"He tossed his head."

[KiwiChick]

"He tossed his head."

What do you think? Legitimate construction describing an action we all recognise, or slopping writing demanding a reponse of "how far"?

(Edit: oops. My experiments in polling seem to have gone awry.)

[KiwiChick]

"He tossed his head."

I'd like to think I could use this sort of thing without being cringed/laughed at, but it seems to bother some people. What do you think?

[TheIT]

Depends on what genre you're writing. In horror, this could be a literal statement.

"He rolled his eyes" or "His eyes followed her around the room" also provoke some rather interesting images.

[KiwiChick]

Depends on what genre you're writing. In horror, this could be a literal statement.

Fantasy, but not that sort of fantasy.

[Carrie in PA]

I prefer to use names instead of pronouns. ie., Ed tossed Jim's head.

And I like to add a destination. ie., Ed tossed Jim's head at Lucy. hee hee

But seriously, it can work as long as his other actions fit with it, it probably won't evoke a smarta**ed reaction in the story. :D

[maestrowork]

It's silly at best, and cliched/overused at worst.

[Popeyesays]

If it were a literal statement it would mean someone else tossed his head.

Actually, I recognize that it means clearing sweat or hair from one's face without using one's hand. So, "He tossed his head to clear the sweat from his eyes." would be totally acceptable.

Regards,
Scott

[smiley10000]

'tossed his head' seems odd to me. I can see someone tossing hair, but the only image I get from this is rather horror based...

Do you really think 'rolled his eyes' is a problem?

:) 10000

[TheIT]

The Uncle Jim thread talks about this phenomenon, too, as I recall. Some readers are very literal so it might be better to avoid confusion.

I'm writing fantasy, too, and I've got the further problems of magic having visual effects. For example, if I say my mage's eyes glittered, glinted, or gleamed, they might actually be emitting light.

[TheIT]

My favorite "rolled his eyes" usage came from the book Summon the Keeper where Jacques rolled his eyes and Claire told him to stop before they fell off the coffee table. Jacques is a ghost, so for him he literally rolled his eyes.

[Bufty]

Kiwi - You wouldn't have asked the question if you didn't have doubt about it. Apart from hinting at his being effeminate, to me it means little on its own. I'd find another way to say whatever you want to get across.

[Neeli]

I think "tossed his head" is ok. It is a sign of being arrogant. I would also use rolling eyes.

I have read that disembodied body parts acting on their own is a pet peeve of editors, so this topic has been on my mind too.

What about this one: He froze in place, his hand clenched on the glass handle.

[Nangleator]

It may be a poor derivation of 'She tossed her hair,' which makes a bit of sense.

[seun]

I've heard worse (and occasionally written some) but it's still cliched writing.

[Scrawler]

He tossed his head as she cast her eyes out to sea. She twirled out of the room and he followed her in an alarmed fashion. Cringe.

[Shadow_Ferret]

Why doesn't he just toss a salad instead?

And what happens if he tosses his head and something catches his eye, then he's in REAL trouble.

[JanDarby]

I think the phrase is incomplete and therefore doesn't create a complete image, more than posing a literalism problem.

I wouldn't have a problem with "he tossed his head back and laughed." But the plain old "he tossed his head" leaves me wondering where the rest of the sentence is or, as you suggest, where his head landed.

What else do we toss? Salad. That suggests throwing it all over the place, which isn't the image for heads.

A ball. But we don't just toss it, we toss it SOMEWHERE (up in the air or over the hedges) or we toss it TO someone.

We toss our cookies, but that's something of an idiom and evokes a complete (if disgusting) image, and also implies, like with salad, "all over the place," which isn't (without being really disgusting) possible for a head.

We toss keys onto a table or clothes on the floor, etc. But the point is that we toss them SOMEWHERE, not just toss them. Would you say "he tossed his keys" and leave it at that? And can anyone think of examples of what we toss that doesn't have either a destination or some other descriptive that goes with it?

JD

[josephwise]

Cliché at this point, but I don't mind the concept. I think, for a time, it was a wonderful description for an action we all know.

What makes me cringe is when I write "even the leaves slept under the heavy thumb of that afternoon" and some red-faced reader starts jabbing at the page insisting "Leaves can't sleep. People sleep, or animals; but leaves can't.'"

