Tener una pinta

[poli]

I know it can be used to mean parecer. Is this usage Spain-specific?

[aleCcowaN]

In Argentina, tener pinta means to be good looking in the case of a man. Tener una pinta, unless followed by additional details, depends on the intonation for it's meaning, varying from sexy to bum-like for people, enticing to dubious for food and other items, and so on.

¡Pero mirá qué pinta que tenés! = Look at you! So handsome!

¡Pero mirá qué pinta tenés! ¿Así vas a ir? = Look at you ! You're dressed like a strawman/bum/chav/etc..

No me gusta la pinta del tipo ése que está allá. Mejor nos vamos. = I don't like the looks of that guy hanging there. We better leave.

Estos bocaditos tienen una pinta bárbara, pero no tienen gusto a nada = This finger food looks excelent, but it's nearly flavourless.

[poli]

Thanks Alec,

Would it sound strange to say el venedor presentó una licuadora que tuvo una pinta estupenda?

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by poli

Would it sound strange to say el venedor presentó una licuadora que tuvo una pinta estupenda?

...que tenía una pinta estupenda

I suppose it's quite right for Spain. I would use una pinta bárbara, but, you know, localisms.

Pinta is a rather colloquial term, and because of several related expressions I suppose It comes from estar pintado (to be portrait/painting worth). For instance, we locally say es una pinturita to mean it's in mint condition or has been overhauled to high standards.

[poli]

Thanks for your help!