Nod his head

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Marius Hancu - 07 May 2009 08:28 GMT

Hello:

Can one really nod other parts of the body than the head? Isn't this a
bit redundant, "nod the head?"

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Sunny Farebrother showed no sign of resenting this capricious treatment.
He would simply nod his head, and chuckle to himself, as if in complete
agreement;

A Dance to the Music of Time, Spring, by Anthony Powell, p. 61
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Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 07 May 2009 12:44 GMT

>Hello:
>
>Can one really nod other parts of the body than the head? Isn't this a
>bit redundant, "nod the head?"

It is one of a pair of phrases: "nod the head" to signal Yes and "shake
the head" to signal No.

Yes, it is a bit redundant but acceptable.

>-------
>Sunny Farebrother showed no sign of resenting this capricious treatment.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>A Dance to the Music of Time, Spring, by Anthony Powell, p. 61
>-------

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Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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Marius.Hancu@gmail.com - 07 May 2009 13:36 GMT

On May 7, 7:44 am, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)" <m...@peterduncanson.net>
wrote:

> >Can one really nod other parts of the body than the head? Isn't this a
> >bit redundant, "nod the head?"
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Yes, it is a bit redundant but acceptable.

Thank you all.
Marius Hancu

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Cheryl - 07 May 2009 12:44 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> A Dance to the Music of Time, Spring, by Anthony Powell, p. 61
> -------

I suppose it is redundant, but it's still a very common phrase. I'd use
'He nodded' and 'He nodded his head' interchangeably.

I don't think you can nod any other part of your body, but the word can
be used figuratively of other things - flowers nodding in the breeze,
for example.

Cheryl

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Dr Peter Young - 07 May 2009 12:52 GMT

> Hello:

> Can one really nod other parts of the body than the head? Isn't this a
> bit redundant, "nod the head?"

Yes, but "nod" by itself tends to have the implication of dropping off
to sleep, as in the traditional phrase, "Homer nods".

> -------
> Sunny Farebrother showed no sign of resenting this capricious treatment.
> He would simply nod his head, and chuckle to himself, as if in complete
> agreement;

> A Dance to the Music of Time, Spring, by Anthony Powell, p. 61

With best wishes,

Peter.

Signature

Peter Young, (BrE), Consultant Anaesthetist, 1975-2004.
(US equivalent: Attending Anesthesiologist) Now happily retired.
Cheltenham and Gloucester, UK.
http://pnyoung.orpheusweb.co.uk

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Django Cat - 08 May 2009 08:42 GMT

> > Can one really nod other parts of the body than the head? Isn't
> > this a bit redundant, "nod the head?"
>
> Yes, but "nod" by itself tends to have the implication of dropping
> off to sleep, as in the traditional phrase, "Homer nods".

Boots do a very good cream for that.

DC
--

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009

Nod his head