What does 覆ってみせる mean?

Question

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

Answer 1

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.