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Rotter Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Scholar first
As the monsoon session of the national parliament begins in Delhi, Mr Singh must be finding his seat a little too hot for comfort.
The shy and soft-spoken economist-turned-politician has in a matter of a few weeks become the favourite target of everybody.
The opposition is gunning for him. So are the Communists who have not joined the Congress-led coalition government but are lending it crucial support from the outside.
Symbol of honesty
Even many senior Congress leaders, including some ministers, have begun to criticise him none too discreetly.
It is not an easy position to be in, especially for someone like Mr Singh, a reluctant politician who has always been seen as a scholar first.
Critics say this image has in fact been assiduously cultivated by the prime minister himself.
But others argue that such a conclusion may be a little too harsh a judgment on someone who is seen by many as a symbol of honesty in what's widely regarded as a corrupt political system.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4715797.stm
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What is the meaning of 'he has been as a scholar first' ?
The shy and soft-spoken economist-turned-politician has in a matter of a few weeks become the favourite target of everybody.
The opposition is gunning for him. So are the Communists who have not joined the Congress-led coalition government but are lending it crucial support from the outside.
Symbol of honesty
Even many senior Congress leaders, including some ministers, have begun to criticise him none too discreetly.
It is not an easy position to be in, especially for someone like Mr Singh, a reluctant politician who has always been seen as a scholar first.
Critics say this image has in fact been assiduously cultivated by the prime minister himself.
But others argue that such a conclusion may be a little too harsh a judgment on someone who is seen by many as a symbol of honesty in what's widely regarded as a corrupt political system.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4715797.stm
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What is the meaning of 'he has been as a scholar first' ?
Top answer
The phrase in question, Rotter, must first be accurately quoted as: '[he] has always been seen as a scholar first'. ) Being seen (thought of) as a scholar is different from being seen as a politician, especially in this context where a scholar represents honesty, and a politician represents corruptness. The two qualities (honesty and corruptness) are antagonistic, which makes it hard to imagine that both can exist in the same person.
- The phrase in question, Rotter, must first be accurately quoted as: '[he] has always been seen as a scholar first'.
- ) Being seen (thought of) as a scholar is different from being seen as a politician, especially in this context where a scholar represents honesty, and a politician represents corruptness.
- The two qualities (honesty and corruptness) are antagonistic, which makes it hard to imagine that both can exist in the same person.
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7 Answers
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The phrase in question, Rotter, must first be accurately quoted as: '[he] has always been seen as a scholar first'. (You left out 'seen'.)
Being seen (thought of) as a scholar is different from being seen as a politician, especially in this context where a scholar represents honesty, and a politician represents corruptness. The two qualities (honesty and c
Being seen (thought of) as a scholar is different from being seen as a politician, especially in this context where a scholar represents honesty, and a politician represents corruptness. The two qualities (honesty and c
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davekett, thanks for the reply.
He has always been seen as a scholar/politician/physcist/doctor first'.
I didn't know the existence of such words in English.
So you would say the man in question has been seen as a doctor/teacher/idiot first.
People know him or recognize him as a doctor/teacher/idiot. --> This is correct.
He has always been seen as a scholar/politician/physcist/doctor first'.
I didn't know the existence of such words in English.
So you would say the man in question has been seen as a doctor/teacher/idiot first.
People know him or recognize him as a doctor/teacher/idiot. --> This is correct.
00
Hello Rotter
You might also be interested in this idiom: 'to be regarded first and foremost as an XYZ', where 'first and foremost' roughly equals 'above all' or 'primarily'.
1. He has always been regarded first and foremost as a scholar.
Or you can use 'known', 'seen', 'considered', etc. instead of 'regarded'.
MrP
You might also be interested in this idiom: 'to be regarded first and foremost as an XYZ', where 'first and foremost' roughly equals 'above all' or 'primarily'.
1. He has always been regarded first and foremost as a scholar.
Or you can use 'known', 'seen', 'considered', etc. instead of 'regarded'.
MrP
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MrPedantic
I am familiar with 'first and foremost'. I would say it is a common expression.
I am familiar with 'first and foremost'. I would say it is a common expression.
00
I wonder whether 'first and foremost' was at the back of the writer's mind.
The BBC website is hastily written by harassed hacks. Their idioms are often slightly askew.
MrP
The BBC website is hastily written by harassed hacks. Their idioms are often slightly askew.
MrP
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MrPedanticThe BBC website is hastily written by harassed hacks.
Hi MrP, I usually get in the BBC site for practising my reading (and hearing) skills, I supposed the level was the highest, even so, do you recommend it anyway?
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Hello Latin
Sorry, I was being a little grouchy that day...
I think the journalists' intention is to write readable, clear, unstuffy English. They tend to revise the online articles quite frequently, which is when the mistakes occur: they don't always tidy away the detritus, after editing this or that paragraph. This is especially the case in 'breaking news stories', where they w
Sorry, I was being a little grouchy that day...
I think the journalists' intention is to write readable, clear, unstuffy English. They tend to revise the online articles quite frequently, which is when the mistakes occur: they don't always tidy away the detritus, after editing this or that paragraph. This is especially the case in 'breaking news stories', where they w
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