nose in air
Acting above others
Nose in air describes a haughty, superior attitude—the posture of someone who acts as though others are beneath them.
The image is of literally tilting the head back to look down at people: She walked past us with her nose in the air.
The phrase captures both the physical gesture and the disdain it conveys.
- snootyAffectedly superior in manner
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- arrogantExcessively high self-regard
- high and mightyImperiously self-important
- condescendingSuperior and dismissive manner
pompous · stuck-up · superior · disdainful · above it all · aloof · snobby · better than you · pretentious · uppity · conceited · smug · dismissive · contempt · sneer · scoff · looking down · hoity-toity
- ego displaysarrogance, vanity, boasting, showboating, braggadocio
- snobberysnob, snobbery, snooty, elitism, snoot
- arrogancearrogant, conceited, pompous, vain, haughty
- condescendingpatronizing, disdainful, scornful, dismissive, belittling
- rudenessrude, discourtesy, impolite, rudeness, disrespect
- showing offboasting, bragged, show off, bragging, boasted
nose in airhumble
Unassuming about oneself
modest · down-to-earth · unassuming · self-effacing · unpretentious
nose in airapproachable
Easy to engage with
down-to-earth · humble · friendly · warm · welcoming
nose in airunpretentious
Lacking false superiority
plain · simple · unaffected · genuine · authentic
nose, air, noses, nosed, nosing, nosy, nasality, airs, aired