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What is the verb for "pointing at something with one's chin"?

English Language & Usage Asked by Lew on September 4, 2021

What is the verb for “pointing at someone or something with one’s chin (or head for that matter)”, if there is one word for it?

6 Answers

nod
...
to move your head once in a particular direction, for example to make someone look at something or to give someone a signal to do something

nod towards/in the direction of: ‘They’re having fun’, she said, nodding towards the kids on the beach.

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/nod_1

Correct answer by michael.hor257k on September 4, 2021

"Motioning (at)" includes "pointing at someone or something with one's head".

M-W:

motion verb
: to make a movement of your hand, head, etc., that tells someone to move or act in a certain way

She motioned to her assistant.
She motioned at the empty chair beside her and told me to sit down.

Answered by alwayslearning on September 4, 2021

I prefer michael.hor257k 's answer, but another possibility would be to gesture

noun

  1. a movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea, opinion, emotion, etc.

(Emphasis mine; quote from Dictionary.com.)

Answered by Ghotir on September 4, 2021

I’ve always understood “nodding” to be a movement that starts from the top of the head towards the front (usually) so that nodding at something would imply downward motion of the head towards the object. Even if someone is asleep, and the head tilts backwards, I’ve always heard that motion by itself to be called tilting, especially when it is to the sides. The collective nods and tilts can be called “nodding” (as in “nod off”).

As an old time “chin pointer,” I feel that chinpointing is virtually the opposite: although it is possible to point with hope chin without moving your head, there is generally a forward thrust of the chin, and a slight backwards tilt (see?) of the head to facilitate the pointing. I’ve heard it called “chin-pointing,” as “chin thrust” implies something more aggressive.

She chinpointed towards the car: “There it is!” she said. Her companion said, “You just pointed with your chin!” “Yes, I do it all the time!” she replied. [Actual incident happening to me last week]

Answered by Caliallye on September 4, 2021

I think 'nodding' will have to be taken to mean both up and down motion of the chin - that would solve the problem temporarily, until someone coins a word to describe exactly that gesture of pointing with one's chin. Chin-pointing is, I feel, a clumsy compound word and can itself be subjected to further hair-splitting as 'pointing' is generally assumed to be done with the forefinger.

Answered by Alter Ego on September 4, 2021

Don't be alarmed if you see someone in the Philippines on the street pointing their lips at someone or something. ... Instead of lifting their finger or arm, Filipinos commonly use their lips to point to an object or another person. This gesture is called nguso, and shouldn't be taken as an invitation for a kiss!

The Culture Trip: Your Guide to Filipino Gestures

Answered by Stephen Waterhouse on September 4, 2021

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