a person is around other people, particularly in new situations or with unfamiliar people.

A shy person may simply opt to avoid these situations. The defining characteristic of shyness is a largely ego-driven fear of what other people will think of a person's behavior; a fear of negative reactions.

Stronger forms of shyness can be referred to as social anxiety or social phobia. In children, shyness may result from un-familiarity and not knowing what to expect.

Current research suggests the behavioral repertoire is orchestrated by a specific circuit of neurons in the brain, and it is also strongly influenced by parenting practices and life experiences.

Facial Expression
● Eyelids lowered; no direct eye contact
● Lowered head
● Half-smile
● May try to hide face

Other Physical Behavior
●Cling to something familiar such as another person; hiding behind them
● Hide face
● Leaving as soon as possible
● General fidgeting
● Cling to something familiar

SOMBERNESS

Somber means serious, grave, sad and without humor or entertainment reflected. A somber mood usually reflects external circumstances.

A long-term somber attitude may indicate the need for some medical intervention.

Facial Expression
● Unsmiling; lips together but not pressed
● Dark, serious eyes
● Eyes glazed; far away look; unfocused
● Face lacking energy or interest; pensive
● May resemble sadness with eyebrows frowning, wrinkled forehead and a little pouching in the inner part of the forehead

Other Physical Behavior
● Quiet, unmoving
● Soft spoken, devoid of emotion, deadpan, monotone voice
● A darker or weighted outlook, negativity
● Hands folded in lap
● Flaccid yet unwelcoming (closed) body language
● A tendency to look down
● A thoughtful expression, thinking before speaking
● Dark or heavy observations
● A bleak mood that affects others, lessens energy, brings people 'down'
● Melancholy, gloomy
● Loose posture
● Unstressed, accepting

Other Physical Behavior - continued
● A slow walk, seeming unaware or introspective
● Personality is subdued
● Humorless
● Non reactive to stimulus (laughter, excitement, activities) going on around them
● A desire to be alone
● Drab / plain clothing, lack of color
● Difficult to engage in conversation
● Sedate mannerisms, minimal or economical movement
● Non talkative; unresponsive; distracted
● Mediocre observations, accepting viewpoint of a negative outcome or realization
● Uninterested in usual hobbies or entertainments

EMOTION THESAURUS – PART 5 (Final) coming September 24

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emotion Thesaurus For Writers - Part 3

9/3/2021

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EMOTION THESAURUS – PART 3

FEAR

Fear is an emotion induced by perceived danger or threat, which causes physio-logical changes and ultimately behavioral changes, such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat.

Facial Expression
● Wide eyes or eyes squeezed closed
● Eyes staring but not seeing; glazed
● Jaw dropped slightly
● Eyebrows arched, or flattened and frowning
● Face ashen, white, or pallid
● Lips trembling
● Beads of sweat on upper lip, forehead, trickling down side of face

Other Physical Behavior
● Paralyzed; frozen in place
● Dizzy, weak, shaking, trying not to shake
● Clenched fists
● Loosening of the bladder; limbs going weak; fainting
● Nausea
●Dry mouth
● Crying
● Gasping for air, holding breath, rapid breathing
● Hands gripping something, white knuckles
hands twisting together
● Leg muscles tightening, ready to run
● Urge to flee; fight or flight reactions
● Stiff legs, stiff walking, knees locking
● Heart racing, near-exploding, dropping, skipping a beat; sound of heartbeat in ears
● Pulse hammering, in various body parts
● Shivery skin, flesh crawling
● Stomach dropping, shallow breaths
shaking head in denial
● Voice going shrill, stuttering, mispronouncing words
● Inability to speak
● Screaming or other vocalization of fear
● Hiding/denying fear through diversion, topic change
● Things moving in slow motion
● Body tension
● Uncontrollable whimpering, crying

FRUSTRATION

Frustration is a common emotional response to opposition, related to anger, annoyance and disappointment. It arises from the perceived resistance to the fulfillment of an individual's will or goal and is likely to increase when a will or goal is denied or blocked.

Facial Expression
● Mouth open, with or without sound
● Flushed cheeks

● Biting lips or pinched lips
● A clenched jaw
● Gritting teeth
● Tight eyes, a squint
● Facial tension, contortion, scrunching face

Other Physical Behavior
● Storming out of a room
● Clenching fists, waving arms
● Wringing hands
● Shaking head
● A heavy sigh, s strained voice
● Running hands through hair
● Angry tears
● Cursing, swearing, verbal outbursts
● A scathing tone
● Shaking, rage-filled voice
● Shaking fists
● Hot, fevered stare
● Forearm muscles appearing cut from stone
● Thoughts of violence, playing out fantasies of violence or humiliation for another
● Rash decisions, impaired judgment
● Reaching for someone in an attempt to throttle, cause pain, hit
● An inability to enjoy positive things or happiness
● Difficulty seating, sleeping, being near others

Other Physical Behavior
● Actively wishing or hoping for harm or misfortune to happen to another
● Bitter, seething words meant to provoke
● A black mood that no one can dispel or reach through
● Tense muscles, stiff posture, rigid shoulders, a lurching walk
● A fight (fists flying, punching manically with a desire to destroy)
● Flight response (to spin away from another person, leave with a quick, decisive stride; driving off in a car
● Rushing loud breaths; heaving chest
● A shoving match
● Spitting in someone’s face, at their feet or in their direction
● Explosive bursts: screaming, yelling, shouting without regard for other people or environment
● Acting on violent urges
● Irrational thoughts, taking risks or other violence to get even, a vendetta
● Single-minded focus on how to destroy another emotionally
● Starting hateful gossip, setting person up, rumors

GUILT

Other Physical Behavior
The behaviors listed herein, which come from many sources, are more realistic for some who is guilty of something, but isn’t really sorry. Or someone who is guilty who doesn’t want to be caught.

● Angry tears
● Cursing, swearing, verbal outbursts
● A scathing tone
● Shaking, rage-filled voice
● Shaking fists
● A scathing tone

Guilt is occurs when a person believes or realizes ‒ accurately or not ‒ that they have compromised their own standards of conduct or have violated universal moral standards and bear significant responsibility for that violation. Guilt is closely related to the concept of remorse, regret, as well as shame.

For the writer, this can a tricky emotion. The expression depends on whether or not the person believes what he did was wrong or he just don’t care. If the person doesn’t, he will look defensive or angry /resentful, or threatening, but not guilty. Or, as the child depicts, “I know it was wrong, but what’s the big deal?”

Facial Expression
● Clenched jaw, grinding teeth
● A pinched face, frigid features, mouth twisted into a snarl or sneer
● Biting lip or finger nail
● Set, slightly pinched, lips
● Lowered lids
● Hot, fevered stare

● Wishing harm or misfortune to happen to another
● Bitter, seething words to provoke
● A black mood no one can dispel
● Tense muscles, stiff posture, rigid shoulders, a lurching walk
● Fists flying, punching manically with a desire to destroy)
● Fight response; to spin away. leave
● Shaking, rage-filled voice
● Shaking fists
● Thoughts/ fantasies/ acts of violence,
● Rushing loud breaths; heaving chest
● A shoving match
● Spitting in someone’s face, at their feet or in their direction
● Explosive bursts: screaming, yelling
● Rash decisions, impaired judgment
● Irrational thoughts, taking risks
● Single-minded focus on destroying
● Starting hateful gossip, setting person up, rumors
● An inability to enjoy positive things or happiness
● Difficulty seating, sleeping, being near others

HAPPINESS / JOY

Happiness refers to a state of being happy or feeling pleasure and is usually short term.The major indicator is the genuine smile called a Duchenne smile which signals happiness.

It results from two muscle movements. Common to all smiles, the zygomatic muscle pulls the lips up at the corners. What makes a genuine smile is the muscles around the eyes which tighten, making wrinkles at the sides of the eyes and creates pouching of the lower eyelid. This is the smile of genuine happiness.
. entusiastiq.blogspot.com/facial-expressions

Facial Expression
● A genuine, relaxed smile
● Wrinkles around eyes, pouching of the lower lid
● Crinkling of the face with a genine smile
● Laughing
● Eye contact
● Eyes sparkle and are alert

Other Physical Behavior
Remember, hate involves an appraisal that a person or group is evil. While hate relates to other negative emotions, it also has unique features, such as the motivation to eliminate the object of your hate. It’s a long term emotion rather than a short-term emotion. Revenge is often a part of hate.

● A light step, floating walk, skipping
● Humming/whistling/singing
● Relaxed appearance, posture straighter
● A need to share the happiness with others

Other Physical Behavior
● Seemingly at ease with the world
● Taps foot to music, or lightly taps on something without music
● Laughs and smiles frequently
● Interacts with others
● Bright, half-full attitude
● Shares with others, talkative
● Courteous with strangers
● Shows patience
● Shows interest /notices small things around them (smelling the roses, so to speak)
● Affectionate
● More likely to be helpful
● Shows enjoyment of stimulus (sways to music, closes eyes to savor food, etc)
nods as others speak or leans in to show interest
● Bubbling laughter, happy bursts of screaming, shouting, laughter, squeals, giggles
● rapid speaking
● A feeling of breathlessness
● Happy tears
● Clasping hands before chest
● Shaking with excitement
● Big movements (leaping, fist pumping, running)
● Pounding heart
● Tingling hands

HATRED

Hatred as an emotion is often misused and misunderstood. It is one that has many gradations. When most people say they hate something, they are exaggerating or merely mean dislike or annoying.

Kids use it to mean things that are unfamiliar, foreign, formidable, or for-bidden. As teenagers it is primarily a verbal sign growing up (of “hormone fueled adolescence”) and usually means dislike or annoying.

Facial Expression
In social situations, facial expressions of hatred are most likely covered up and come across as less intense, such as disgust, anger, distrust.
When hate is expressed sincerely, different facial expressions may predominate.

