Meaning & use
turn up your nose
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiomdisapproving
To show that you think something is not good enough for you, especially by refusing it.
Grammar: Fixed phrase; the possessive changes with the subject (I turned up my nose, she turned up her nose), and it is usually followed by at.
Patterns
- turn up your nose at something
- turn your nose up at something
He turned up his nose at the free tickets because the seats were near the back.
Don't turn up your nose at a simple sandwich; you'll be hungry later.
She turned her nose up at every dress in the shop and went home with nothing.
phraseidiomdisapproving
To reject an idea, offer, or suggestion because you consider it beneath you.
Grammar: Used about offers and suggestions, not physical objects; still followed by at.
Patterns
- turn up your nose at an offer
- turn up your nose at the idea of something
The company turned up its nose at our small investment at first.
Many students turn up their noses at the idea of working part-time, until they need the money.
Common combinations
- turn up your nose at
- My brother turned up his nose at the hotel because it had no pool.
- turn your nose up at
- You can turn your nose up at the price, but it's the best one here.
- turn up your nose at the idea of something
- They turned up their noses at the idea of a camping holiday.
- turn up your nose at free food
- Nobody turns up their nose at free food at the end of a long day.
Synonyms and how they differ
- snub
- Snub means openly ignoring or refusing someone, usually a person, while turn up your nose focuses on feeling that something is too good for you.
- reject
- Reject is a plain, neutral verb for saying no to an offer; turn up your nose adds a disapproving tone about the person's attitude.
- look down on
- Look down on is used about people you consider inferior, whereas turn up your nose is usually about things or offers you refuse.
Opposites
Commonly confused: turn up your nose or look down your nose?
turn up your nose vs look down your nose
Look down your nose at someone means you feel superior to that person; turn up your nose at something means you refuse it because it is not good enough for you.
Practice
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose one answer.
The idiom takes at before the thing refused, so 'turned up her nose at the cheap tickets' is right. Option 2 omits at, option 3 puts up in the wrong place, and option 4 uses for instead of at.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “turn up your nose”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.