In the last couple of weeks, in two separate books, I’ve come across instances where a character pushed their glasses up their nose. The intended gesture is very familiar – an adjustment made with a finger on the bridge between the lenses – but the phrasing is just a little off, and the effect will make the reader laugh and jolt them out of the scene.
It’s a shame to use what is nearly a cliché, particularly one that is open to misinterpretations: characters in specs are a treasure house of tics and interesting gestures and there are so many other ways to animate them.
I made a quick list of everything I could think of to do with glasses, which means I no longer have any excuse for nasally inserted glasses.
NB: some of these are not optician-approved methods of handling glasses.
- Adjust them by taking one corner in one hand, or a corner in each hand.
- Tap the hinges with a finger.
- Chew or suck on the ear piece.
- Re-seat them by lifting off the nose and replacing.
- Take them off and inspect the lenses.
- Wonder aloud how they get so dirty.
- Polish the lenses with distilled water and a microfibre cloth
- Huff on the lenses and then scrub with a handkerchief or item of clothing.
- Lay them on the table fully extended.
- Lay them on the table folded.
- Put them away in a case.
- Peer over them (tilt head forward).
- Peer under them (tilt head back).
- Tighten the screws.
- Look with disgust at the grunge under the nose pads.
- Take them off and tap the temple tip on the table. (‘Temple’ is the correct term for the arms).
- Rub behind their ear because the ear piece doesn't fit properly.
- Rub at the red marks left by the nose pads.
- People whose faces squidge against the temples.
- Handle them carelessly with greasy fingers, put them on and then take them off to clean.
- Sudden breakage – a screw drops out, the lens falls out, they snap across the bridge. May cause total consternation.
- It's always a surprise that the ophthalmic optician will do simple repairs for free.
- Anti-glare coating gives them a rainbow sheen, visible at certain angles.
- Old specs have a yellowish tinge.
- Wash under the hot tap with washing-up liquid.
- Accumulate old pairs (for emergencies and because it's hard to recycle them).
- Fix with tape or a sticking plaster.
- They get knocked askew by a surprising, dishevelling event or a blow to the face. It's rather shocking to see a glasses wearer with specs askew.
- Wearing an old pair because the current pair is lost or broken.
- Lose them on a night out.
- Get into the car and realise you don't have them.
- Lost in plain sight – on top of head, or in the usual place.
- Searching for a safe place to put them down.
- Forgetting that you're wearing them and trying to rub your eye.
- Bat something away from your face and knock them off.
- If worn on a string or chain, the way the strings drop down either side. When not in use, folded or unfolded.
- ‘Where are my reading glasses?’ or ‘Let me get my reading glasses.’
- Facial injuries made worse by glasses.
Image credit: (c) Can Stock Photo / cookelma
