Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[KejciorF]

Hi Everybody,

in the following sentence what does "scores of states" mean?

Some antismoking advocates worry that the Chicago store might mark a new front in tabacco industry's efforts to market their products as glamorous despite efforts by the the industry to comply with a 1998 settlement agreement with SCORES OF STATES that limits advertising.

TIA,

Kate.

[Philo Kevetch]

Hello KejciorF -

As used in your example, 'scores' means 'a large number' or 'many' (most? a 'score' = 20) states.

(states = individual states within the United States of America)

There is also a bit of a 'play on words' in the example -

a 'score' is 20 'notches' or 'marks' made while 'tallying'

so - "....Chicago store...'mark' a new front in the tobacco industry's...agreement with 'scores' of states"

Philo