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AIBU?

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Original poster

She bit her bottom lip...

193 replies

HeavyLocks · 01/04/2019 23:00

Why do authors do this?? I read a lot and I've noticed it more and more. Apparently it's a way of making a woman seem aroused/scared/sexy Hmm

I can honestly say I've never bit my lip when I've wanted to be aroused/scared/sexy.

Aibu? Also what other well used "phrases make you cringe?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Aridane · 01/04/2019 23:33

Oh goodness - 50,Shades and that lip biting.

Which they sort of,tried,to replicate in the film

Aridane · 01/04/2019 23:33

Snap, littledoll

Samind · 01/04/2019 23:34

"She seductively pulled on her stockings".

Afraid not in this house....it's a squat and lunge game. Which usually ends in long ladders.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 01/04/2019 23:34

There was some historical romance crap I read umpteen years ago, which had the heroine diving into the icy water of a mountain stream and emerging "refreshed and glowing".

It stuck in my mind.

The rest of us stagger out of the water freezing, covered with goosepimples and with our teeth chattering so hard they're in danger of shattering.

MrsMoastyToasty · 01/04/2019 23:36

"His lip curled"
"His eyebrow raised"

A poor bloke is going to win a gurning competition with all these facial contortions.

Nearlythere1 · 01/04/2019 23:37

My absolute number one hate was teen-type literature always describing the cool female protagonist as saying something "sardonic" or "sardonically". It's actually making me angry now.

Original poster
HeavyLocks · 01/04/2019 23:37

squat and lunge

Grin
OP posts:
littledoll33 · 01/04/2019 23:40

@Aridane Grin

TheBigFatMermaid · 01/04/2019 23:44

I read, I think, three Martina Cole books. In each one of them she described a pregnant woman as having 'a belly full of arms and legs' a phrase which made me feel quite queasy, to be honest.

GooodMythicalMorning · 01/04/2019 23:49

I bite my lip but didnt realise it was strange until 50SOG, now I feel self conscious when I do it.

minipie · 01/04/2019 23:52

Oh dear, I’ve just realised I bite my top lip sometimes. Not such a sexy look, more Gruffalo.

homethenababy · 01/04/2019 23:52

@GooodMythicalMorning me too, it's an anxiety thing for me. I can pretty much guarantee DH doesn't wanna jump me in those momentsGrin

homethenababy · 01/04/2019 23:53

@minipie my mum used to tell me to stop it - I wonder if she thought I might be enticing men if I carried on

Peterpiperpickedwrong · 01/04/2019 23:56

I declined to watch 50 shades because she was biting her lip in every trailer- she looked ridiculous!

gauntletthrown · 01/04/2019 23:57

In romance novels the man always 'schools his face into a blank mask' - gives me the rage every time!

Persimmonn · 01/04/2019 23:57

Shit, I always bite my lips. It’s when I’m concentrating or thinking hard. I hope I don’t give off rude signals to people.

Cherylshaw · 01/04/2019 23:58

I read a lot of romantic indie lit and i hate it with a passion when they say things like he needs to readjust his pants or he swells 🤮 just from looking at her, what are you 14?

Persimmonn · 01/04/2019 23:58

Wrists as delicate as a bird

What like this one:

She bit her bottom lip...
DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 02/04/2019 00:02

@Schadenfreude- it wasn't the Chalet School was it? They're obsessed with a nice cold water dunk, looking fresh or dainty abd bagging a Dr! Grin

It always amuses me when people do things prettily in novels. As if anyone would do anything purposely "uglily"! It always sounds so twee and makes me think of Polly Put The Kettle On!

Serin · 02/04/2019 00:08

I hate "Oh my!" I have never read or watched 50 shades but I imagine it's the sort of thing she would "exclaim".
Like "Oh my, what a big todger you have".

Also cant stand "squealed" who TF squeals? ever? Except a pig.

ellenanora5 · 02/04/2019 00:11

"She slipped seemlessly from between the sheets, she didn't want him to wake, he was exhausted poor man, as she padded silently across the deep pile carpeted floor of his master bedroom she looked back fondly towards him"

.........and promptly went smack bang into the wardrobe door which the lazy gobshite hadn't closed properly, her screams and fecks could be heard for miles, she knew it was over in that instant.

LittlePaintBox · 02/04/2019 00:29

There are two that I've noticed in multiple books, which always grate on me.

Introducing violence as a way to convey friendliness: 'She punched her friend's arm playfully'. All the time, people are punching each other playfully. Always leads to a fight if kids do it.

The awkward self-introduction - for authors who can't think of a way of one character finding out the name of another, with whom they're going to become close friends. 'Why don't you come and work here? I'm Mandy, by the way'.

Flyhighmypretties · 02/04/2019 00:32

Ha, 50 Shades is several hours of my life I won't get back. Biting of lips and letting loose her inner goddess, fuck off!

CosISaid · 02/04/2019 00:53

Glad to say that 50 shades is not a book I have ever felt a burning yearning all consuming female desire to read where my loins would surely catch fire if I didn't. I was surprised it was a hit with women tbh.

Haven't seen the film either.

What I read is usual thriller/suspense novels. There is usually a lithe, athletic woman with Slovak cheekbones, a killer kick and an insatiable appetite for taking men by force to satiate her unquenchable desire though. Gobshites lol.

HennyPennyHorror · 02/04/2019 01:15

Not related to sexy but "Flew"

"She flew down the stairs."

I know it's meant to mean "went fast" but it sounds like she flew...like a witch or something!