'make a show of something?
Hola, me preguntaba si me podían ayudar con este párrafo. Estoy traduciendo una novela del inglés al español y tengo algunos problemillas con algunas frases.
¿Cómo traducirían esto?
"Ryuzaki took it, nodding gravely -or making a show of nodding gravely. So much for her test -from his outward reaction, she could read absolutely nothing."
Estoy teniendo problemas especialmente con la frase que puse en cursiva. Si me pudiesen explicar exactamente a qué se refiere la frase "make a show of something" les estaría muuy agradecida =)
¡Gracias de antemano!
Ah, you can write the explanation in English, thank you!
15 Answers
Anyone for "fingiendo asentir gravemente..."?
I, too, like "fingiendo" or, perhaps "dando la impresión de ... " I feel that these convey the sense of intending to give the (deceptive) impression rather than merely appearing to ... (from the point of view of an impartial observer).
Anyone for "fingiendo asentir gravemente..."'
Yup, it's the way James Santiago says.
The idea then is '...o por lo menos pareciendo asentir con gravedad.?
I really liked that translation and I think I'm going with that. Also, that and Natasha's first post really helped me understand the meaning of the phrase. Thank you all very much for your help!
'Ryuzaki took it, nodding gravely -or making a show of nodding gravely. So much for her test -from his outward reaction, she could read absolutely nothing.'
I understood "her test" to refer to Ryuzaki -- James understood "his reaction" to refer to Ryuzaki. Satélite, which is it? (Not very important, I suppose, but a little disconcerting -- kind of like Quentin's avatar!)
To me it's clear. She had handed him something to test his reaction, but his reaction told her nothing. Hence the "So much for her test."
'Ryuzaki took it, nodding gravely -or making a show of nodding gravely. So much for her test -from his outward reaction, she could read absolutely nothing.'
I understood "her test" to refer to Ryuzaki -- James understood "his reaction" to refer to Ryuzaki. Satélite, which is it? (Not very important, I suppose, but a little disconcerting -- kind of like Quentin's avatar!)
I think "making a show of" here is emphasizing the fact that she is pretending or "acting," at some level -- not so much that she's "showing off" or flaunting anything. Do you agree?
Yes, I do, and on review of my translation, I think you are probably right that it doesn't capture the nuance correctly. We could rewrite it as follows.
Ryuzaki took it, nodding gravely - or at least acting as if he were nodding gravely.
Ryuzaki took it, nodding gravely - or at least pretending to nod gravely.
Ryuzaki took it, nodding gravely - or at least going through the motions of nodding gravely.
(By the way, we know Ryuzaki is male because of the later pronoun: "from his outward reaction.")
The idea then is "...o por lo menos pareciendo asentir con gravedad." Maybe the original poster can put that in natural Spanish.
"Ryuzaki took it, nodding gravely -or making a show of nodding gravely. So much for her test -from his outward reaction, she could read absolutely nothing."
...o sea, haciendo alarde de asentir con gravedad...
¿Te sirve?
I think "making a show of" here is emphasizing the fact that she is pretending or "acting," at some level -- not so much that she's "showing off" or flaunting anything. Do you agree? I don't know how to express the nuance in Spanish. Basically, if you leave out the "making a show of" above you haven't substantially changed the meaning. It's there to remind the reader that she was engaging in some sort of subterfuge or less-than-above-board maneuvering.
See if this helps, for example:
The night watchman made a show of talking into his radio, even though he knew no one was listening, in hopes the intruder wouldn't figure out he was by himself.
Satélite can tell us more about the context, perhaps . . .
jejeje, ya empezamos....¡¡pero si os vamos a machacar!
en fin....se ve que hay los que no tienen fe 
De ilusión vive el hombre y más el aficionado del Real Madrid que persigue con inusitado afán la inalcanzable estela blaugrana. Este año la Liga, la Champions League y la Copa tienen un cierto tono azulgrana.
P.D. Heidita deberías cambiarte de equipo si de veras sabes apreciar lo que es el espectáculo no el sopor que te hace sufrir tu equipo del alma.
poniéndose **serio **al asentir con la cabeza
Sí señor, mucho mejor 
Y eso que vamos a ganar la liga a pesar de todo....tse, tse, tse.... 
No sé si ya lo dije: ¡qué bueno verte, Iker! 
Lo único lo de la liga...pero ya sabes, no se puede tenerlo to.....jejej
To nod is "Asentir la cabeza".
Yo diría algo como "asentió su cabeza solemnemente."
Más bien es:
Asintió con la cabeza...
Mi sugerencia:
poniéndose grave al asentir con la cabeza
Coincido contigo Heidita en lo relativo a tu sugerencia, pero difiero en lo de usar la palabra "grave" la cual también es correcta. Prefiero usar "serio" en vez de "grave". En el norte "grave" es un adjetivo usado más, con la acepción de "muy enfermo" cuando nos referimos a personas.(P.D. Quizás en la capital sea distinto jeje).
poniéndose **serio **al asentir con la cabeza
"Ryuzaki took it, nodding gravely -or making a show of nodding gravely. So much for her test -from his outward reaction, she could read absolutely nothing."
...o sea, haciendo alarde de asentir con gravedad...
¿Te sirve'
To nod is "Asentir la cabeza".
Yo diría algo como "asentió su cabeza solemnemente."
Más bien es:
Asintió con la cabeza...
Mi sugerencia:
poniéndose grave al asentir con la cabeza
Satélite:
Si tienes preguntas referente al vocabulario, ponlos en la sección de vocabulario. si es un párrafo más largo, en proofreading.
Y la palabra o palabras que buscas en el TÍTULO!
Te ruego leas las reglas del foro.
Grave quiere decir:
Requiring serious thought; momentous: a grave decision in a time of crisis.
Fraught with danger or harm: a grave wound.
Dignified and somber in conduct or character: a grave procession.
Somber or dark in hue.
To nod is "Asentir la cabeza".
Yo diría algo como "asentió su cabeza solemnemente."
"To make a show of something" quiere decir, más o menos que están intentando de mostrar algo, o están presentando algo con extravagancia. Pero en el contexto, yo creo que está refiriendo al primero.
To make a show of respect is to actually show respect to someone or sometihng.
To make a show of something with regards to a party or event usually refers to extravegance.