Leaves'll go to sleep if I tell 'em to go to sleep. They're MY leaves.

[Bufty]

Couldn't resist it - He tossed a coin? He tossed the caber? :Hug2:

[blackbird]

It could work IF...the guy has long hair, which would automatically give him some effeminate licencse on a par with a female character tossing her hair (I call it The Wild Stallion effect). It can work IF the guy's character is somewhat vain or arrogant (if other passages have indicated that he has these qualities--in other words, he not only "tosses his head," but pouts and sulks and struts like a peacock, as well.

It could work IF the guy in question looks like Fabio (because that's the image that automatically comes to my mind with the phrase).

If any of these apply, the description could work. It implies a sort of vain and pompous arrogance. But if none of these descripts fit (and he doesn't look like Fabio) I'd say use something else.

[Zolah]

There shouldn't be a problem with 'he rolled his eyes' because people do literally roll their eyes, and this is a common and everyday gesture. If you were to right 'he rolled his eyes in his head' a reader would be likely to stop and think: 'eh? Where else would he roll them?' The problem is when people take it too far and say something like 'His eyes darted around the room, first alighting on the brass clock at the mantelpiece, then skipping to the door' which gives the impression that the eyes are little creatures (like hamsters, perhaps) scurrying about quite independent of their owner. I used to write that sort of thing alot, until my editor told me that my heroine's eyes were so active he was picturing them reading a book, nipping to the loo, or leaving to have adventures of their own without her.

Hey - does anyone have an objection to 'the horse tossed its head'? Horses do that all the time you know.

[KiwiChick]

It could work IF...the guy has long hair, which would automatically give him some effeminate licencse on a par with a female character tossing her hair (I call it The Wild Stallion effect). It can work IF the guy's character is somewhat vain or arrogant (if other passages have indicated that he has these qualities--in other words, he not only "tosses his head," but pouts and sulks and struts like a peacock, as well.

It could work IF the guy in question looks like Fabio (because that's the image that automatically comes to my mind with the phrase).

If any of these apply, the description could work. It implies a sort of vain and pompous arrogance. But if none of these descripts fit (and he doesn't look like Fabio) I'd say use something else.

Hmmm. Well, my character does have longish hair but I'd like to use the head-tossing as more of a "trying to escape what he feels is an overly emotionally intense conversation". I can see him doing it, and I can't think of any way to describe it without using the cliche.

[KiwiChick]

I think the phrase is incomplete and therefore doesn't create a complete image, more than posing a literalism problem.

I wouldn't have a problem with "he tossed his head back and laughed." But the plain old "he tossed his head" leaves me wondering where the rest of the sentence is or, as you suggest, where his head landed.

What else do we toss? Salad. That suggests throwing it all over the place, which isn't the image for heads.

A ball. But we don't just toss it, we toss it SOMEWHERE (up in the air or over the hedges) or we toss it TO someone.

We toss our cookies, but that's something of an idiom and evokes a complete (if disgusting) image, and also implies, like with salad, "all over the place," which isn't (without being really disgusting) possible for a head.

We toss keys onto a table or clothes on the floor, etc. But the point is that we toss them SOMEWHERE, not just toss them. Would you say "he tossed his keys" and leave it at that? And can anyone think of examples of what we toss that doesn't have either a destination or some other descriptive that goes with it?

JD

I see your point, but I thought regarding heads a "toss" was the name of a particular motion. Sort tipping a little to one side, then flicking backwards and a bit to the other side. Of course, that's much to wordy:
"he tilted his head a little to the right, then flicked it backwards and around to the left" Yuck! :)

I know toss can also mean "throw" or "a particular action not mentioned in polite company", but I thought it described a particular action in the same way "nod" does.

I could be wrong...

[TheIT]

I've also heard the phrase as "tossed his chin".

[HiltonRC]

My dictionary lists "toss" as a transitive verb meaning "to jerk (one’s head or hair) sharply backwards." The example given is "Paula pursed her lips and tossed her head." Not great writing there, but these folks write dictionaries, after all. That sentence could mean she put her lips into her purse and threw her head in after them. Maybe a better example is "Paula tossed her head and whinnied." I'd say "tossed her head" is no worse than "threw up her hands."