● Narrowed eyes
● Direct piercing stare, hard and cold
● Deep Frown
● A pinched face, frigid features
● Mouth twisted into a snarl or sneer
● Lips tighten and compress or lift up on one side to show teeth
● Partially raised lids
● Jaw clenches; teeth clench
● Face may redden
● Nostrils flare
● Eyes narrow, making them appear cold, hard;
glaring
● Clenched jaw, grinding teeth

Other Physical Behavior
● Angry tears
● Cursing, swearing
● Overt expressions of anger, contempt, rudeness
● Shaking fists
● Hot, fevered stare

Other Physical Behavior
● A scathing tone
● Shaking, rage-filled voice
● Hard forearm muscles
● Thoughts of violence, playing out fantasies of violence or humiliation for another
● Actively wishing or hoping for harm or misfortune to happen to another
● Bitter, seething words meant to provoke
● A black mood
● Irrational thoughts or actions for revenge
● Tense muscles, stiff posture, rigid shoulders, a lurching walk
● Gripping at own hair and pulling as if to release some internal pressure
● A fight response such as fists flying, punching manically with a desire to destroy)
● Flight reflex such as spinning away from the person, leave with a quick, decisive stride; driving off in a car, peeling rubber)
● Rushing loud breaths; heaving chest
● A shoving match

HAUGHTINESS/ SMUGNESS/ SUPERIORITY

Smugness shares with arrogance a high degree of self-satisfaction and a sense of some kind of superiority over others, but it typically manifests itself quietly and indirectly, without brashness.

Facial Expression
● Lifting one’s chin
●·Head back and literally looking down the nose at someone
● Deliberately raised brows and half-lidded eyes
● Quirked lips or self-satisfied smile; a sneer
● Tilted head
● Wrinkle of nose like distaste
● Rolling eyes

Other Physical Behavior
● Crossing arms
● If sitting, leaning back, particularly with arms raise behind head
● Dismissive nod or glance (gazes settles briefly then flicks away as if the other is unworthy
● Annoyed huffing sigh
● Waving a hand in dismissal
● Leaning in aggressively as if to challenge
● Using words to agree with opposite tone.
● A challenging look radiating superiority
● Perfect posture, shoulders back, exposed neck
● A determined walk, strut or swagger
● A loud voice, bragging, full of bluster
● Conversation that belittles opposing others' ideas /beliefs; one’s own ideals
● Talking over people, controlling discussion
● Domineering others (invading another’s personal space)

Other Physical Behavior
● Tossing one’s hair back, a shake of the head
● Adopting a sudden ‘pondering’ pose (hand clasping chin, an inward gaze as if struck by deep thoughts)
● Settling back in a chair with exaggerated casualness
● Actions that direct all attention to themselves and away from anyone else
● Extreme pride in appearance and objects one owns
● Careful consideration in friendships, purchases, places where one is seen
● A deliberate crossing of the legs or clasping of the hands
● Fidgeting with jewelry in order to draw attention to it
● Overplaying closeness or friendship
● Reminding someone of a past mistake to ‘rub it in’
●·Uses sarcasm to cut others down

HOPEFULNESS

Hope is like a snap-shot of a person’s current goal-directed thinking, highlighting the motivated pursuit of goals and the expectation that those goals can be achieved.

Facial Expression
● Head tilted upward
● Eyes closed
● Eyes open, shiny, and looking upward
● A serious sincere smile or half-smile

Other Physical Behavior
●Hands clasped in prayer, pressed to lips, eyes closed or looking upward
● Fingers crossed, sometimes behind back
● Actual Prayer/plea to God "Please let this work!"
● Covering the mouth with a hand
● Holding of breath
● Steepled fingers covering mouth, held under or against nose
● Flutter in the belly
● Lighthearted feeling
● A gasp or shriek (more likely a reaction to first hearing or actually happening)
●Clutching at the chest or belly
●Floaty feeling
● Tingling limbs
● Rapid swallowing & nodding
● Movement; keeping busy
● Nervous energy
● Quiet prayer
● Gaze darting to a person or object that symbolizes hope

Other Physical Behavior
● Brightened countenance
● Deep breaths
● Straighter posture/higher carriage
● A jolt through the body
● Waving/flapping hands
● Bouncing on the balls of feet
● Quivering breaths
● Trembling voice
● Eyes shining with tears
● An effort to not get too excited (clasped hands, holding oneself still, etc)
● A sense of calm; Belief it will work out
● Refusing to consider, speak of, or listen to the negative possibility
● Making enthusiastic preparations for 'best case scenario'
● Chattiness, babbling
● Verbalizing what can be done to encourage the best possibility to happen
● Rapt, positive attention on a task or person involved

HUMILIATION

Humiliation is the emotion you feel when your status is lowered in front of others. You may feel annoyed with yourself when you make a mistake or fail to know an answer, but unless others are around to witness it, that’s all you’ll feel. You need other around to fell truly humiliated.

Facial Expression
● Red in neck, cheeks
● Bowed head
● Scrunch face
● Close eyes
● Teary eyes
● Bite lip
● Turn down mouth
● shake head

Other Physical Behavior
● Cover face with hands or something else
● Shrink into one’s self; become small
● Hold self around middle
● Hand(s) to head or chest
● Apologize and divert conversation
● Blame someone else,
● Beat a hasty retreat without apology
● Rough, jerky movements

Other Physical Behavior
● Teary eyes or real tears: swipe at them with back of hand
● Tongue tied and can’t talk; stutter
● Act like nothing has happened; buck up and put on a smiling face
● Try to make a joke of it
● Apologize and retreat
● Stiff posture

HURT
Hurt can be both physical and emotional

Other Physical Behavior – Physical Hurt
● Heavy limbs/ numbness
● Sudden clenching of stomach
● Won’t make eye contact
● Flinching with physical hurt
● Hunching over, pressing hand to the injury
● Watery, hot eyes that rapidly give over to uncontrollable crying

Other Physical Behavior – Emotional Hurt
● Weeping
● Speechlessness
● Moaning, groaning, crying out
● Heavy limbs/ numbness

Facial Expression
● Mouth agape
● Teeth Gritted
● Stiff jutting jaw
● Blinking rapidly
● Teary bright eyes; glazed eyes
● Eyes scrunched closed, puckered forehead and frown
● Forehead scrunched and squinting eyes
● Tics in face
● Lips compressed and mouth turned down

Other Physical Behavior – Physical Hurt
It would be impossible to list all the feeling of physical pain someone who is ill or injured can feel. This is a best attempt at generalization and physical actions.
● Weeping
●▪Physical pain specific to illness or injury
● Speechlessness
● Moaning, groaning, crying out

● Feeling of nausea
● Sudden clenching of stomach
● Won’t make eye contact
● A jerking walk or run (fleeing others or a circumstance)
● Heaviness of heart
● Self-loathing
● Lashing oput at anything close to hand, damaging property, etc, finding release in breaking things and causing damage
● Replaying the hurtful event over and over
● Asking questions: "How could she? Why me?"
● Crumpling into a ball, sagging onto a chair, sliding to the floor with back to the wall
● Retreating to a safe place and not coming out
● Showing signs of depression (retreating inward)
● Hurt manifesting as violence
● Feeling of nausea

IMPATIENCE

Other Physical Behavior
● Fussing with appearance
● Door or window watching
● Straying attention
● Feeling exhausted or strained to the limits
● Fidgeting, moving about in a seat
● Whining, grumbling or pouting (small children)
● Changing places to wait; sitting to standing,
●General fidgeting
● Muttering, shaking the head, talking to oneself
● An inability to focus on other things or people
● Attempting to distract oneself

INDIGNANT

Facial Expression
● A tightness to the face
● Lips pressed together in a fine line
● Frowning
● Puffing out cheeks
● Tilting head; propping it up with hand
● Exasperated sighing
● A clenched jaw, gritting teeth

Other Physical Behavior
● A tapping foot; Clicking fingernails against a table
● Glancing down at wristwatch, or at a wall clock
● Pacing
● A sharp tone, using as few words as possible to answer
● Attention snaps toward small sounds or movement
● Complaining to others or mumbling a complaint to self under the breath: "Where is he?" or "What is taking so long?"
● Holding a drink or plate of food to be polite but not drinking/eating it
● An ingenuine smile

Indignation is a complex emotion triggered by feelings of anger and disgust. The feeling of indignation can occur when one is mistreated by another or negative feelings are sparked by situations or actions that are considered to be unjust.

Facial Expression
● Lips pressed thin
● Rolling eyes, eyes avoiding contact, squinted
● Frown and compressed lips
●Mouth agape
● Eyes bulging
● Rapid blinking
● Color rising in cheeks

Other Physical Behavior
● Hands on hips
● Exhaling impatiently, snorting
● Sputtering, stuttering over words, broken sentences
● Speechlessness
● Evasive maneuvers while trying to formulate a response (roving eyes, fidgeting hands)
● Raised voice, yelling, cursing
●· Vehement denial, even in the face of logic
●· Looking to others for back-up or confirmation
●· White knuckles, tense jaw, muscles, etc.

ther Physical Behavior
● Jerking, tossing, shaking of the head
● Throwing hands in air
● Crossing arms over chest
● Stalking away
● Sharp, spastic movements; general fidgeting
● Slapping hands over top of the head
● Shaking splayed fingers close to ears as if to contain thoughts/outrage
●To ward someone off with a hand, stopping them from speaking further
● To hold a shaking index finger up at someone in warning to say no more
● Using anger as an excuse to leave

INTERESTED

entusiastiq.blogspot.com/facial-expressions

Interest is a feeling or emotion that causes attention to focus on an object, event, or process. In contemporary psychology of interest, the term is used as a general concept that may encompass other more specific psychological terms, such as pleasure, curiosity and, to a much lesser degree, surprise.

Facial Expression
● The frontalis muscles raise our eyebrows straight up
● Corners of lips turn up in a slight smile, suggesting pleasure.
● Eyes will contract
● Gaze focuses on the object of interest
● Wide eyes, sharp and focused

Other Physical Behavior
● Hands to face
● Intense concentration
● Straight posture, alert
● Minimal fidgeting and moving around

This emotion is opposite disinterest.

