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Category Archives: Body Language

That Put My Back Up

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Cinnie Noble

It is likely that most of us are able to specifically refer to some things that ‘put our backs up’ – an expression that describes the impact of being provoked by certain acts or deeds of another person. The derivation … Continue reading →

Posted in Body Language, Metaphors | Leave a comment

Getting Your Nose Out of Joint

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Cinnie Noble

It’s interesting to me how various body parts represent statements used about conflict concepts and states of ‘being’ at these times. Getting a “nose out of joint” is one of those. The origin of this phrase reportedly dates back to … Continue reading →

Posted in Body Language, Metaphors | 4 Comments

Conflict Posturing

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Cinnie Noble

When I first started to practice law some years ago I heard the expression and then, observed the act of “posturing” – as referred to lawyers who became positional during negotiations or court proceedings. As I observed it, posturing is … Continue reading →

Posted in Body Language, Reactions | 4 Comments

Chip on Your Shoulder

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Cinnie Noble

It’s a strange expression – chip on your shoulder – and it has a rich history. According to Wikipedia it dates back to the Royal Navy Dockyards and a requirement for shipwrights to carry timber chips under their arms rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Body Language, Conflict Perceptions, Emotions in Conflict | 2 Comments

The Cold Shoulder

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Cinnie Noble

One of the reactions to people who provoke us is to give them ‘the cold shoulder’. In the dictionaries I consulted, I found that the source of this is Sir Walter Scott. There is no reason explaining its derivation but … Continue reading →

Posted in Body Language, Conflict Vibrations | 2 Comments