hacer cucamonas

English translation: strike flirtatious poses

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:hacer cucamonas
English translation:strike flirtatious poses
Entered by: Charles Davis

08:30 Jul 16, 2019
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / novel
Spanish term or phrase: hacer cucamonas
Hola a todos,

I am stuck on a certain phrase in the novel, "Martina, la rosa número trece". I have looked up "hacer cucamonas" and all that appears is "to give come-hither looks" but this doesn't make much sense in the context. Manola, is remembering her deceased sister-in-law, Martina and how she used to ask Manola could she try on her wedding slip. The line reads as follows: "La enagua que la chica llevaba, y que su hija leía perfectamente sobre aquel delgado y pecoso cuerpo, no era otra que la combinación de su boda. La misma que tantas veces, Martina, pidiera a su cuñada Manola para hacer cucamonas delante del espejo. La había amado como a una hermana, tanto, como sólo se quiere a aquello que se sabe se perderá pronto. Porque no es de ningún sitio preciso."

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

All the best,

Emily.
Emily Staunton (X)
Ireland
Local time: 01:03
strike flirtatious poses
Explanation:
I think you might express it like this. As I understand it she stands in front of the mirror trying to look sexually attractive, imagining how she would look to someone watching. "Poses" seems to fit this; she's doing what models do in front of the camera, I think, and "strike poses" emphasises how deliberately she's doing it.

If you don't like the sound of "flirtatious", you could replace it with something else, such as "alluring" or "coy" or "seductive", for example.
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 02:03
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5strike flirtatious poses
Charles Davis


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
strike flirtatious poses


Explanation:
I think you might express it like this. As I understand it she stands in front of the mirror trying to look sexually attractive, imagining how she would look to someone watching. "Poses" seems to fit this; she's doing what models do in front of the camera, I think, and "strike poses" emphasises how deliberately she's doing it.

If you don't like the sound of "flirtatious", you could replace it with something else, such as "alluring" or "coy" or "seductive", for example.

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 02:03
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 296
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Carol Gullidge: Or perhaps more simply “pose in front of the mirror”?//I always think of posing in front of a mirror as acting flirtatious to see the effect
1 hr
  -> Yes, perhaps; I suppose if she's wearing a slip the sexy/flirtatious part is understood. Thanks, Carol :-) // In this situation, certainly. If I did it I might be trying to look learned and dignified; my flirting days are over :-(

agree  Andrea Sacchi
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Andrea :-)

agree  Paula Sepúlveda (X): I agree if the girl is actually flirting and not just acting cute.
2 hrs
  -> I think it implies that she's pretending to flirt with an imaginary observer: she's practising looking flirtatious. "Hacer cucamanos" implies another person is involved. Thanks, Paula :-)

agree  philgoddard: Or primping.
3 hrs
  -> If you like! Thanks, Phil.

agree  JohnMcDove: /./You're welcome, Charles. Off topic, but related to the flirtatious nature of the subject, have you checked "Cartas de Color" by Les Luthiers? "cada vez que una hermosa doncella enamora a todos los varones de la tribu, los ancianos sabios sentencian:
8 hrs
  -> Many thanks, John ;-)
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