IMPATIENCE

Facial Expression
● Squinting or narrowing eyes
● Puffing out cheeks
● Jutting chin; clenched jaw, gritting teeth
● Tightness to face

Other Physical Behavior
● General fidgeting
● Pacing
● Repetitive nervous motions such as tapping foot, clicking fingernails of table, crossing and uncrossing legs

Impatience is an unwillingness to wait for something or someone.

But cognitive science says impatience is a survival emotions arising from our hunter-gatherer days and told us when to move on from a place that was no longer feeding us.

Facial Expression
● Compressed lips; pout
● Frown
● A focused stare, seemingly at nothing

● Propping up head or chin with hand
● Glancing at wristwatch or clock
● A sharp tone, using as few words as possible
● Tilting head
● Letting out a heavy sigh
● Constant checking for phone messages
● Increased tension in face, shoulders, neck
● Stiff posture·
● Veiled anger or light sarcasm

INDIGNATION

Indignation is a complex and discrete emotion that is triggered by The feeling when one is mistreated by another or negative feelings are sparked when a situation is out of the normal realm of society.

Facial Expression
● Lips pressed thin with frown and narrowed eyes
● Rolling eyes, Break in eye contact
● Eyes bulging or rapid blinking
● Mouth dropping open
● Mouth open in a “What the heck?” shape, teeth usually showing
● Color rising in cheeks or neck

Other Physical Behavior
● Exhaling impatiently, snorting
● Sputtering, stuttering over words, broken sentences
● Speechlessness
● Evasive maneuvers while trying to formulate a response
● Raised voice, yelling, cursing, vehement denial
● Looking to others for back-up or confirmation
● Jerking, tossing, shaking of the head
● Hands on hips, Hands thrown in air
● Crossing arms over chest
● Walking away
● Sharp, spastic movements
● Slapping hands over top of the head
● Shaking splayed fingers close to ears as if to contain thoughts/outrage
● Putting palm out to stop someone from speaking further
● Shaking index finger up at someone in warning
● To accuse another, “How dare you!”
● Using anger as an excuse to leave/ to stalk off/ speed away in a car
● White knuckles, tense jaw, muscles
● Stiff posture, shoulders set
● Flinching, recoiling, taking a step back
● Snapping back with a cheap shot in retaliation

JEALOUSY

Extroverted Response – Other Physical Behavior Continued
● Sitting against a wall, holding knees to chest and staring off angrily
● Minor destruction as a release: Crumpling paper, pop cans, breaking pencils
● Muttering unkind things under breath
● Rash decisions (impulsively quit a team, group or storm out of party/event)
● Refusing to speak to others
● Crossing arms in front of chest

Jealousy is a complex emotion that en-compasses feelings ranging from suspicion to rage to fear to humiliation. It strikes people of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations, and is most typically aroused when a person perceives a threat – real or imagined -- to a valued relationship from a third party.

Facial Expression
● Pouting
● Sullen looks, glowering
● Hot eyes, tears form
● Pursed or tightly pressed lips
● Clenching teeth

Introverted Response – Other Physical Behavior
● Retreat from activity/cause the jealousy
● Quick, sharp movements (swiping tears from cheeks, shoving hair back behind ear, getting up fast and knocking something over in haste)
● Minor self-mutilation (scratches self, press fingernails into skin) using pain to feel better

Extroverted Response – Other Physical Behavior
●Jeering, calling names, running someone down
● Starting rumors, acting catty
● Shoving person who causes feelings of jealousy
● Acting out through petty crimes (scratching the person’s locker or car; stealing or hiding something small they care about, hiding
● Bullying: pushing, hitting, pinching someone weaker
● Sneering, rudeness
● Spitting in the direction of the person/object of jealousy
● Kicking at something nearby (garbage can, dandelion head, pebble, chair)
● Showing off
● A desire for revenge
● Pulling a stunt or pranks to regain attention
● Goading a weaker person into an argument

Emotion Thesaurus - Part 4 coming next week - September,10, 2021

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LA ISLA DE LA MUNECAS

8/27/2021

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La Isla de la Munecas ‒ Island of the Dolls ‒ is located in the borough of Xochimilco, Mexico, a two hour boat ride from Mexico City, on Teshuilo Lake.

The city of Xochimilco, nearby, is best known for its canals and floating gardens, remnants of a large lake and canal system that connected most of the settlements in the Valley of Mexico more than a hundred years ago.

Boat and gondola tours take visitors through the canals and the location is quite beautiful.

The Floating Gardens
Image Source: lorriegrahamblog.com

A typical tour gondola - Image Souce:
tripadvisor.com/Reviews-The_Island_of_the_Dolls

Location Map / Mexico - Image Source: britannica.com/place/Xochimilco

Image Source: .adventures-abroad.com/blog

The gardens are not just for sightseeing. It is a place where real people go about their business of daily living like this bargeman taking flowers to the markets

DON JULIAN SANTANA BARRERA
In the 1950s a man named Don Julian Santana Barrera, from La Asunción, Mexico, was ridiculed for spreading the word of the Lord Jesus Christ at a time when only anointed priests had the right to do so. The locals disapproved of Don Julian’s approach to his beliefs to the extent that ultimately he was beaten for his sin.

Although he was married and had a family, he withdrew to a small island in Lake Teshuilo, as either the owner of the island or the caretaker. He was the only inhabitant and chose to live there alone for the last fifty years of his life.

THE LEGEND
There are two versions of the legend of the Island of the Dolls, the name given to the island where Don Julian lived. One version of the story is that Don Julian, after he moved to the island alone, found a little girl drowned under mysterious circumstances and was sad he hadn’t been able to save her life. [There is no mention anywhere of what those mysterious circumstances were.]
Don Julian Santana Barrera
Image Source: isladelasmunecas.com/

The other story is that there were three little girls playing on a small island on Teshuilo Lake when one of them drowned. As a result, the area became known as a haunted spot and no one came there, except Don Julian, who lived there.

Whichever beginning is true ‒ if either ‒ the stories converge when, not long after the girl's death, Don Julian found a doll floating in the water close to the same place where the girl drowned. He assumed it had belonged to her, and hung it on a tree as a sign of respect, a sort of memorial. There was no sinister or weird intent.

Image Source:
amusingplanet.com/island-of-dolls

As he found more dolls, he began hanging them on trees as protection from the evil spirit and to calm the spirit of the dead girl. He began searching for discarded dolls everywhere and brought them to his island as an offering. Don Julian had a garden and sold fresh produce to the locals. As the legend of his obsession with dolls grew, the villagers began to bring broken and discarded dolls to trade for vegetables.
Image Source: picden.blogspot.com

Barrera didn't clean or mend the dolls, just hung them up. Over fifty years, he collected hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dolls in varying degree of decay and dismemberment. Even dolls in good shape when they were hung, suffered from exposure to sun, wind, and rains over many years. He made the entire island into a shrine.

Locals today think of the island as an "enchanted" place, not a "haunted" place. Others believed Don Julian had gone mad and thought the dolls to be real children who he pulled from the canal and tried to revive.

The Island of the Dolls was not generally known until the 1990s when the civil authorities began a project to clean up the canals. In the process, the outside world discovered Barrera’s doll cemetery. Word spread and people began to come to see the island. Don Julian, seeing the potential for charging a fee to see his shrine, welcomed them and showed people around. Image Source: flickr.com/photos/4479387285

ONE OF THE MOST CREEPY PLACES ON EARTH
When Don Julian died in 2001, he was found, by his nephew, drowned in the same location as the little girl. Many people said that the dolls had taken over his role as the island’s caretaker. Others believed the tortured spirits conspired to murder the old man.

The family members, who now run the island as a tourist attraction, state that Don Julian died of natural causes [heart attack], and his nephew is now the caretaker of the island [not the dolls].

The truth is that Don Julian simply believed the island was haunted by the spirit of the little girl. For reasons only known to Don Julian himself, he believed that he could make the dead girl happy and keep evil at bay by hanging discarded dolls in all of the island’s trees.
Since his death the island has been open to the public, but you can only get there by taking a ferry or gondola from Mexico City.

Some visitors find the island terrifying, and over the past two decades the island has gained the reputation as one of the creepiest placers on earth. Others find it incredibly sad.

No one recommends going there at night.

ISLAND OF THE DOLLS

Image Source: Image Source:
tripadvisor.com/Reviews-The_Island_of_the_Dolls wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Island_of_the_Dolls

Image Source: ualplaces.org/island-of-the-dolls/

Image Source:
travel.spotcoolstuff.com/ceepy-places

Image Source:metro.co.uk/2014/welcome-to-the-island-of-the-dolls

Said to be the Oldest Doll on the island

The creepiest place on earth? I don't know personally, but this is good enough for me.

JUST SAY'IN

Sources:
ttp://http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/mexicos-island-of-the-dolls-is-beyond-creepy.html
http://isladelasmunecas.com/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/14/islas-de-las-munecas_n_5663181.html
http://www.mexicovacationtravels.com/ruins/isla-de-las-munecas-mexicos-island-of-the-dolls.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xochimilco
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xochimilco
http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/04/island-of-dolls-mexicos-creepiest.html

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Qualities Of The Romance-Novel Hero

8/20/2021

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HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO
According to Bonnie Tyler, a hero is defined as a good man who is strong, fast, sure, fresh from the fight and rising with heat; a god, a street-wise Hercules, a Superman who will sweep her off her feet; a white knight on a fiery steed racing on the thunder and larger than life. “Holding Out For A Hero”, by songwriters Dean Pitchford and Jim Steinman

And Bonnie is not going to settle for anything less! What about the heroines in our romance novels? Should they have to settle for the average Joe with a Ford pickup rather than a fiery steed? Pride and Prejudice
By Jane Austen

THE HERO OF ROMANCE ERA LITERATURE
The "Romance Hero" first began appearing in literature during the Romantic period, in works by such authors as Byron, Keats, Pushkin, Goethe and is seen, in part, as a response to the French Revolution. The novels from the Romantic era literature featured a different sort of hero than romance novel favor today; referred to a Byronic hero who:

● Rejects All Kinds of Authority in favor of his own rules for morality and personal behavior. In other words, he refuses to be cast in someone else’s mold. He creates his own moral code which, as it must, turns out to be for the better.

