turn up one's nose

== English == === Etymology === From turn (verb) + up (preposition) + one’s + nose (noun), describing a gesture possibly universally understood as indicating contempt, disgust, or scorn which has existed at least since Ancient Greek times: see Ancient Greek ἐκμυκτηρίζω (ekmuktērízō, “to hold in derision”), from ἐκ- (ek-, prefix expressing completion or totality) and μυκτηρίζω (muktērízō, “to turn up the nose, sneer at”) (from μῠκτήρ (mŭktḗr, “nostril”)). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌtɜːn‿ʌp wʌnz ˈnəʊz/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˌtɜɹn‿ʌp wʌnz ˈnoʊz/ Rhymes: -əʊz === Verb === turn up one's nose (third-person singular simple present turns up one's nose, present participle turning up one's nose, simple past and past participle turned up one's nose) (intransitive) To tilt one's face upwards slightly, thus raising one's nose, and often to look downwards at someone, as a sign of contempt, disgust, or scorn. Synonym: hold one's nose up (idiomatic) Followed by at. Synonym: hold one's nose up To refuse something offered, especially with contempt, disgust, or scorn, or with apparent disregard about offending the offerer. To regard or treat someone with contempt or scorn; to scorn; also, to disregard or ignore someone in a contemptuous or scornful way. ==== Alternative forms ==== turn one's nose up ==== Related terms ==== turn turn up ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === “to turn up one’s nose (at), phrase” under “nose, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2025. “to turn up one’s nose, phrasal v.” under “turn, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2025. “turn one’s nose up at, phrase” under “nose, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022. === Anagrams === turn one's nose up