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Category Archives: Body Language

That Put My Back Up

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

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

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

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

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