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meaning of the phrase "make a show of something"



 
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ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
meaning of "barely had the presence of mind" | Who uses the word 'hiatus'?
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meaning of the phrase "make a show of something" Fri Nov 23, 2007 4:34 am  meaning of the phrase "make a show of something"
 

Hi everyone.
I'd like to ask about the meaning of the phrase "make a show of something".

Some soldiers are sitting in the bar in the Officers' Club. One of the soldiers is surprised by this.

Making a show of looking at his sleeve, Zipes said? "Well, I ain't no officer. Neither ain't none'a you. Sergeants over there, "he pointed at Goodier and Gnaizda, who were sitting at a table talking with a corporal Vega didn't know," they officers, maybe, but we ain't. So why we in here?"

Does the phrase "Making a show of looking at his sleeve" mean that he is looking at his sleeve in a very exaggerated way or does it mean that he pretends that he's looking at it?
KLPNO
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meaning of the phrase "make a show of something" Fri Nov 23, 2007 13:55 pm  meaning of the phrase "make a show of something"
 

KLPNO wrote:
Does the phrase "Making a show of looking at his sleeve" mean that he is looking at his sleeve in a very exaggerated way or does it mean that he pretends that he's looking at it?

Both meanings are possible, since that is what the quoted expression suggests.
Conchita
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meaning of the phrase "make a show of something" Fri Nov 23, 2007 14:15 pm  meaning of the phrase "make a show of something"
 

Hi KLPNO

I don't think "pretend" fits the context very well here. He didn't pretend to look, he actually looked.

When you make a show of doing something, you do it in a very conspicuous/obvious/ostentatious manner.
.
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Yankee
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meaning of the phrase "make a show of something" Fri Nov 23, 2007 20:43 pm  meaning of the phrase "make a show of something"
 

Conchita wrote:
KLPNO wrote:
Does the phrase "Making a show of looking at his sleeve" mean that he is looking at his sleeve in a very exaggerated way or does it mean that he pretends that he's looking at it?

Both meanings are possible, since that is what the quoted expression suggests.

Thank you very much, Conchita.
KLPNO
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 17 Jun 2007
Posts: 253

meaning of the phrase "make a show of something" Fri Nov 23, 2007 20:44 pm  meaning of the phrase "make a show of something"
 

Yankee wrote:
Hi KLPNO

I don't think "pretend" fits the context very well here. He didn't pretend to look, he actually looked.

When you make a show of doing something, you do it in a very conspicuous/obvious/ostentatious manner.
.

HI AMY
Thank you very much.
KLPNO
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 17 Jun 2007
Posts: 253

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