Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
separation; ridge between drainage areas; watershed
bankruptcy
franchise
existence
divide
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

What does this expression mean: "to give her face point"?



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | What do you want to talk about?
Wasting money teaching English? | Hobbies for couples
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
What does this expression mean: "to give her face point"? #1 (permalink) Thu Dec 11, 2003 22:16 pm   What does this expression mean: "to give her face point"?
 

Hello everybody!!
Yesterday I happened to read a short extract from Virginia Woolf's "Mrs Dalloway", and there is one particular expression I can't understand well: "How many million times she had seen her face, and always with the same imperceptible contraction! She pursued her lips when she looked in the glass. IT WAS TO GIVE HER FACE POINT. That was her SELF-POINTED; DARTLIKE; definite".
I have been thinking about what the last sentences might mean, but I still can't find a proper explanation; could you help me, please?
Thanks in advance!!
'bye, claudia
Claudia
New Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2003
Posts: 6

Mrs Dalloway #2 (permalink) Fri Dec 12, 2003 12:46 pm   Mrs Dalloway
 

Hi Claudia,

Thanks for your contribution. I'll try and offer some guidance on your question. First I think I should correct one part of your quotation. The sentence should read: she PURSED her lips ... This means she contracted/gathered her lips into wrinkles - what you do if you want to plant a kiss on someone. The other expressions:' pointed'and 'dart like' means she is trying to make her face look pointed rather than round. If you are on the internet, check out GOOGLE and type in the name of the artist MODIGLIANI and you will see some of the faces that he painted which have this pointed look.

Hope this helps.

Look forward to hearing from you again.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13887
Location: UK

Want to learn about the future tenses? Read this story and smileEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!This newsletter tells you all about English! Subscribe to free email English course
To plant a kiss #3 (permalink) Thu Feb 02, 2006 22:01 pm   To plant a kiss
 

Quote:
To plant a kiss on someone


This expression is so much more colourful and descriptive than the usual ‘give someone a kiss’. It really conveys the idea of a big, sonorous kiss.

There should be a proverb about it: ‘Plant a kiss and you’ll reap bliss’ or something like that!

I also like: 'to kiss and make up', 'to blow someone a kiss' and 'to give someone the kiss of life'. You can even make an adjective out of it: ‘kissable’, which has no one-word equivalent in French, English or German that I know of. There are quite a few more phrases using this word. Funny, isn’t it, when you think that they come from people who aren’t reputedly big kissers.
:)
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain

Display posts from previous:   
Wasting money teaching English? | Hobbies for couples
ESL Forum | What do you want to talk about? All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on English Forums
Please do me a favour to adjust my appointment letterHelp me how to do my ISUWhat is the use of spam?Babylon Pro vs. Clicktionary?Please help me to adjust my letterA joke of computer nerdsIt is my grateful to have your help in my English writinWho does more winking?What is important in your life?Differences in figurative languageEnglish for production workers?Web template by deluxe-planet.netEnglish has so many words

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail