Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
flutter of the eyelashes/eyelids
Greek translation:
πετάρισμα βλαφαρίδων
Added to glossary by
Hellinas
Jun 30, 2016 18:06
7 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
flutter of the eyelashes/eyelids
Non-PRO
English to Greek
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
idiom
It is very strange that I am unable to find, in any Greek dictionary I have, the above expression (and that includes Odysseus also). Could I use να ανοιγοκλείνω τις βλεφαρίδες? It is a common enough idiom in English and I suppose that that wonderful scene in the film Roman Holiday typifies how Audrey Hepburn - the classic doe-eyed actress - in the bus used a rapid flutter of her eyelashes to get the driver in the car's attention. The verb 'to flutter one's eyelashes' is included in my question.
Proposed translations
(Greek)
| 5 | πετάρισμα βλαφαρίδων |
sterios prosiniklis
|
| 4 | πετάρισμα των βλεφαρίδων/ματιών |
GEORGIOS-ORESTIS ZOUMPOS
|
| 3 | υψώνει τις βλεφαρίδες/ βλέφαρα της |
transphy
|
Proposed translations
3 mins
sterios prosiniklis
Native in Greek
manuals, technical documents , websites
Native in: Greek 
Works in: Italian to Greek, English to Greek, Greek to Italian
Selected
πετάρισμα βλαφαρίδων
http://www.belife.gr/magazine/content/view/1018/26/
Αυτό νομίζω κάνει...
Αυτό νομίζω κάνει...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks to all for their answers. PROSGR & Georgios-Orestis both gave the same expression. I enjoyed the article that PROSGR referred me to. Georgios-Orestes 's comment that βλεφαρίδων/βλεφάρων is more poetic is relevant to my attempted translation. Thanks go to transphy for his illuminating notes on the subject of 'raising the eyelashes/eyelids'."
2 mins
GEORGIOS-ORESTIS ZOUMPOS
Cyprus
Cyprus
Native in Greek
Cyprus
Greek Lawyer-Linguist
Native in: Greek
Works in: English to Greek, Greek to English
πετάρισμα των βλεφαρίδων/ματιών
Νομίζω ότι ταιριάζει, είναι πιο "ποιητικό"...
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Note added at 46 mins (2016-06-30 18:53:20 GMT)
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Ακόμα καλύτερα βλεφαρίδων/βλεφάρων.
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Note added at 46 mins (2016-06-30 18:53:20 GMT)
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Ακόμα καλύτερα βλεφαρίδων/βλεφάρων.
1 hr
υψώνει τις βλεφαρίδες/ βλέφαρα της
Ι think 'flutter' is used allegorically here. What she actually does is to ''raise'' her eyelashes and eyelids.
''flutter', as done by birds, is to flap the wings, as if to fly but not actually take off. I don't think Audrey Hepburn, actually does that with her eyelashes/brows. However, it is only an opinion. To 'raise=υψώνει' might, and I say might, be more appropriate, unless there is an equivalent expression in Greek, as the other two contributors propose.
''flutter', as done by birds, is to flap the wings, as if to fly but not actually take off. I don't think Audrey Hepburn, actually does that with her eyelashes/brows. However, it is only an opinion. To 'raise=υψώνει' might, and I say might, be more appropriate, unless there is an equivalent expression in Greek, as the other two contributors propose.
Note from asker:
| To raise one's eyebrows means to 'show surprise or mild disapproval':e.g. Romanov merely raised his eyebrows at the discourtesy. To flutter one's eyebrow/eyelids is an entirely different idiom, almost always used of a woman. It means if a woman flutters her eyelashes at a man, she behaves as if she is sexually attracted to him, especially in order to persuade him to do something:e.g. -Go and flutter your eyelashes at the barman, Janet, and see if you can get him to serve us.(The example & definition are from the Cambridge Online Dictionary). |
| To raise one's eyebrows means to 'show surprise or mild disapproval':e.g. Romanov merely raised his eyebrows at the discourtesy. To flutter one's eyebrow/eyelids is an entirely different idiom, almost always used of a woman. It means if a woman flutters her eyelashes at a man, she behaves as if she is sexually attracted to him, especially in order to persuade him to do something:e.g. -Go and flutter your eyelashes at the barman, Janet, and see if you can get him to serve us.(The example & definition are from the Cambridge Online Dictionary). |
Discussion
I said, '...allegorically....'. Raising the eyes can mean a lot of different things. May I remind you that, if a woman even looks at you, again a lot of meanings to a look, can mean she is interested in the 'object' she looks at. 'Our eyes crossed' she/he said. Just a look and no 'flutter of the eyes(!!!) brings results to the participants. Raising your eyes can also mean surprise or disapproval.