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Hold vs. pinch

Posted by ESC on November 26, 2002

In Reply to: Hold vs. pinch posted by R. Berg on November 26, 2002

: : : How do you say this in English: when you want to say the air generated from the cigarette? (not the one you puff out from mouth). Do you say "smoke","puff", or what?
: : : when you want to express that you smell something that's really stinking and you use your thumb and index finger to squeeze the wings of your nose, what is the correct verb used? should I say "plug", "squeeze", or what?
: : : Thank you for your help.
: : : Leslie

: : A cigarette generates smoke, whether burning by itself, or whether inhaled then exhaled.

: : You hold your nose when faced with an unpleasant smell.

: In an earlier reply, I proposed "pinch your nose," but a test at www.googlefight.com showed that "hold your nose" is what people say more often.

People talk about "smoke-filled backrooms," especially when talking about politics.
Or how about "the air was smoky."

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