Nose

The human nose has given to the languages of the world many interesting expressions. Of course, this is not surprising. Without the nose, we would not be able to breathe or smell. In addition, the nose is the part of the face that gives a person special character.

A famous woman poet wished that she had two noses to smell a rose! Blaise Pascal, a French philosopher, made an interesting comment about Cleopatra's nose. If it had been shorter, he said, it would have changed the whole face of the world!

Historically man's nose has had a principal role in his imagination. Man has referred to the nose in many ways to express his emotions. Expressions concerning the nose refer to human weaknesses: anger, pride, jealousy and revenge.

In English there are a number of phrases about the nose. For example, to hold up one's nose expresses a basic human feeling—pride. People can hold up their noses at people, things, and places.

The phrase, to be led around by the nose, shows man's weakness. A person who is led around by the nose lets other people control him. On the other hand, a person who follows his nose lets his instinct guide him.

Sometimes phrases with nose have bad meanings. For instance, if someone is nosy it means that he is always wanting to know what other people are doing or saying. From this comes the phrase to poke one's nose into something or to nose into something, both meaning to interfere into other people's affairs. Somebody who does this is usually a gossip or a busy body.

These are only a few examples of English expressions that mention the nose. There are quite a number of others. However, it should be as plain as the nose on your face that the nose is more than an organ for breathing and smelling.