● Is Highly Introspective and Seeks Self-Knowledge which, combined with rejection of the social norms, leads to a feeling of disconnection with others. This could lead to cynicism and bitterness, but doesn’t have to result in distain for others.

● Has Feelings Of Wanderlust driven by the need for self-discovery, and often leaves home to find himself.

● Is Haunted by the Past, some secret, tragedy, disappointment, betrayal, forbidden love which haunts the hero and deepens his feelings of rejection and isolation.
Golden Fire
By Kathy Jones

THE INFAMOUS BODICE RIPPER
Forbidden love featuring a brooding and arrogant alpha male vs. feisty and rebellious virgin. He is drop dead handsome and bossy, she is gorgeous, and there is plenty of rolling in the hay. Bodice Rippers always involve a plot with seduction of the heroine.

Bodice Ripper is a derogatory reference to a type of romance novel, usually historical, which starred a testosterone-fueled hunk whose intent was to have his way with the innocent heroine and often included violent sexual content.

Alpha male characteristics, many of which are not necessarily undesirable by themselves include:
● Dominant                                       ● Fast decision maker
● Goal Driven                                   ● Rarely admit their mistakes
● Intelligent                                       ● Doesn’t allow others to interfere in his life
● Usually unemotional ● Not affected by criticism
● Controlling                                     ● Has great intuitive sense
● Fearless                                         ● A leader
● Successful ● Can be charming

In the Bodice Ripper, however, many of the characteristics above are combined with the less attractive ones below:
● Lustful / sexual prowess ● selfish and self centered
● Arrogance                                      ● Ruthless
● Ill-mannered                                  ● Rippling muscles
● Prideful                                          ● Disrespectful of women and others
● Disrespectful of authority ● Overbearing
● Merciless ● Nasty temper
● Tall, dark, and roguishly handsome and doesn’t hesitate to use that to get what he wants

These heroes must have had some redeeming qualities also ‒ there has to be something that brings the heroine around to liking him ‒ but his stereotype traits rarely change throughout the story. Maybe the heroine just learns to love him despite his being a piece of work.

Bodice Rippers contributed to all romance novels being looked down by other mainstream authors as not-real-writing and gave a bad rap to both romance novels and historical. Published widely in the 1970s and 1980s, these works of fiction preceded the era of modern romance literature and women’s fiction

Even in 2021 there are those who pooh-pooh the romance genres as being “lowbrow literature for middle-aged women," despite the fact that romance literature captures nearly 30% of the fiction market and generates the highest revenue of all fiction, approximately $1.44 billion per year. Ruby-Fruit Jungle
By Rita Mae Brown

MODERN ROMANCE: This Ain’t Your Great- Grandma’s Romantic Hero!
Wherever this phrase came from, it’s appropriate to modify the language to set it back a generation. Today, it’s your Grandma who is authoring many of those up to date and more explicit romances including erotica, erotic romance, fantasy, science fiction, time travel, shape shifter, contemporary and historical.

The romance novel has come a long way and now features very different heroes and heroines, including those with the challenges of physical handicaps, unusual professions, mixed-race and same-gender relationships.

Most modern romance authors would probably say their aim is to create a strong heroine that the readers can identify and a hero, whom the readers can lust after, who is worthy of the heroine and having his happily-ever-after. Not an easy task, and not all readers will respond in the same way to the characters. That is why there is such a variety of character types, relationships, and subgenres to choose from.

WHAT ROMANCE AUTHORS SAY ABOUT THE ROMANTIC HERO
1. almostanauthor.com/
The heroine and the reader must both fall in love with the hero. He should be strong, but not overbearing, not abusive, vulnerable enough to need the heroine as well as being intelligent, capable, fascinating, and good looking.

2. Maggie Boyd ‒ allaboutromance.com/the-ideal-romantic-hero
● Laughing eyes, sunny nature, sense of humor
● Sense of chivalry
● Cheerful personality (you just can’t be miserable around him)
● A good listener, particularly with the heroine
● Willing to risk himself for the heroine
● Honorable
● Loyal
● Sense of duty
● Complex
● Grows and changes in the story
● A decent human being
● A good lover, physically and emotionally
● Accepts the heroine for who she is
● Treats the heroine well, like a partner
● Kind to children, th4e elderly, and animals
● A self-made man (not in to money, but character)
● Has faults and flaws but he ultimately redeems himself
● Has a softer side
● Deserves his happy ending

3. Zara West - zarawestsuspense.com/characteristics-romance-hero/

● Deserving: Every hero needs to deserve our empathy and to have the readers root for him.
● Believable: The hero’s thoughts, actions, and reactions must make sense; what he says must make sense in terms of why he says it.

● Mysterious: He has something hidden in his background which drives his actions goals, and explains them when revealed.

● Unique: He has something different from every other hero ‒ a skill, occupation, quirk, talent, physical feature ‒ that makes him stand out.

● Ability to love: He may start out rejecting the notion of love, but has the capacity to commit heart and soul to another person.

● Brave: A true hero takes action to protect what he loves and believes in even if he is terrified or it risks his life, property, or future happiness.

● A Dream or Goal: Like all characters, he has to have a goal; he hs to want something. The original goal may unworthy, byt goals change as the character grows.

● An Obstacle or Enemy: As in any novel, there has to be something that comes between him and his goal, and it can’t be an easy resolution. Conflict!

● Flaws: No human is perfect, especially romance heroes. They may be handsome and likable and brave, but they also have to be real people.

● Ability to Grow and Change: It is not just enough for the hero to know his goal is a mistake or that he has flaws or he’s defected the enemy. He must use that knowledge to change into a better man, a man more worthy of love, than he was at the beginning of the story.

4. Sara Humphreys ‒ freshfiction.com/romance-heroes

● Protective instincts: A true hero who will do anything and everything to protect the people he cares about.

● Loyalty: He must be loyal in general and sees no other woman but the one he loves.

● Generous lover: A romance hero who isn’t generous in the bedroom is not going to gain the reader’s sympathy. He has tgo be attentive.

● A sense of humor: If a man can’t make his woman laugh, he’s going to find it hard to get out of a lover’s spat gracefully. Laughter is a potent aphrodisiac.

5. Anne Marble ‒ writing-world.com/romance/heroes.shtml
Most women read romance novels because they want to read about the hero.

●There are many types of heroes: Some are leaders, others are poets, many are rakes or bad boys. The important thing is your reader be able to relate to him.

● Heroes have flaws: The author can start with the most despicable hero ever, but he must redeem himself and the transformation has to be believable. It’s best not to make too flawed, and make the flaws fit the storyline.

● Don’t let his flaws overwhelm the story: The flaws should not overwhelm what is heroic about the hero. Romance heroes are good men even with the flaws.

● The hero’s background should dictate his flaws: A great trick of characterization is to have the positive traits complement the flaws

● The hero must be devoted to the heroine: How and where the heros shows his devotion depends on the type o hero and the needs of the story. A rough-around-the-edges hero most likely will not show his devotion be dedicating a book of poetry to her, although it would be a wonderful twist if he did.

● The heroine must not be TSTL: Too stupid to live.

● Always consider the hero and the heroine together: Although they are separate people and must be individuals, the hero and the heroine are two part of one relationship.It is almost always necessary for the relationship to become threatened, sometimes by external forces they have no control over that drives the lovers apart. More often than not, it is the hero or heroine or both, who threaten the relationship ‒ and they are the only ones who can put it back together.

● The hero and heroine must have goals: It can be the same goal but different approaches or opposite goals that have driven them apart. There must be conflict in trying to achieve the goals.

● Don’t treat your characters like puppets: Sometimes, your characters may refuse to act as they “should.” When your characters act willfully, it may mean you’ve put them in the wrong story or they have reason to be acting differently. They can, and will, take over your story if they have been created to replicate real people.

WHAT PSYCHOLOGISTS SAY ABOUT HEROIC CHARACTERISTICS
Since there is no “hero” gene that science knows of, what makes a real life hero? No one invented by an author.

In 2010, a scientific paper was published about the characteristics of real life heroes. The findings concluded that a one-time hero, who rushes (once) into a burning building and carries someone to safety, doesn’t have traits that are different from the non-hero control group.

“By contract, people who engage in lifelong heroism, such as professional nurses who regularly comfort the sick and dying, do share a number of important personality traits such as empathy, nurturance, and a needs to live by a moral code.” They perform such actions without any expectation of reward or external gain and with the recognition and acceptance of service to others who are in need. Kendra Cherry, verywellmind.com/kendra-cherry-2794702

Another study published in 2015 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggests that real life heroes have twelve basic traits:

● Bravery                   ● Conviction                         ● Courage
● Determination ● Helpfulness                       ● Honesty
● Inspiration ● Moral integrity                   ● Protectiveness
● Self-sacrifice ● Selflessness ● Strength

Romance authors can’t go wrong using these traits as a guide for their heroes, along with some of those elements necessary to write good fiction.

TAKE AWAYS
The hero has to be a decent human being at his core, no matter what his background and experience have made him. Ultimately he must grow and change and redeem himself and become worthy of a modern heroine who is usually strong and independent.

Of course, the writer should know the market and write the hero ‒ and all the characters ‒ to resonate with those likely to read the book. The reader doesn’t have to like the hero at first, but he must be intriguing and unique enough for the reader to want to find out what happens.

No single hero will have all the good ‒ or bad ‒ qualities listed. The author needs to put some advance thought into what and who the hero is and utilize those traits that will result in the hero’s attitudes and behaviors.

Looks shouldn’t make a difference to the novel unless it is integral to the storyline. Even then, handle with care.

The hero should have a strong personality but has fixable flaws and is vulnerable in some way, He should have a sense of humor, be intelligent and self-aware. He has internal conflict.

But tell me, why do none of these lists include “integrity” as an important characteristics? The scientists got it but not the romance authors.

