Body Language of Eyebrow Hold
Cue: Eyebrow Hold
Synonym(s): Eyebrow Shrug.
Description: Happens when the eyebrows raise and pause for a second before being lowered.
In One Sentence: The eyebrow hold is a signal that a person is dumbfounded and is questioning what they are hearing or seeing.
How To Use it: Hold the eyebrows up when you want to make a nonverbal inquiry. Holding the eyebrows up momentarily, is a way to ask people to complete their thought. In other words, you are holding your eyebrows up awkwardly in hopes they will resolve the problem so you can drop them back down.
Mothers can use this effectively with misbehaving children. Simply raise the eyebrows, cock the head to the side, make your request, and wait for a correct response before lowering them.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: a) “I’m raising my eyebrows and I’m willing to hold them here until someone steps in and fixed my problem.” B) “So, what do you think, have I don’t a good job?”
Variant: See Eyebrow Raise, Eyebrow Cock, Eyebrow Hold, Eyebrow Lowering, Eyebrow Flash, Eyebrows Knit or Oblique Eyebrows Of Grief.
Cue In Action: The speaker would often raise his eyebrows as he told a joke and held them up. He wanted and expected applause.
Meaning and/or Motivation: Eyebrow hold indicates a lack of knowledge or even helplessness. It is a mild form of unpleasant surprise. Eyebrows are held up when someone seeks approval from others. This approval may come nonverbally as a head nod or smile or a verbal agreement.
Politicians and children often raise their eyebrows and hold them up waiting for approval from others.
Cue Cluster: The eyebrow hold is sometimes accompanied by palms up, as if “offering.”
Body Language Category: Confused, Eye Language, Microexpressions, Nonthreatening body language, Open facial gestures, Submissive body language.
Resources:
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