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Pull a moue

Posted by Baceseras on August 27, 2009 at 20:10

In Reply to: Pull a moue posted by ESC on August 26, 2009 at 11:55:

: : : : What might the origin of "pull a moue" be? I know that a moue is a grimace, but how,or why, would one pull it?

: : : It seems to me that in British novels the characters "pull a face."

: : In the UK we do indeed "pull a face"; in fact it's news to me that you people across the pond don't! But we don't normally "pull a moue". "Pull" in this context implies that the facial muscles are tugged sharply awry. This doesn't really describe a moue, which is a cute little pout, frequently flirtatious in intent. (Napoleon's Empress Josephine had terrible teeth and so was reluctant to smile; instead she perfected a piquant and seductive moue, for which she was celebrated.) So to my mind you don't properly "pull" a moue; you just "make" one.

: All I can testify about is West Virginia and Kentucky. Never seen any reference to someone "pulling a face" here. I'm trying to think of the American equivalent. When we "make a face," it's more extreme. Like a little child contorting his face. And if he isn't careful, the adults caution, it might freeze like that.

[US style for "pulling a moue" is "giving a look," usually only mentioned when objecting to it: "Don't give me that look!" Variations come easily, as in the typical 'Seinfeld' exchange: "What was that look?" "What look?" "There was a look, a definite look." "No look!" - Baceseras.]

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