JUST SAY’IN
■
SOURCES:
https://www.almostanauthor.com/crafting-hero-part/
https://classroom.synonym.com/qualities-romantic-hero-8738561.html
https://www.zarawestsuspense.com/10-characteristics-great-romance-hero/
https://www.mvorganizing.org/what-are-the-qualities-of-a-romantic-hero/
https://libertabooks.com/craft/romantic-hero-qualities/
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-characteristics-romantic-hero-389399
https://www.cram.com/essay/Romantic-Hero-Characteristics/FJCC4GN946T
https://liveboldandbloom.com/11/personality-types/characteristics-of-hero
https://allaboutromance.com/the-ideal-romantic-hero/
https://seducedbyhistory.blogspot.com/2010/06/bad-boys-bad-boys.html
https://www.zarawestsuspense.com/10-characteristics-great-romance-hero/
https://www.writing-world.com/romance/heroes.shtml
https://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=4975
https://www.verywellmind.com/kendra-cherry-2794702
https://themindfool.com/alpha-vs-beta-vs-gamma-vs-omega-vs-delta-vs-sigma-personality/
https://writeromancenovelsthatsell.com/
https://romancetheguyspov.blogspot.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/bodice-ripper
https://www.bustle.com/articles/115631-13-romance-novels-that-should-be-on-every-womans-bucket-list
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_hero#:~:text=The%20Romantic%20hero%20is%20a%20literary%20archetype%20referring,on%20the%20character%27s%20thoughts%20rather%20than%20their%20actions.

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August Is Romance Awareness Month

8/13/2021

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HAPPY ROMANCE AWARENESS MONTH!
With the lazy days of summer in full swing and long, fun-filled days, August is the perfect month to celebrate romance.

Created by Eileen Buchheim, founder of “Celebrate Romance”, this event is meant to encourage couples to improve their relationships through romance all year long. Sometimes the smallest gestures mean the most, because it’s all about showing how much you care.

KEEP THE ROMANCE GOING ALL YEAR
To help inspire you, “Createdwithlove.com” lists a number of ways for couples to honor and celebrate Romance Awareness Month.

Giving romance a little nudge in the right direction doesn’t take much. Simple gestures, some fun things, and a bit of quality time can make a huge difference. Here are some ideas from “Createdwithlove.com”:

Create an “I Love You to Pieces” Jar
Fill up a mason jar with your partner’s favorite candy or cookies and leave it as a surprise for them in the morning! Along with the jar, write a quick note that includes 10 reasons you “love them to pieces”. If a jar is too much, try slipping just a few in your partner’s pocket. Knowing you took the time to please them will brighten their day. If you significant other prefers wine or beer to candy, this might not be a good idea.

Send A Super Sweet Text
This may sound a little juvenile, but sending your partner a text that says something like, “I just wanted to tell you I love you lots!” or “I hope you have a good day at work and can’t wait to see you later!” will surely bring a smile to their face! In such a fast paced, busy world, we forget the small things. Yes, those texts may seem simple, but they can have a strong impact in your partner’s day. Add some fun by sending the message while you are both in the same room.

Go for a Morning or Evening Walk
A walk through the park is not only a good way to get out of the house, it's also a great way to bond and spend quality time together, bonus points if you bring your dog! Exercise and physical activities can help your body release dopamine and boost your mood. After a long day at work, it’s easy to feel too drained to do much, but sometimes the best thing you can do to reset and get reconnected with your partner is a quick walk around the block.

Send Love Notes
If you prefer doing things the old fashioned way and would rather leave little notes than send a text, here’s a fun way to do so! Gather up all those spare post-it notes around the house, write down things you love about your partner, and place them in the shape of a heart on their mirror! You can also get sneaky and hide them around the house for you partner to find. Tell them you’ve hidden ten notes around the house, and if they find all ten, you’ll give them a big kiss!

Create an Environment To Decompress
If you’re the first one to get home from work, now is the time to put together a simple, yet thoughtful, relaxation station for your partner. Find their comfiest slippers, pour a glass of wine, and have their favorite TV or movie ready to be played! They will absolutely appreciate this, especially after a long day of work! Whatever is appropriate for the individual to decompress, even if it is not speaking or interacting with them for twenty minutes.

Have a Water Balloon Fight
It may be Romance Awareness Month, but that doesn’t stop it from being a hundred degrees outside! Run to the store and get some water balloons ready for your partner when they get home. Great for playful or spontaneous couples or for those that just need to cool down! Sometimes we don’t take enough time to be playful. Laughter and spontaneity are some of the most important ingredients to building more romance in your relationship and this activity is perfect for that!

Give A Lottery Ticket
Buy a lottery ticket for you partner and attach a sweet note like, “I hit the jackpot when I met you!” Love is all about taking risks, building and sustaining connections, and getting outside of your comfort zone.

Send Flowers
This is another super simple gesture, but sometimes it’s the small things that can mean the most! Send your partner flowers at work (or pick some up on the way home) to make their day a little brighter! Completely surprising your partner is a great way to make them feel appreciated and loved.

Give The Gift OF Gum
Let your partner know how special they are to you by picking up some of their favorite type of chewing gum.

Clean Something
Even if it’s cleaning the bathroom counter (because when he trims his beard it gets everywhere) or putting away some boxes, these small acts of kindness will go a long way!

Deliver Breakfast in Bed
Surprise your partner with breakfast in bed. All it takes is for you to get up just 30 minutes early. Just be sure it’s a day your partner can take time and enjoy it… not a day when they have to be at work in ten minutes.

Ask Them on a Date
When was the last time you [or your partner] were asked on a date? Remember all those butterflies when you asked, or were asked? Step back into the shoes of a younger you, build up the courage, and ask them out! And don’t forget, you have to take them out if he/she says “yes”.

Pack A Lunch
Get up early one morning and make them a special lunch for their day. Bonus points if you cut off the crust! And don’t forget to add a cute little love note to go with it! It illustrates to your partner that you are willing to go out of your way, just make their life a little easier. True love!

Take a Drive Together
Take an hour or two and get away for a leisurely drive somewhere with lovely scenery. Or if you’re farther away from nature’s wonders, even a drive across town to your favorite ice cream shop will do! The Key is spending time together.

Offer A Foot Massage
Everyone gets stressed, and where does that stress build up? Maybe it’s in their shoulders, feet, back, wherever. Offering to give them a massage [without asking for one back]l helps release the tension from the day, putting them in a better mood! That physical touch can help them produce oxytocin (the cuddle hormone) and can decrease their levels of stress putting them in a happier and
more relaxed mood.

Learn a Dance Together
With so many new dances out there, you don’t want to be the couple that falls behind! Clear some space in the living room, pull up a how-to video, and dance. Even if it’s the learning a new dance move with your partner can help create laughter, spontaneity, and
discovery.

Go On A Backyard Picnic
Have a picnic set up in the backyard or on the patio your partner gets home from work. Prepare their favorite picnic dishes and spend some time in the fresh air! Like a lot of our other ideas, this one has more to do with creating some quality time and separating
you both from distractions so you can reconnect.

Hold Hands in Public
This might be the easiest activity on our list, but it’s often one thing we forget about. Holding hands is such a sweet way to show the bond you two share. Everyone who sees you two will know you belong together and there’s no better feeling than that!

At-Home Movie Night
Let your partner pick their movie of choice for the night and give them options for different flavored popcorn! Afterwards you can make some ice cream sundaes and fill it up with your favorite toppings!

Definitely a classic, but it’s a classic for a reason, right? Snuggle up on the couch or in bed and watch a movie together. Simple and easy date night!

Hot Towel
When your partner is in the shower, throw one of the softest towels you own into the dryer for a few minutes to warm it up and give it to them after they get out of the shower! Who doesn’t love a warm towel? Small acts like this show that you are always actively thinking about them. How romantic is that?!

Make The Coffee
Set your alarm just 5 minutes earlier to get out of bed and start the fresh pot of coffee. The smell of coffee is enough to elicit good feelings, and who doesn’t want to start their day in a good mood?

Say “I Love You”
Last but not least, start and end each day by saying "I love you.!"
Yes, chances are your partner knows you love them, but there’s nothing quite like hearing it. This can go a long way and make them feel great knowing they’re loved..

Many Thanks to “Createdwithlove.com” who shared these suggestions. Send your own ideas and we can add them. Thank you.

JUST SAY'IN
■
Sources:
https://shannahatfield.com/romance-awareness-month/#:~:text=Did%20you%20know%20August%20is%20National%20Romance%20Awareness,improve%20their%20relationships%20through%20romance%20all%20year%20long.

https://cratedwithlove.com/blogs/general/31-ways-to-celebrate-romance-awareness-month#:~:text=Happy%20Romance%20Awareness%20Month%21%20With%20summer%20coming%20to,it%E2%80%99s%20all%20about%20showing%20how%20much%20you%20care.

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Olympic "Funny Business" and Funny Photos

8/6/2021

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The first Modern Olympic Games took place in Athens, Greece, 1896. Members of the Greek royal family played an important role in the organization and management of the Games. The second modern Olympic competition was like a sideshow at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris.

The French government took over the control of the Games from the recently formed ICO (International
Olympic Committee) responsible for organizing and administering the new Olympic Games, and the results were, at best, chaotic. The Committee still hadn’t settled on the major events that would define the games, and the rules and procedures were less than rigid. This resulted in some bizarre situations. Paris, 1900
- Image Source: wtop.com/wp-content/Paris_Games_Olympics

CHARIOTS OF CHEATING – OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT ?
1896, Athens
Human nature never changes. During the inaugural Olympic marathon, Spyridon Belokas cheated by taking a carriage ride for a good chunk of the race. Yet somehow, even with that extra boost, he only managed to cross the finish line in third place...?

Spyridon Belokas
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org/Spyridon_Belokas

Belokas was therefore disqualified, and Gyula Kellner was awarded third place. Nonetheless, following his “victory”, Belokas was celebrated as a national hero

WOMEN? WHAT A SCANDLE!
1900, Paris

Twenty years before American women could vote, they were allowed to compete in the Olympics, causing quite the stir. That first year they could only compete in five events: tennis, equestrian, sailing, croquet, and golf, but it was still a pretty huge deal.

