English Vocabulary in Use - 9 Describing people: appearance and mannerisms

slender

slender

thin in an attractive way

scrawny

unattractively thin and bony-looking

lanky

very tall and thin, moving awkwardly

gangling/gangly

tall, with long, thin arms and legs and rather awkward

obese

very fat, in an unhealthy way

stout

with a quite large, solid body; used of men and women

stocky

short and with a body that is wide across the shoulders and chest

bulked up

increased in body size, especially by gaining more muscle

lean

thin and healthy

wiry

thin but strong

unkempt

untidy, scruffy (opposite = smart or neat)

never a hair out of place

always well-dressed, neat and smart-looking

immaculate

in a perfect condition, smart

swarthy

dark-coloured, used about skin

sallow

yellowish

haggard

his face looked ill and tired

grinning

giving a big smile

pouting

positioning their lips in an attractive way

pouts

positions her lips in a look of annoyance

grimace

make an expression of pain or strong dislike

scowled

gave a bad-tempered, angry look

leering

looking in an unpleasant, sexually interested way

shrugged his shoulders

lifted his shoulders up and down to show he didn’t know or couldn’t answer

folded his arms

crossed one arm over the other close to his body

crossed his legs

crossed one leg over the other while sitting

twitching

suddenly making small movements

clenched her fist

closed her hand tightly because of anger

tapping/drumming his fingers

made quick, light hitting movements