Turn up your nose at
Meaning
To show disdain, disapproval, or a feeling of superiority towards something or someone, often in a snobbish or dismissive way.
Origin
The act of "turning up one's nose" is a universally recognized, almost instinctual human gesture of disdain. Imagine a person wrinkling their nose, perhaps with a slight sniff or a sneer, as if encountering a foul smell. This physical reaction subtly conveys a message: "This is beneath me," or "This offends my sensibilities." The phrase captures this ancient, non-verbal expression of contempt, transforming the specific body language of an upward-tilted, often wrinkled nose into a powerful idiom for showing a superior, dismissive attitude towards something deemed inferior or unworthy. It's a vivid verbal snapshot of an ancient human tell, solidifying into common idiom in the 19th century.
Examples
- She tends to turn up her nose at anything that isn't from a designer label, even if it's perfectly practical.
- Don't turn up your nose at a perfectly good opportunity just because it doesn't align with your initial expectations.