Meaning & use
turned up nose
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrasefigurative
a facial expression showing dislike or a feeling of superiority
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: She looked at the food with a turned up nose.
Patterns
- with a turned up nose
- a turned up nose
She looked at the cheap wine with a turned up nose.
He has a turned up nose about anything that isn't designer.
phraseidiomfigurative
the act of showing that you think something is not good enough
Grammar: Often part of 'turn up your nose at something'.
Patterns
- turn up your nose at something
Don't turn up your nose at a free meal.
She turned up her nose at the idea of camping.
Common combinations
- turn up your nose at
- He turned up his nose at the job offer because the salary was low.
- with a turned up nose
- She examined the painting with a turned up nose.
- a turned up nose
- The child had a turned up nose and freckles.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: turned up nose or turned-up nose?
turned up nose vs turned-up nose
This can also literally mean a nose that points upward, without any idea of dislike.
Practice
She ___ up her nose at the second-hand clothes.
Choose one answer.
The fixed idiom is 'turn up your nose at something'. The other verbs do not form this expression.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “turned up nose”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.