What It Means When Someone Touches Their Nose (2024)

It’s said that communication is 7% verbal and 93% nonverbal. And though the exact accuracy of that specific statistic is debated, its message is true: body language is integral to interpreting what others are saying. So much so that FBI agents, police, and even parents often rely on body language to suss out the truth.

In a recent episode of Russell Brand’s podcast “Under the Skin,” Brand discusses the culture of misinformation we live in, focusing on Bill Gates to make his point.

In one excerpt of the podcast posted on Instagram, Brand shows a clip of Gates speaking at a conference. In the clip, Gates quickly touches his nose with his right hand before answering a question.

“Don’t touch your nose. We’ve all seen those videos...” Brand says about the clip.

Nose touching is a seemingly innocent gesture, yet one considered important enough by people who pay attention to body language for Brand to feel it's one worth noting.

What does it mean when someone touches their nose?

Nose touching is thought to have a variety of meanings based on exactly how and in what context it is done. While someone who touches the side of their nose may subconsciously be saying that the thing they are talking about is a secret, for example, someone who touches the tip of their nose may instead be sending you a subconscious insult.

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Nose Touching Body Language Meanings

1. Touching the side of your nose indicates secrecy.

Touching the nose while speaking is considered a body language sign that someone wants to keep the information that’s being shared a secret. Some cultures also take the gesture as a warning not to believe what’s being said.

This is the gesture that Gates makes in Brand’s video. Brand’s response to the gesture suggests that he believes the businessman, who’s been a key proponent of coronavirus vaccines, doesn’t want something about the conversation to get out to the public.

2. Touching your nose and then pointing at someone indicates knowledge.

This is a conscious gesture someone uses to let the person they're pointing at know that they're onto them.

It's similar to someone using two fingers to point at their own eyes and then point at you, which means that person is saying that they're watching you closely. In this case, think of it as a play on words. The person touching their nose and then pointing at you "nose" what you're up to.

3. Brushing your nose indicates discomfort.

People tend to get antsy when subjected to uncomfortable situations, which is likely caused by the increased adrenaline rushing through the body. There are some body language signs that someone is nervous, including picking the nails, cracking knuckles, and brushing the nose with a finger.

According to experts, if someone repeatedly brushes their nose with their forefinger, it’s also a sign of stress.

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4. Touching the tip of your nose indicates disdain.

The phrase "thumb your nose" is an old insult that originated in Europe that basically meant "eff you." The gesture included putting the tip of the thumb on the tip of the nose with the palm open and wiggling the rest of the fingers that stick up into the air.

5. Pinching the bridge of your nose indicates frustration.

In situations where people feel overwhelmed, you’ll notice many of them pinch the top of the bridge of the nose between the eyes with their index finger and thumb.

That area of the nose is filled with blood vessels that quickly fill with blood when the body enters stress mode. Experts say this gesture is a subconscious reaction meant to help decrease blood flow and help the person relax.

Likewise, you may see someone create a sort of pyramid with their two index fingers around this area of the nose. This has a similar effect to the pinch, allowing the person to cut off the overwhelming information coming in and center themselves.

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6. Rubbing your nose intensely indicates an actual itch.

Of course, not every gesture regarding the nose is a sign of deceit or stress. The nose may actually itch for a number of reasons, and not always at the most opportune moments.

In these cases, you’ll notice that someone may continue rubbing their nose until the itch goes away.

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Micki Spollen is an editor, writer, and traveler. Follow her on Instagram and keep up with her travels on her website.

What It Means When Someone Touches Their Nose (2024)

FAQs

What It Means When Someone Touches Their Nose? ›

What It Means: What does touching your nose mean in body language? Nose touching may mean a person is unconvinced, uncertain about a situation, or feeling anxious. When a person feels stress or anxiety, their heart rate increases, which may cause them to breathe faster through their nose.

What does someone touching their nose mean? ›

Touching the nose is a pacifying behavior to relieve stress. However, showing stress during a trial does not prove someone is guilty or innocent. Stress could be associated with the discomfort of telling a lie OR it could be due to the discomfort of being accused of something you didn't do.

Is touching your nose a tell? ›

Nose scratching or rubbing the nose is a behavior that may be observed in individuals who are deceptive. Nose scratching can be a subconscious attempt to relieve anxiety associated with dishonesty. Nose scratching may suggest potential deception, but relying solely on this cue is far from foolproof.

Why does tapping your nose mean a secret? ›

The use to mean 'secret' - which is how I know it - is another extension of this, and indeed the most common. It comes from an idea that we've both sniffed out what's really going on here, and no one else has.

Is touching your nose an example of an invalid DUI test? ›

The Finger-to-Nose Test is so unreliable an indicator of alcohol impairment that it's not even standardized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and therefore holds less weight in court than a standardized test.

Does rubbing noses mean I love you? ›

For more from East Coast Radio

Eskimo kisses are cute, it's when they rub noses with you. Which is a tell tale that they want to kiss. This shows someone's affection and how happy they are to be in your presence.

What does it mean when a guy touches your nose? ›

Usually, it's a sign of sure affection. If done by a relative or family friend to a baby or youngster, it's meant to be an endearing yet fun interactive gesture. If a girlfriend does it to her boyfriend or vice versa, it's a playful flirty act.

Do people touch their faces when lying? ›

Excessive touching of the face and/or covering of the eyes, nose, or mouth may support one's attempts to cover the truth. These behaviors might be described as intentional means of hiding the truth. Excessive movement may occur as a result of anxiety experienced by a dishonest person.

What does finger in the nose mean? ›

For example, the French have a phrase “doigt dans le nez” used to imply that something is trivially easy. Literally translated it's “finger in the nose”, the implication being that it is so easy you could do it with a finger in your nose.

What does nose boop mean? ›

A boop, simply put, is a gentle tap on the nose. In doing so to dogs, humans like to say "boop!" aloud — though, that's certainly not a requirement. Through this fun booping nose action, you can form a deeper connection with your dog. It can also be a sweet way to greet them.

What does it mean when someone thumbs their nose at you? ›

to show no respect, or to raise the end of your thumb to the end of your nose to show that you do not respect someone: He has thumbed his nose at authority all his life. She enjoyed thumbing her nose at the establishment. Once again, he thumbed his nose at his critics.

What is the test where you touch your nose? ›

The finger-to-nose test (FNT) is a basic and simple physical examination that has been conventionally used to examine cerebellar function. In the FNT, patients are asked to alternately touch their own nose and the evaluator's stationary or moving finger while lying supine, or while sitting or standing.

What is the finger nose test for alcoholics? ›

To perform the finger-to-nose test, you will close your eyes, tilt your head back slightly and touch your nose with your index finger. This is repeated three times on each hand, for a total of six attempts. While performing this test, the officer will look for a number of clues that indicate intoxication.

What is the finger-to-nose sobriety test? ›

Bring the tip of the index finger up to touch the tip of the nose while his/her eyes are closed and his/her head is tilted slightly back (standing in a manner identical to that required for the Romberg Balance Field Sobriety Test). The DUI suspect is to then attempt this six (6) times, three (3) with each hand.

What does rubbing nose on someone mean? ›

An Eskimo kiss, nose kiss, or nose rub is a gesture of affection where one rubs the tip of one's nose against another person's face.

What does it mean when someone can touch their nose with their tongue? ›

Gorlin sign is a medical term that indicates the ability in humans to touch the tip of the nose with the tongue. Approximately ten percent of the general population can perform this act, but fifty percent of people with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (an inherited connective tissue disorder) have the ability.

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