What does 覆ってみせる mean?


As far as I can tell from the components, it means to show yourself hiding
which makes no sense. Context is the sentence ＸはＹに顔を覆ってみせる




顔を覆って == cover one's face (with both hands)

-みせる == that it was done largely to show other person(s)

X did it to show Y -- Sometimes it's fake (pretending to be sad, shocked,
etc.). Other times, the "pretending" sense is weak or almost non-existent.

てみせる has other uses :

> <http://www.jgram.org/pages/viewOne.php?tagE=miseru>  
>  今年こそは修士論文を書き上げてみせる。  
>
>
> 今年、僕は大学を卒業してみせる｡  
>  You will see, This year I will graduate.

㋑強い決意を表す。「絶対に勝って―・せる」

So a better translation may be:

  * This year I will graduate college, for sure.
  * This year I will graduate from college, and that's a promise.