Image Source: redbookmag.com/scandalous-moments-in-olympics

BLOOD AND FEATHERS FLY
1900, Paris
Live pigeon shooting appeared for the first and only time as an Olympic event in the second modern Olympic games. Over 300 live pigeons were killed.

American spots historian Andrew Strunk wrote dryly in a 1988 article on the 1900 Paris Olympics, “Maimed birds were writhing on the ground, blood and feathers were swirling in the air and women with parasols were weeping in the chairs set up nearby.”

CHEATING AND STRYCHNINE
1904, St. Louis Olympics
The 1904 long distance Marathon takes the prize for Olympic mishaps. Staged in St. Louis, the modern Olympic Games were in their infancy and, for the most part, the people in charge knew squat about what was required for such an event.

The foot race was set under the worst circumstances. The 25 mile race ‒ which was actually 24.85 miles ‒ started in the afternoon in hot 103°F weather. The roads were dusty and automobiles were allowed to use the roads during the race, making the dust worse. The only water stop for the runners was at the 12 mark. These unfortunate conditions resulted in several unusual situations.

Frederick "Fred" Lorz was a competitor in the marathon and headed the pack of 32 runners and reached the 12 mile mark first. He had to stop there due to exhaustion. As a joke ‒ or maybe not ‒ his manager gave him an 11 mile lift until the car broke down. Lorz ran the rest of the way to the Olympic stadium where he broke the ribbon and was declared the winner.

Lorz went along with the mistake until some spectators questioned the win. Then he admitted what happened and insisted the finish was just a joke. However, one source said he only confessed it was a prank just before being awarded his medal by Alice Roosevelt.

Thomas Hicks was then declared winner, and Lorz was banned for life by the Amateur Athletic Union. He apologized for the prank and was ultimately reinstated because the AAU determined he had not intended to defraud. He continued in the sport until he died of pneumonia in 1914.

Fred Lorz - Image Source:
en.wikipedia.org/Frederick_Lorz

Image source: unbelievable-facts.com/2017/09/

Image source:
birdinflight.com/marathon-1904
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org/Frederick_Lorz

The real winner, Thomas Hicks, had his own secrets. Near the 19 mile mark, he started to hallucinate. He asked for food and then decided to lie down. His handlers bathed him head to toe in warm water and administered a concoction of eggs, brandy, and strychnine.

He had to walk the rest of the way and by the time he could barely shuffle. As the result of exhaustion and the strychnine ‒ basically rat poison which has been banned since then ‒ he was one of several of the 32 contenders who became ill. In fact, Hicks came close to dying that night. He gave up running the next day.

TUG OF WAR
1904, St. Louis Olympics
Tug-of-war was introduced in Paris 1900 and remained an event through the Olympics at Antwerp in 1920, although the 1916 games were cancelled because of WWI.

Traditionally, the best teams came from Scandinavia and Great Britain, but in 1904 one American squads ‒ the Milwaukee Athletic Club ‒ managed to capture gold in the in spite of the fact that none of the team members were from Milwaukee nor were they members of the Milwaukee Athletic Club. Losing teams filed a grievance to no avail.

Needless to say, the rules still tended to be a bit haphazard even by the third modern games, and the precedent for manipulating the teams had been set in 1900 when competitors from Sweden and Denmark teamed up to beat the French. The fate of the American team in the event's debut is even more bizarre: Some sources say they never competed, while others say they were disqualified.

DECIDE ON THE RULES BEFORE THE RACE
1908, London
In 1908, in the finals of the men’s 400-meter race, American John Carpenter maneuvered to block Britain's Wyndham Halswelle ‒ legal under American track rules, but illegal in Great Britain. Of course, Carpenter was disqualified. Well, after all, the games were in London. Obviously, their rules took precedence.

The two other athletes who qualified with Halswelle were American. They were angry enough at the ruling that they boycotted the final. Halswelle ran the redo of the final all by himself. Guess who won?

GENDER TESTING with a TWIST
1936, Berlin
When Polish Stella Walsh ‒ defending gold-medalist of the 100-meter dash and favored to win again ‒ lost to an 18-year-old bullet from Missouri, Helen Stephens, Walsh supporters insisted that Stephens’ time was simply impossible for a woman and demanded a gender examination.

Stephens agreed to the humiliation of examination by the Olympic Committee and they, indeed, found her to be a woman. She carried home the gold medal.
Stella Walsh ▼ Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Source: timetoast.com/timelines/olympic-controversy

Image Source: Helen Stephens ▲- Image Credit:
redbookmag.com/scandalous-moments-in-olympics De Desconocido - [1], Dominio público
Image credit: commons.wikimedia.org/w/index

The Twist: Forty-four years later in 1980, Stella Walsh was shot to death outside a Cleveland shopping mall. When the autopsy was performed, it was discovered that Stella Walsh had male genitalia, not Helen Stephens

GENDER TESTING UNRELIABLE
1964, Tokyo
Again Gender Testing proves unreliable. Ewa Kłobukowska, a Polish sprinter, competed in the 4×100 meter relay and the 100-meter sprint and took home a gold and a bronze medal, respectively, which were stripped from her in 1967 for failing a gender test.

Surprise, surprise! In 1968 Klobukowska became pregnant and gave birth to a son. It took years for people to realize that she must have had a genetic abnormality that made her have one chromosome too many.

Ewa Kłobukowska c. 1967
Image Credits: Smithsonian Institution from United States
Image Source: commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.

LOW POINT IN OLYMPIC BOXING
1988, Seoul
It doesn’t appear that good sportsmanship is something one can learn from the Olympics.
In 1988,New Zealand Referee Keith Walker took two point off the score of Korean bantamweight boxer Byun Jong-Li for headbutting his Bulgarian opponent.

The Korean crowd at the event went berserk. The Korean head coach Lee Houng-Soo punched Walker and a South Korean official attacked him. After that, at least one other Korean coach and members of the audience poured into the ring and started to riot.

Image Credits: Getty Images - Image Source: Image credits: Getty Images - Image Source:
insidethegames.biz/boxings-battle-of-seoul theage.com.au/referee-flees-seoul-olympics

The crowds directed their violence not just at Walker, but the Bulgarian president of the refereeing committee. Walker was eventually rescued by a somewhat slow-to-respond police force and immediately left Seoul. Walker may have been mistaken by the fans and coaches for a Greek referee who'd told the Korean delegation to “shut up” earlier when they questioned a controversial decision.

CHANGE OF MOOD - FUNNY PHOTOS
Fast Forward to some more recent Olympic Games. Athletic games offer abundant opportunities for funny photos. Nobody is posing, and many of the sports require close body contact. If a photographer happens to be in the right place at the right time, some of the results are hilarious. Some of them make you feel mean for laughing but you can’t help it.

You do get to see a lot of open mouths, teeth, and tongues in Olympic candid shots.

WRESTLING
Source of Images: worldwideinterweb.com/funniest-summer-olympics-photos

BOXING

Image Source: acidcow.com/funny-olympic-photos

SYNCORONIZED SWIMMING
This event offers both professional and amateur photographers to take some very interesting pictures. Looking through the lens, there are lots of body parts superimposed over each other, sometimes in an embarrassing way.
Source of Image: acidcow.com/funny-olympic-photos

TRACK AND FIELD

Image Source: qunki.com/93428/funny-olympic-fails Image Source:
worldwideinterweb.com/funniest-olympics-photos

SAILING

WATER POLO

◄Croatian water polo player Andro Buslje
Image Source: ibtimes.co.uk/olympic-faces

Image Source:
worldwideinterweb.com/funniest- olympics-photos ►

PING PONG
The is another sport that results in many amusing photos, thanks to the many angles at which one can photograph the ball. These players are magicians.
▼ Image Source: ibtimes.co.uk/olympic-faces ▼

Image Source: qunki.com/93428/funny-olympic-fails

Image Source: pinterest.com/pin/158189005632300669/

ICE DANCING HAND BALL

Source of images: worldwideinterweb.com/funniest-olympics-photos Argentina's Rocio Campigli ▲
Image Credit: Eric Feferberg/AFP
Image Source: qunki.com/93428/funny-olympic-fails

SYNCRONIZED RUGBY BEACH
DIVING VOLLEY BALL

Image Source: heart. o.ukc/hilarious-olympic-pictures/

Image source:
qunki.com/93428/funny-olympic-fails

Laura Giombini (Italy)
Image Credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images; Image Source: ibtimes.co.uk/olympic-faces

SWIMMING

Image Source: worldwideinterweb.com/funniest-olympics-photos

Image Source:
worldwideinterweb.com/funniest-olympics-photos

Michael Phelps
Image Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images
Image Source: ibtimes.co.uk/olympic-faces

This could go on and on. There are no end to funny faces when athlete concentrate and strain their bodies. Here are just two more photos I couldn't resist.

