Word for showing a small part of something briefly to hint to its existence or beauty without fully uncovering it
... perhaps to attract interest, envy or curiosity. That's really all. Thanks in advance.
PS: words that I have already in mind? Few! I thought of "lure" but hmm that's not even close.
The word may go in the dotted space in these examples:
The man ... his muscles, threatening with fight.
The scientist ... his knowledge by a technical question.
"Glimpse" is close. In my context it would be: to give or allow a glimpse of something. But it doesn't convey purpose of attracting attention. Better ones?
Thanks
Flash has several dictionary entries, including:
- to break forth in or like a sudden flame or flare
4a. to break forth or out so as to make a sudden display
- to have sudden insight —often used with on
I think this fits well for your first example sentence,
The man flashed his muscles, threatening with fight.
Not so well (but understandable in context) for your second example sentence,
The scientist flashed his knowledge by a technical question.
A "word for showing a small part of something briefly to hint to its existence or beauty without fully uncovering it" is tease:
tease n.2
An act of teasing someone
‘Calgary has been privy to teases of his product at shops such as Oxygen in Bankers Hall, and in Kensington at both Brooklyn for men and Splash for women.’
‘To make Maxim sell, they pumped up the page turning teases and never really delivered much.’
— Oxford via Lexico
tease v.1.1
Tempt (someone) sexually with no intention of satisfying the desire aroused.
Ibid.
In this case the sexual aspect is downplayed, but the action of a brief reveal with the hint of more to come — to attract interest or curiosity — is reminiscent of a sexual tease, as the quotes demonstrate.