sniff back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sniff back" is not standard in written English and may be considered informal or colloquial.
It can be used in contexts where someone is trying to hold back tears or emotions, often associated with a physical reaction like sniffing. Example: "As she listened to the sad news, she had to sniff back her tears to maintain her composure."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"We applied pressure in the second half and didn't give them a sniff back into the game until the final 10 minutes".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

She sniffs back a tear.

The Guardian

The other goats sniffed him; he sniffed back.

The New Yorker

Sevigny clasped her chest and sniffed back tears.

The New York Times - Sports

Bald children whose faces were mapped with grime-entrenched creases lay limp with frailty, sniffing back streams of snot.

The New York Times

There are enough moments of demented comedy to make you aspirate your popcorn, but by the end you may find yourself, with some amazement, sniffing back tears.

The New York Times

"I was tired of being heavy," Ms. Rivera said, then suddenly pulled a tissue out of her bag and began sniffing back tears.

The New York Times

"This may not be a great musical, but it is a highly entertaining one that looks set to keep audiences laughing, gasping and sniffing back tears for a long time to come".

BBC

He was sniffing back the tears.

Huffington Post

To older kids and adults, the drag isn't noticeable because we're too busy sniffing back tears.

Huffington Post

Stumbling down the street, my bags weighed heavy in my hands as I sniffed back tears, sad that my groceries didn't include any protein, that I'd have to eat pasta with sauce from a jar that night, that I was single.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sniff back" to convey a specific physical act of drawing mucus inward, often while trying to control emotions. Avoid using it in formal writing where a more precise term like "stifle" or "suppress" might be appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "sniff back" in formal or academic writing. It can sound informal or even slightly undignified. Instead, opt for more formal alternatives like "suppress", "stifle", or "hold back" depending on the intended nuance.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sniff back" is as a phrasal verb, indicating an action. It describes the act of inhaling through the nose, often to stop or control the flow of mucus or tears. As Ludwig AI reports, the phrase usage is acceptable, even if informal.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "sniff back" describes the act of drawing air and fluids inward through the nose, often to control mucus or tears. While Ludwig AI states that this usage is acceptable, it is primarily informal. More formal contexts may call for alternatives like "suppress" or "stifle". Predominantly found in news and media sources, "sniff back" conveys a specific physical action connected to either emotional distress or physical discomfort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold back tears

Focuses specifically on suppressing the outward expression of crying.

stifle a sob

Implies a more forceful suppression of a crying sound.

swallow tears

Emphasizes the internal effort to contain sadness.

fight back tears

Highlights the struggle against the urge to cry.

control oneself

A broader term for managing emotions, including sadness.

compose oneself

Similar to controlling oneself, but suggests regaining composure after distress.

regain composure

Focuses on returning to a state of calmness after being upset.

mask one's emotions

Indicates concealing feelings from others.

suppress feelings

General term for keeping emotions hidden.

conceal emotions

Similar to suppressing feelings, but emphasizes secrecy.

FAQs

How to use "sniff back" in a sentence?

You can use "sniff back" to describe the act of inhaling through the nose to stop mucus from flowing, often while trying to hide emotions. For example: "He tried to "hold back" his tears and simply sniffed back.

What can I say instead of "sniff back"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "hold back tears", "stifle a sob", or "suppress tears".

Which is correct, "sniff back tears" or "sniff away tears"?

"Sniff back tears" is generally used to describe the action of trying to contain or suppress tears by inhaling through the nose. "Sniff away tears" isn't a standard expression; consider using "wipe away tears" instead if you mean to remove tears from your face.

Is "sniff back" considered formal or informal?

"Sniff back" is considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use more precise alternatives like "stifle", "suppress", or "hold back".