Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

Vin21 · Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 132

Could you tell me what's the meaning of:

to get compromising pictures/information

Thanks!

iitimone7 · Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 400 Location: Indiana, USA

here's an example...

a man invents a new kind of toothbrush. one of the people who works for him decides that he could make the toothbrush better. he steals the plans for the new toothbrush, makes a new one, and puts his name on the invention. the man who stole compromised his integrity (he knew that he shouldn't do it, but he did it anyway) and compromised the reputation of the inventor of the toothbrush (the inventor made it up on his own) for his own benefit.

does that make any sense? Confused

iitimone7

Vin21 · Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 132

Thanks,iitimone7.
I think it makes a lot of sense.
So,can I say ,in your given example, the man got compromising plans ?

iitimone7 · Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 400 Location: Indiana, USA

absolutely...

advoca · Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 422 Location: Beijing

Hm!

May I disagree?

If you describe information or a situation as compromising, you mean that it reveals an embarrassing or guilty secret about someone.

If someone gets hold of compromising pictures of someone it means that the pictures could cause that person to be embarrassed. Similarly, if someone has compromising information it could cause embarrassment if it is revealed.

Vin21 · Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 132

Thanks,advoca.
You're right.I found out that compromising pictures and imformation always have something to do with detectives or paparazzi.
iitimone7's idea....hmm..was a little creative? Laughing

advoca · Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 422 Location: Beijing

I think itimone7's suggestion was quite sound. You can use compromise in the way he suggested,

As he pointed out, if someone compromises themselves or their beliefs, they do something which damages their reputation for honesty, loyalty, or high moral principles.
...members of the government who have compromised themselves by co-operating with the emergency committee...
He would rather shoot himself than compromise his principles.
Our plans were compromised because someone leaked them to the press."

Vin21 · Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 132

Thanks for your explaination,advoca.
And can I use the pattern of "compromising pictures"..
such as....members of the government get compromising co-operation.. something like that? Very Happy

Thanks!

bud · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US

Be careful not to confuse compromising pictures with compromising. I have never seen compromising pictures used in any way different from what Advoca described.

Compromising (by itself) is usually a positive thing. It's when the two sides of an issue are able to agree to a solution. Each side gets some of what they wanted, while having to give the other side some of what they wanted.

So yes, Vin, your sentence is correct, but we are not talking about compromising pictures here - just compromising. While your sentence is good, it would be more natural to say something like, "Members of the government are compropmising" or "Members of the government have agreed to compromise."

Nice job, Vin!

Vin21 · Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 132

Thank you,bud.Now I see. Very Happy