OH! SO THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO IT!
JUST SAY'IN
■
Sources for “Funny Business”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Lorz
https://unbelievable-facts.com/2017/09/craziest-historical-incidents.html
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/31386/11-craziest-events-olympic-history#:~:text=The%201904%20marathon%20was%20one%20of%20the%20most,that%20were%20permitted%20to%20drive%20alongside%20the%20athletes.
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1041711/anniversary-of-boxings-battle-of-seoul-highlights-the-continuing-struggle-to-rid-the-olympics-of-controversy-in-the-ring
Anniversary of boxing’s Battle of Seoul highlights the continuing struggle to rid the Olympics of controversy in the ring (insidethegames.biz)
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/from-the-archives-1988-referee-flees-seoul-olympics-after-ring-assaults-20200918-p55wxa.html
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/from-the-archives-1988-referee-flees-seoul-olympics-after-ring-assaults-20200918-p55wxa.htmlhttps:/www.theage.com.au/sport/from-the-archives-1988-referee-flees-seoul-olympics-after-ring-assaults-20200918-p55wxa.html
https://www.redbookmag.com/life/news/g3566/scandalous-moments-in-olympics-history/
https://birdinflight.com/world/20160824-marathon-during-1904-olympics.html
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30478212
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyridon_Belokas
https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/olympic-controversy
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41546035
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89624871
https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1900_Paris_Games_Olympics_79847.jpg
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1041711/anniversary-of-boxings-battle-of-seoul-highlights-the-continuing-struggle-to-rid-the-olympics-of-controversy-in-the-ring
Sources for “Funny Photos”:
https://worldwideinterweb.com/the-100-funniest-summer-olympics-photos-of-all-time/
https://www.heart.co.uk/news/sport/hilarious-olympic-pictures/
https://acidcow.com/pics/35912-crazy-and-funny-olympic-photos-105-pics.html
https://www.qunki.com/93428/funny-olympic-fails-that-might-make-you-feel-bad-for-laughing/
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/talking-olympics-hilarious
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/talking-olympics-hilarious
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/158189005632300669/
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/best-rio-2016-olympic-faces-agony-ecstasy-wtf-1575365
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/158189005632300669/
http://thumbpress.com/can-norway-get-any-more-awesome/#sthash.RSDfwyRp.dpbs
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/10/27-pictures-of-funny-faces-from-the-sochi-2014-winter-olympics-photos_n_4758755.html#gallery/5d023352e4b09d75a615c871/2
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1041711/anniversary-of-boxings-battle-of-seoul-highlights-the-continuing-struggle-to-rid-the-olympics-of-controversy-in-the-ring

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Olympic Wardrobe Malfunctions

7/30/2021

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OOPS!
To be an Olympic Athlete, a competitor must rise early ‒ really early ‒ work harder than hard, and dedicated his/her entire life to the sport in pursuit of excellence. Then, you’re there… at the Olympics, ready to put yourself out there and give it 200%. The biggest moment of your life; your chance to fulfill your potential at last… and then “rip” or “pop”.

Wardrobe malfunction! But you gather your courage, slap on a smile, and sweat it out with finesse and finish like a pro.

It must be devastating to know that, even though you won the gold, silver, or bronze, or just finished, that any time anyone mentions your name, they will remembering something ripping or a body part instead of your achievements. This happens more often than the audience ever knows, particularly the television audience. It can happen to anyone in any sport. Here are a few of popular examples from recent Olympics.

Image Credits: Getty Images
Image Source: nickiswift.com/oympic-wardrobe-malfunctions

TEAM ROWING
At the Summer Olympics of 2012 the American Rowing team won the bronze medal in the not-at-all accurately titled "coxless four" event. How the event got that name, I don’t know, but not from the 2012 team.

No one’s clothes flew apart or popped out embarrassing body parts, but the tight trunks left nothing to the imagination.

PAIRS ICE SKATING
Figure skaters Sergei Ponomarenko and Marina Klimova had already won their bronze medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics at Sarajevo. They had performed what Dick Button called a "very lyrical and romantic" exhibition dance.

As they skated around the ring, the fabric

on Ponomarenko's shirt gave out, exposing to the spectators in the stands at Sarajevo and to TV audiences at home, a hairy stomach and the top of a pair of underpants.

Image Source: pinterest.com/pin/651966483540546760/

ICE DANCING
This notable malfunction occurred at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Ice dancer Yura Min and Alexander Gamelin had barely begun their routine in the pairs competition when the “load bearing” fastener at the back of Min’s neck came undone. The fastener held the whole costume together, and the South Korean skater told USA Today she was "terrified the entire program."

Image Credits: REC/Shutterstock
Image Source: mirror.co.uk/wardrobe-malfunctions-winter-olympics-2018

She didn’t want to lose points and skated through in a way that kept her costume from falling off. The result was rather stiff posture that affected the gracefulness and fluidity of her dance and their score.
They finished ninth.

FREESTYLE SKIING
Image Credits: Source: seen.co
Image Source: https://fiveo.com/olympic-wardrobe-malfunctions

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Swedish Henrik Harlaut qualified for the “Free Style” event” and was not hindered by nearly losing his pants flying down the slope. Henrik was not even embarrassed

SPRING BOARD DIVING

Jenifer Benitez, an American-born springboard diver competing for Spain in the 2012 Summer Olympics, had just completed a drive from the height of three meters. While she was catching her breath, she adjusted her bathing suit. In doing that she managed reveal a little too much… just as she was caught by a TV camera. When competing, be sure you have plenty of strong double stick tape.
Image Source: healthyceleb.com/wardrobe-malfunctions/

SPEED SKATING
Speed skaters wear skin-tight jumpsuits that allow them to zoom across the ice with as little drag as possible ‒ and no chance of popping out body parts.

In the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russian speed skater Olga Graf secured a bronze medal in the 3,000 meter event. After looking at the scoreboard afterward, she unzipped the top of her suit partway and waited for her score. When the score appeared, qualifying her for the bronze medal, the story is the zipper wouldn’t go back up. So she took her victory lap with the zipper down to her naval… with nothing on underneath the suit.

Image Credits: AFP - Image Source: mirror.co.uk/wardrobe-malfunctions-winter-olympics-2018

ICE DANCING
French ice dancing duo Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron were gold medal favorites as they began their short program at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, China in 2018. Then things went wrong –not so much dancing-wise, but with Papadakis' wardrobe.

Source of images: mirror.co.uk/wardrobe-malfunctions-winter-olympics-2018 Credit: Getty Images

The neck strap breaks ▲
She's holding on ►

According to USA Today, at the very beginning of the routine, the halter part unfastened at the back of her neck, and when her partner Cizeron dipped Papadakis near the end of the dance, part of her chest was exposed ‒ flashing television viewers at home and those viewing slow motion screens in the arena.

Papadakis bravely soldiered on during the performance but left the ice in tears and skipped the Q&A with the media, letting Cizeron handle the questions. "It is not what we get ready for when we train," he said. "I am still proud that we managed to pull out a program like that even with a difficulty like this." Papadakis and Cizeron returned to the ice (with a new wardrobe) for the free program, scored a record-breaking high score for that portion of the competition, and took home a silver medal in ice dancing.

WATER POLO
Water Polo is a fast and physical contact sport, so it is not surprising there are not more bathing suit malfunctions than there are but they are the kind that the media loves.
Image Credits: YouTube
▼ Image Source: nickiswift.com/oympic-wardrobe-malfunctions

The Daily Mail reports that during a match between Spain and the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics, American Kami Craig held back Spain's Matilde Ortiz by holding on to her swimsuit. The Spanish swimmer retaliated by wiggling and flailing. As she did so, her breast broke free from her suit.

This was under the water so it wasn’t so public, but water polo has other move obvious malfunctions, so many there is even a term for exposed bums: "white tailed deer."

Greek national water polo team star Christina Tsoukala was the subject of a telecast match during the 2008 Summer Olympics when her swimsuit decided to move out of place and exposed her left breast. Christine, 17 at the time, wasn’t even aware of it.
Image Source: electropiknik.com/wardrobe-malfunctions ▼

▲Image Credits: AFP/Getty Images
Image Source: mirror.co.uk/wardrobe-malfunctions-winter-olympics-2018

Spanish water polo player Laura Lopez flashed a nipple when her costume slipped down at the FINA World Swimming Champion ships in 2009.

BOBSLEDDING
Olympian Christopher Spring, driver for the Canadian Olympic bobsled team, suffered a malfunction in his tight fitting suit at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Fortunately, he has a good sense of humor and saw the funny side of it, as he posted a behind-the-scenes picture to his Twitter account where the suit tore open, exposing what he called his “Power Belly”. The picture was taken down in a few hours.

Image Credits: Pinterest Image Source:
▼Image Source: fiveo.com/olympic-wardrobe mirror.co.uk/wardrobe-malfunctions-winter-olympics ▼

Scottish-born Brit Gillian Cooke, a track and field athlete and bobsledder, was revving up for the start of a 2010 World Championship race in Switzerlander when her racing suit failed in one of the worst ways imaginable.

At the time, it was unclear if she knew what had happened, but the official behind her definitely noticed! Cooke and Minichielle competed in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, without malfunction.

SWIMMING

Italian swimmer Flavia Zoccari was left red-faced and tearful after flashing her backside when her costume failed at the Mediterranean Games in 2009. Right before the start of the 200 Meter Finals, she was forced to withdraw from the games because of her swimsuit. The swimsuit brand, which features a special back-hinge, has been under controversy recently. First it was banned by FINA, the official swimming organization, then reinstated.

Image Credits: REX/Shutterstock ►
Image Source: mirror.co.uk/wardrobe-malfunctions

American Ricky Berens had a similar situation when his suit tore down the back as he dived during the men's 4m x 100m relay freestyle at the 2009 FINA World Swimming Championships. No mention of the brand for this one.

◄ Image Sourcebing.com/images/search?view

COSTUME DESIGN IN GENERAL
Sometimes the Costume Designers for the Olympic teams in various countries go off the deep end with the costume designs. The malfunction may be the color or color combinations, graphic design. Or just plan unfamiliarity with the movements and stresses the sport requires for its wearer or just plain inappropriate.

Image Credits: wittyfeed.me
Image Source: fiveo.com/olympic-wardrobe-malfunctions/

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Defunct Events from Early Modern Olympic

7/23/2021

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The first Modern Olympic Games took place in Athens, Greece, 1896. Members of the Greek royal family played an important role in the organization and management of the Games. Hungary was the only other nation to send a team.

The idea took hold and an International Olympic Committee was created. The second modern Olympic competition was relegated to a sideshow of the World Exhibition, which was being held in Paris in the summer of 1900.

Baron Pierre de Coubertin founder of the modern Olympics and president ofthe International Olympic Committee (IOC), lost control of the 1900 Games to the French government. In many respects the games were at best chaotic. The Committee still hadn’t settled on the major events that would define the games. They tried a lot of different things before they landed on the events we know today – and, in the meantime, there were a number of rather bizarre Olympic sports.

The following is a partial list of some of those early events that were either one-time events, demonstration events, or were continued, some for a short time, and some until now, but in different formats.

LIVE PIGEON SHOOTING Image Source: edition.cnn.com/olympic-strangest-events

This event appeared for the first and only time as an Olympic event at the Paris games of 1900. Belgian Leon de Luden shot 21 pigeons of the total 300 gunned down in the event. In later games the live pigeons were replaced by clay ones. This is the only time in modern Olympics history that live animals have been killed.

