sticking out (your nose)

English translation: Don't you dare stick your nose out!

10:42 Oct 14, 2007

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature

English term or phrase: sticking out (your nose)

"Oh, I wish I could have a look at them," whispered Lilly.
"Don’t even think about sticking out your nose!" Filly gripped her by the arm. "I won’t let you do it!"

Dear native English speakers!
Please advise on the phrase. There are two children hiding in a clump of bushes, one of them wanting to have a look at their enemies (some bad guys they are actually hiding from).
I need a phrase which would sound natural enough for such a context (with regard to the fact that it's a kid speaking). Does "sticking out your nose" (or just "sticking out" probably) sound good enough?
I'll appreciate any suggestions.

Andrew Vdovin KudoZ activity Questions: 3923 (2 open) (2 closed without grading) Answers: 3924
Local time: 11:12

Selected answer:Don't you dare stick your nose out!

Explanation:
I think this sounds more like "childspeak". Children are more likely to say "stick your nose out" than "stick out your nose", though of course both are correct. And "don't even think about" sounds a little more adult-like.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-10-14 14:22:06 GMT)
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I found this, referring to cars, though.

"EVERYbody uses their horn like an instrument. Maybe drivers use their horns to replace playing drums. My theory is that there are honks that tell you to get out of my way: long honk. I'm coming so watch out: short honk. Or Yeah, I heard Ya. Then there is the "move over, I want to pass you" or the the menacing honk of "don't you dare stick your nose out of that driveway". If you want to go NOW, you toot like it sounds "come on, I want to go". And then there is the "hi honk", short and sweet, accompanied by a wave of the hand."

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Note added at 8 hrs (2007-10-14 19:14:56 GMT)
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P.S. I would also say "gripped her arm" instead of "gripped her by the arm."

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Note added at 8 hrs (2007-10-14 19:37:43 GMT)
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I definitely agree with CMJ that the use of "nose" is due to that being the first part of the face to show (just as it is the first part to sunburn). I have the impression that the visual is more important here than the auditory, or else they would not be talking at all, even in whispers. Thus the enemies are not too close, but could still see a nose sticking out. To lose the nose would be to lose the colorful speech.

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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2007-10-15 14:46:06 GMT) Post-grading
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Now, some speculation about why the child's construction differs from the adult's. Perhaps children's innate "language acquisition device" (per Chomsky) is still more fully functional. They may recognize "out" as the adverb that it is, whereas (English-soeaking) adults who have been taught a distaste for dangling prepositions may have picked up the tidy habit of bundling all such adverbs (that sound like prepositions) with their verb, just in case. Is that too far-fetched? And does it result in a slight change in meaning?

Adult: Don't forget to pick up your toys.
Child: I already picked my toys up!

Adult: Let's take down the decorations.
Child: Do we have to take the decorations down so soon?

Adult: Turn off the lights.
Child: Turn the lights off.

Just a thought. ;~}

Selected response from:

Refugio
Local time: 21:12

Grading comment

Thank you very much for your help Ruth! Thanks everybody!!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +6

Don't you dare stick your nose out!

Refugio

4 +2

Don't move a muscle!

kmkrowens

4 +1

"Don’t even peek!"

Craig Meulen

don't you dare sticking out your nose

Patricia Townshend (X)

sticking out your nose

Buck

Don't put yourself into a risky situation - risk

Alp Berker

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

10 mins confidence:

sticking out your nose

Explanation:
According to your post, the children are hiding. The one child tells the other ... sticking out your nose. He is telling her not to even take a little look, because she might give away their location. He would not say don't stick out your nose, because it does not make sense. You can stick out your tongue, however.

I think you are going to need the word nose, because "to stick out" without an object, means to be obvious, noticeable, which, although possible in the story you refer to, it is not what is meant. Hope this helps.

Buck
Netherlands
Local time: 06:12
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

"Don’t even peek!"

Explanation:

I thought about this a while, and the bit with the nose seems unnatural as a command, while the nose sticking out is only the side-effect of looking.

You want to create the effect "...look" ... "don't even XXY", where XXY here is something smaller - a smaller version of "look". I think you already have the solution with "think about". But British speakers often 'echo' what their partner said, so here's a word which means 'look' but is 'smaller': peek.

********

"Oh, I wish I could have a look at them," whispered Lilly.
"Don’t even think about it!" Filly gripped her by the arm. "I won’t let you do it!"

********

"Oh, I wish I could have a look at them," whispered Lilly.
"Don’t even peek!" Filly gripped her by the arm. "I won’t let you do it!"

*********

Craig Meulen
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:12
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

38 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

Don't move a muscle!

Explanation:
I think a native English speaker would more likely say this.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-10-14 14:42:10 GMT)
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I'm sure lots of different options would do, but I think especially a American child would say, "Don't move a muscle". Just my take on it!!

kmkrowens
Local time: 00:12
Native speaker of:

English

7 hrs confidence:

don't you dare sticking out your nose

Explanation:
Several points here. "Don't even think about . . ." is indeed a common expression meaning, "Don't you dare". As for sticking your nose out, I think it makes perfect sense. We talk about "poking your nose into other people's business" and, as CMJ_Trans said, if they peered out of the bushes the nose would be the first thing to show. As Sheila says, to me it is a perfectly natural expression to express a dire warning against being too inquisitive - and indeed revealing their whereabouts.

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Note added at 7 hrs (2007-10-14 18:14:50 GMT)
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Sorry typo there. I meant to echo Ruth and say don't you dare stick out your nose.

Patricia Townshend (X)
South Africa
Local time: 06:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 36

12 hrs confidence:

Don't put yourself into a risky situation - risk

Explanation:
It sounds like a warning not to endanger or put themselves into a risky sitaution or at risk at being hurt.

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Note added at 12 hrs (2007-10-14 23:02:07 GMT)
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My answer was meant to be different.
Don't be seen this could be the nose or any other part of the body really.

Alp Berker
United States
Local time: 00:12
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

3 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

Don't you dare stick your nose out!

Refugio
Local time: 21:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 120

Grading comment

Thank you very much for your help Ruth! Thanks everybody!!!

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