[ChunkyC]

I've seen/heard threw, as in, "he threw his head back and laughed."

I think you'd be okay using that sort of thing as long as you could be pretty sure your target readership is familiar with the expression. Things like, "he coiled and sprang the moment his victim came into view." People don't coil, they're not springs, but I'd wager pretty much any English speaking reader would have heard the expression before and would know it meant tensing muscles in preparation for a leap.

ETA -- howdy, Hilton, and welcome. "threw up her hands" is another perfect example.

[PeeDee]

The only thing it made me think of was headbanging, honestly. Even then, I think it's a pretty poor phrase. :)

[veinglory]

That's funny because it looks like a pretty run of the mill phrase to me. Although generally flaxen haired ladies and horses are given to it.

[PeeDee]

That's funny because it looks like a pretty run of the mill phrase to me. Although generally flaxen haired ladies and horses are given to it.

"run of the mill phrase" can be synonymous with "poor phrase." After all, "Put the gun down!" He grated menacingly is a pretty run of the mill phrase too, and I wouldn't be caught dead with it without a purpose. :)

[veinglory]

It can also mean invisble enough to be unobtrusive and get the point across. Out of context, who knows. the question here is whether it makes sense. I wonder if it's one of those national usage issues.

[PeeDee]

Could be, I suppose. Sure. But not in my manuscripts, at least.

[pdr]

I always have a problem with people tossing heads because our necks are not built to move in a tossing action.
Unlike horses.
Horses do indeed toss their darned heads, usually when you want to put the bridle on.

Blokes with really great long hair tend to swank about it by flicking it out, turning their bodies in a large swirling action, (rather than a quick body turn,) Shaking their heads a lot and moving their heads from side to side and up and down in larger than norm movements.

Blokes avoiding emotional scenes tend to tighten up and withdraw don't they?

[Popeyesays]

I always have a problem with people tossing heads because our necks are not built to move in a tossing action.
Unlike horses.
Horses do indeed toss their darned heads, usually when you want to put the bridle on.

Blokes with really great long hair tend to swank about it by flicking it out, turning their bodies in a large swirling action, (rather than a quick body turn,) Shaking their heads a lot and moving their heads from side to side and up and down in larger than norm movements.

Blokes avoiding emotional scenes tend to tighten up and withdraw don't they?

What i find annoying is when you're not watching and they turn that long neck around to bite you on the shin. There's not a lot of muscle over the shin bone, and it hurts like hell. I think it hurts worse than having one step on your foot, unless they stamp down on it. It gives justification for the practice of kneeing them in the stomach to get the cinch tight.

Regards,
Scott

[Nakhlasmoke]

It's cliched, but at the same time I'd just read over it, and take it for what it's obviously meant to portray.

The action itself makes me think the gent is in question is a screaming queen and now I'm waiting for him to stamp his foot and fling his diamante handbag. But that's just me.

[Inkdaub]

I can understand and see it so the phrase is fine. But it does make me picture a horse which is why I chose the carrot option.

[Aubrey]

I don't mind it too much, but I'd rather there be more to the sentence than that so it's more specific. Something like "He tossed back his head" or "He tossed his head back".

In regards to the short discussion on "he rolled his eyes", am I safe in assuming it doesn't bother most people? Because my characters are generally sarcastic, male, teens or all of the above. It's pretty hard to have them never roll their eyes at anyone. Plus I don't know any other way to word the action.

[Jamesaritchie]

'tossed his head' seems odd to me. I can see someone tossing hair, but the only image I get from this is rather horror based...

Do you really think 'rolled his eyes' is a problem?

:) 10000

"Tossed his hair" is the way I thought it should be. And, yes, he rolled his eyes is, I believe, a problem.

[Jamesaritchie]

Even leaving out the obvious double meanings, these phrases are, at the very best, tired old cliches. How many times do you suppose an agent, an editor, or a well-read member of the public has read the same phrases?

The last thing a writer should do is submit a manuscript containing phrases an agent or editor has seen over and over and over and over.

The idea is to invent new phrases that other, non-creative, writers like enough to turn into tired old cliches.