SWIMMING OBSTACLE COURSE
Another first and last event from the 1900 Paris games was Obstacle Swimming. In the event, swimmers had to crawl over a line of boats, swam under other line of boats, and climb a pole, while swimming 200 meters in the rather muddy Seine River. Australia’s Fred Lane took home the gold medal in the event, as well as finishing first in the 200 meters freestyle.

Image Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/24/sport/olympic-strangest-events/index.html

CLUB SWINGING
Some people believe that juggling was once an official Olympic sport. Actually, the closest event that may have been misinterpreted as juggling is a sport called Club Swinging. This unusual sport debuted in the 1904 Olympics -- then known as the Games of the Third Olympiad – in St. Louis, Missoui

The athlete stands erect, holding clubs that resemble bowling pins in each hand. He then twirls and whirls them around. The more complicated the routine, the more points he wins. Historians say the sport was the precursor to rhythmic gymnastics which employs ribbons and hoops.

Image Source: https://www.nydailynews.com/photos/

RIBBON TWIRLING / HULA HOOPS
This sport, now a part of Rhythmic Gymnastics, is a women-only event in which gymnasts perform on a floor with a rope, hoop, ball, clubs or ribbon accompanied by music, in individual or group events.

Rhythmic gymnastics combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics, requiring strength, flexibility, agility, dexterity, and coordination. Gymnasts must be strong, flexible, agile, dexterous, and coordinated.

Governed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Rhythmic gymnastics became an Olympic sport in 1984. The sport evolved from many related disciplines, including classic ballet as well as the German system of emphasizing apparatus work for muscle development and the Swedish method of using free exercise to develop rhythm.

Image Source: edition.cnn.com/strangest-events

TUG-OF-WAR
Tug-of-war was introduced in Paris 1900 and remained an event through the Olympics at Antwerp in 1920, although the games were cancelled in 1916 because of WWI. Teams of eight had five minutes to pull their opponents six feet over a line. If there was no winner after the time limit expired, the team who’d pulled their rivals the furthest would win. Milwaukee Athletics Club represented Team USA and won gold at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, Missouri.

St. Louis Olympics in St. Louis – 1904 U.S team – London Olympics 1908
Image Source: pinterest.com/220324606741139836/ image Source: edition.cnn.com/strangest-events

In 1900 the teams were sometimes made up of men from several nations and the rules tended to be a bit haphazard. During the 1900 games, competitors from Sweden and Denmark teamed up successfully against the French. The fate of the American team in the event's debut is even more bizarre: Some sources say they never competed, while others say they were disqualified.

LONG JUMP FOR HORSES
The long jump is a staple of track and field, while Equestrian competitions are among the most elegant of Olympic sports. The Equestrian Long jump for horses, however, had its first and last chance at the famous Paris Games in 1900.

According to Megan Gibson writing for “olympics.time.com/”, “No one could accuse equestrian horses of not being athletic, yet the winning leap, from Belgium’s Constant van Langendonck atop the horse Extra Dry, measured only 6.10 meters. Not too shabby, until you consider the world record for long jump, by a human, is 8.95 meters.”

There was also an equestrian high jump which apparently didn’t make it past the 1900 games either.

Image Credit: Hulton Archive via Getty Images
Image Source: edition.cnn.com/strangest-events

ROQUE
A Roque tournament was played only once, at the 1904 Olympics. Roque is a hard-surface form of the game Croquet. The USA won all three medals, which didn’t surprise anyone since all the competitors were American.

Image Source: olympics.time.com/no-longer-in-olympics

CROQUET
Croquet also made its first and last appearance in Paris Olympiad. It’s notable for being the first Olympic event in which women took part against their male counterparts and not in their own competition. France took home the gold in all four categories, but the sport was removed from subsequent Olympiads after just one spectator reportedly showed up to watch.
Image Source: bing.com/images/search?q=Women-1900+Olympics

Image Source: theolympians.co/tandem-cycling:

TANDEM BICYCLE SPRINT
Tandem cycling, which saw two two-men teams racing over 2,000 meters, was a major fixture of the Olympic program from 1908 to 1972

ROPE CLIMBING
Rope climbing was featured at five games from 1896 to 1932. From a seated start, athletes used only their hands to clamber up 49 feet at Athens 1896, and then 25 feet of rope in the later events.

Source of Images: blog.weekendthrill.com/discontinued-in-olympics/

Greece’s Nikolaus Andriakopoulos won the inaugural Olympiad in 1896. He was one of just two people to make it all the way to the top that year.

At the 1904 Games in St. Louis, Missouri, Team USA’s George Eyser took the title. His feat was all the more incredible because he had one wooden leg.

Left Image source:
hellenicaworld.com//NikolaosAndriakopoulos
Right Image Source: en.wikipedia.org/George_Eyser

STANDING HIGH JUMP
The track and field competitions at every Olympics from 1900 to 1912 included a standing high jump competition, seeing how high a bar athletes could jump over a bar from a standing position

Team USA’s Ray Ewry [pictured] was the undisputed master of the discipline, winning gold three times from 1900 to 1908. His best effort saw him clear 1.655 meters at Paris in 1900. Ewry, who contracted polio as a youngster and used a wheelchair for much of his childhood, also dominated in the standing long jump and triple jump events — in which Image Credits: Empics/Empics Sportbbbbb he won a further five gold medals.
Image Source: edition.cnn.com/strangest-events

STANDING BROAD JUMP
The standing broad jump was an Olympic event until 1912. Its other two variants standing high jump and standing triple jump were also conducted in all Olympic games until 1912.
Image Source: blog.weekendthrill.com/discontinued-in-olympics/

UNDERWATER SWIMMING
The Olympics in Paris 1900, was a trial run for a number of new events. Underwater Swimming was another one-time event from these games. This involved swimming below the surface of the River Seine for 60 meters. Competitors received two points per meter they swam and another point for every second submerged.

France’s Charles DeVandeville received a gold medal in the underwater swimming with 188.4 points. He died of injuries during the First World War, at age 32.

HOT AIR BALLOONING
Another 1900 Olympics demonstration was Hot Air Ballooning. Despite being very popular at that time, ballooning enthusiasts saw their hopes of becoming an official event rise and fall. All in all, 61 men and 3 women competed in ballooning, which consisted of 18 events. Judges marked contestants on various points, like distance, duration and elevation. The aeronautical pioneer Henry de La Vaux set two world records for distance and duration piloting a balloon flight.

According to Wikipedia, “all events at the 1900 Games that satisfied all four of these retrospective selection criteria — restricted to amateurs, open to all nations, open to all competitors and without handicapping — are now regarded as Olympic events, except for those in one sport — ballooning.”
Image Source: weekendthrill.com/trangest-games-that-are-discontinued

KITE FLYING
Considered another demonstration sport -- a sporting event held during the Olympics, but not technically considered an official sport of the games -- Kite Flying debuted in 1900 as another one-time event.

SKELETON
This is an ice track sport similar to Bobsledding or Luge, except that instead of being seated upright or secure, in Skeleton competitors hurl down the ice track face first. If anything happens you can throw away your previous photographs.

The event first appeared at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz and again in 1948 Winter Olympics, after which it was discontinued as an Olympic sport. It was reintroduced at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2000, with both men's and women's events, and has been held in each Winter Olympic competition since then.

Image Source: Image Credits: John Hartley | January 1, 2018
Image Source:thatonesportsshow.com/olympic-skeleton/

FIRE FIGHTING AND LIFE SAVING
Fire fighting and life saving sound like public services rather than sports, and although neither was ever added officially to the list of Olympic sports, that doesn't mean practitioners had no place at the games.

The firefighting demonstration events of the Paris Games are not very well documented, but one must assume some Parisian buildings [hopefully constructed constructed for this demostration] were sacrificed in a blaze to see which teams could extinguish them first. Portugal took the volunteer division win; a team from Kansas City secured the professional
Image Source: allthatsinteresting.com/olympic-sports division win.

PISTOL DUELING
The first Pistol Dueling competition was held in 1906 Olympics in Athens, Greece. Competitors wearing face masks tried to shoot each other in the face with wax bullets. Later Titanic survivor Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon was a famous participant in the event.

Source of Images: thefirearmblog.com/olympic-pistol-dueling/

TWO HANDED SHOT PUT
Despite the name, the competitor doesn’t throw the shot put with both hands. Two-handed meant the competitors had to use both hands, one at a time, and throw the object. Later the best distances with each hand were combined to decide the winner. Each contestant was given 3 attempts with each hand.
Image Source: blog.weekendthrill.com/games-discontinued-olympics/

Image Source: blog.weekendthrill.com/games-discontinued-olympics/

ONE HANDED WEIGHT LIFTING
The one hand weightlifting was a men-only event in 1896, 1904 and 1906. They had to perform lifts with each hand, with the winner determined from the combined score of both hands.

SOLO SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING

Image Source: edition.cnn.com/strangest-events

That’s an oxymoron that’s hard to get the mind around. This sport features one female swimmer synchronizing with herself. The sport made its debut in the Los Angeles Games in 1984, with U.S. swimmer Tracie Ruiz winning the gold medal. The solo event was discontinued after 1992.

TEAM SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING
Synchronized swimming, known as water ballet, was organized as a competitive event for teams for the first time in 1891, Berlin, Germany, but was not an officially recognized sport until 1941. Competitions were not related to the Olympics but to the World Aquatics Championships. The International Swimming Association officially renamed the sport from "synchronized swimming" to "artistic swimming" in 2017, decision that faced mixed reception.

Synchronized Swimming is a relatively recent Olympic event, becoming a recognized sport for the first time at the Los Angeles summer Olympics in 1984. The events included solo and duet competition as well as teams. The last Olympics with Solo synchronized swimming was in 1992.

Russia's Natalia Ishchenko / Svetlana Romashina The Russian synchronized swimming team -Rio 2016
duet final- London 2012 Games - Image Source: Image Source:
olympics.time.com/synchronized-swimming sputniknews.com/synchronized-swimming-gold/