Business English

kieszonkowy poradnik 

biznesowo-językowy

Business English

Vocabulary Booster

Body Language

Dear Readers,

Welcome to another part of BEM’s series of language guides! It’s with great pleasure that we present to you our list of vocabulary concerning non-verbal communication.

People’s gestures often contain more information than meets the eye.

We sincerely hope that this issue will prove useful, enriching your English vocabulary concerning body language and encouraging you at the same time to acquaint yourself with English-language literature dedicated to non-verbal behaviours, which might be beneficial in your business relationships.

We wish you a satisfactory reading and cross our fingers for your success!

Kieszonkowy poradnik biznesowo-językowy

Opracowanie: Hanna Danielczak-Ziadi

Colorful Media ul. Lednicka 23, 60-413 Poznań

tel. 61 833 63 28, redakcja@business-english.com.pl

Zdjęcie na okładce: Diana Valujeva

to arch

to form or cause to form the curved shape of an arch

wygiąć, wyginać w łuk, pałąk

to beckon sb

to make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage or instruct someone to approach or follow

skinąć na kogoś

to beckon sb in

to invite sb with a gesture of the hand or head to enter

gestem zaprosić kogoś do środka

to bend

to incline the body downwards from the vertical

pochylać się, schylać się

to bite one’s lips

to use the teeth to cut one’s lips, usually in sign of frustration or anxiety

zagryzać wargi

to blink

to shut and open the eyes quickly

mrugać, mrugnąć

to blow

to expel air through pursed lips

dmuchać

to blow sb a kiss

to send sb a kiss making a gesture with the hand

wysłać komuś całusa(gestem)

to bow

to bend the head or upper part of the body as a sign of respect, greeting or shame

ukłonić się

to breathe in deeply/ take a deep breath

to inhale fully

oddychać głęboko/wziąć głęboki oddech

to bury one’s head in one’s shoulders/ bury one’s face in one’s hands

to hide or try to hide something from sight

kulić głowę w ramionach/ zakryć twarz dłońmi

to chatter (teeth)

(of a person’s teeth) to click repeatedly together from cold or fear

dzwonić (zębami)

to chew

to bite and work(esp. food) in the mouth with the teeth, especially to make it easier to swallow

żuć (gumę), obgryzać(ołówek)

to clasp one’s hands

to press one’s hands together with the fingers interlaced

spleść dłonie

to cringe (in terror)

to bend one’s head and body in fear or apprehension or in a servile manner

kulić się z przerażenia

to cross one’s legs

to place one leg over the other while seated

skrzyżować (nogi)

to crouch

to adopt a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is brought forward and down

kucać

to dangle one’s legs

to sit in a position where legs hang or swing loosely

wymachiwać (nogami)

to embrace sb/ embrace each other

to hold sb closely in one’s arms, especially as a sign of affection

obejmować kogoś/ obejmować się wzajemnie

to exhale fully

to breathe out

wydychać głęboko

to feast one’s eyes upon sth

to undress sb with one’s eyes

pożerać wzrokiem coś/kogoś

to fiddle with sth(in a restless or nervous way)

to touch or fidget with something (in a restless or nervous way)

bawić się czymś (w niespokojny lub nerwowy sposób)

to fidget

to make small movements, esp. of the hands and feet through nervousness or impatience

wiercić się

to frown at sb

to furrow one’s brows (at sb) in an expression indicating disapproval displeasure or concentration

zmarszczyć brwi, patrzyć na kogoś marszcząc brwi

to gaze at sb

to look steadily and intently, esp. in admiration, surprise or thought

wpatrywać się w kogoś

to gesticulate

to use gestures, especially dramatic ones, instead of speaking or to emphasize one’s words

gestykulować

to gesture

to make a gesture

wykonać gest

to give an angry snort

to make a sudden explosive sound through one’s nose, especially to express indignation or derision

parsknąć ze złości

to glance at sb

to take a brief or hurried look at sb

zerknąć/rzucić okiem na kogoś

to grimace

to make a grimace

skrzywić się

to grin at sb

to smile broadly to sb

uśmiechać się szeroko do kogoś

to hand sth to sb

to pick sth up and give it to sb

wręczać coś komuś

to have hands behind one’s back

to place hands behind one’s back

mieć ręce za plecami

to hold one’s breath

to cease breathing temporarily; be in a state of suspense or anticipation

wstrzymać oddech

to huddle (up)

to curl one’s body into a small space

kulić się