| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
hiromichi
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 1380
|
 Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2016 6:13 am Post subject: foil of choice |
 |
|
What does 'foil of choice' mean?
President-elect Donald J. Trump woke up on Tuesday to announce on Twitter that he was canceling a planned meeting with the “failing” New York Times, but would move ahead with meetings to form his government “for the next 8 years.” The news media continues to be his foil of choice.
_________________
Hiromichi |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Lorikeet
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2016 7:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Well, I have to admit I can't really explain this one. Maybe someone else will happen by. I even looked it up in the dictionary, but it didn't help. Sorry. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hiromichi
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 1380
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2016 7:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Lorikeet,
Thank you.
_________________
Hiromichi |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rogerrowles
Joined: 24 Jan 2017
Posts: 6
Location: Boise, Idaho, USA
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 10:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hi Hiromichi,
That is indeed a strange sentence.
When someone is 'foiled', it means that their plans were stopped (the plans have a negative connotation). For example: "The bank robber's plans were foiled by the police."
I think what they're trying to say is that Trump is choosing to 'foil' the media, as he continues to pick on them. It has a sarcastic connotation to it, though because it's the kind of word you would find in a superhero comic book. It's as if Trump thinks he's very smart in ruining the media's plans, but it doesn't really affect the media at all.
I realize that's a pretty difficult explanation, but I hope it helps! Let me know if I can explain it any further.
_________________
- Roger
Co-founder of www.linguaplex.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hiromichi
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 1380
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 3:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
rogerrowles:
Thank you for your follow-up of my question last November.
J found the following in the Internet.
foil, enhancer (anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities) "pretty girls like plain friends as foils"
So 'a foil of choice ' is used in a sarcastic sense in the context, isn't it?
_________________
Hiromichi |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rogerrowles
Joined: 24 Jan 2017
Posts: 6
Location: Boise, Idaho, USA
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 3:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi Hiromichi,
Yes, I think is the right usage here! In that case, the meaning is quite literal, but there is a sarcastic, negative tone to it.
_________________
- Roger
Co-founder of www.linguaplex.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hiromichi
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 1380
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 4:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
rogerrowles:
An insatiable spirit of inquiry.
Thanks again for your follow-up.
_________________
Hiromichi |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
