Literal translation
to make eyes of a cuttlefish
Meaning
to gaze admiringly, a little foolishly
Explanation
This phrase means 'to gaze admiringly, in a languid, slightly foolish way'. The literal image compares an admiring gaze to the eye of the cuttlefish, a sea creature with large, round, fixed eyes that look somewhat blank of expression, which, transposed onto a human face, suggest a blissful, almost foolish stare. This kind of animal comparison for a lovestruck or fascinated gaze, often with a touch of mockery aimed at the person displaying it, is a recurring device in Provençal expressions related to the body, where the eye becomes the privileged seat of an emotion being gently mocked. The word for eye also, in our sources, names the present day, while the word for cuttlefish precisely names this mollusk, a common sight on Provençal market stalls and in Provençal cooking, which makes the image immediately recognizable to anyone living near the Mediterranean. The register is familiar and affectionately teasing, used to gently mock someone visibly smitten or fascinated, unable to hide their admiration behind a neutral look.