balayer large - spread (our) net as wide as possible ( translation glossary) DU PARTI AU CABINET DU MAIRE,Government / Politics,Social Sciences

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French term or phrase:	balayer large
English translation:	spread (our) net as wide as possible
Entered by:	Bianca AH

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4:57pm Jun 1, 2007

French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics / DU PARTI AU CABINET DU MAIRE

French term or phrase: balayer large

From a quote of an ex-activist of "la deuxième gauche" giving his opinion on "la vieille gauche":

"Mitterrandienne, opportuniste rad-soc… Melting pot crétin des idées… Je vais vite, hein… **Qui permet de balayer large** et d’avoir un positionnement centriste gauche au moment de chaque congrès, [...] il y a pas de cohérence intellectuelle"

I understand that he is levelling criticism at how centrist or general (sweeping?) the old left is, particular when it's in their interest to be so. Would appreciate any creative suggestions for "balayer large"!

Bianca AH

KudoZ activity
Questions: 225 (all closed)
Answers: 67

France

spread (our) net as wide as possible

Explanation:
bring in the masses

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Note added at 14 hrs (2007-06-02 07:04:48 GMT)
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WIDELY as possible - "wide" will pass muster but this is better

Selected response from:

xxxCMJ_Trans
France

Note from asker to answerer

Thanks, CMJ - this is a great equivalent. I've adapted it to my text as "casting their nets wide".
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +7

spread (our) net as wide as possible

xxxCMJ_Trans

4 +2

broaden their position

Patrice

4 +1

take in a wide sweep (of issues)

Robert Frankling

3 +1

to have as wide an appeal as possible

katsy

to sweep in everyone we can

B D Finch

to be somewhat ambiguous

Rita Heller

to attract a diverse following

MatthewLaSon

Answers

53 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

to have as wide an appeal as possible

Explanation:
Don't disagree with Robert's idea, but my feeling is that it's criticising someone's (Sègolène's??) apparent way of trying to have something to please everyone.
I'd also suggest "to be all things to all people"

katsy
France
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 14

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

broaden their position

Explanation:
or broaden their appeal

Patrice
United States
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

32 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

take in a wide sweep (of issues)

Explanation:
what happens when economic policies are incoherent and inconsistent. ... the papers published herewith cover a wide sweep of issues relating to trade ...
www.hrnicholls.com.au/nicholls/nichvol2/vol2intr.htm

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Note added at 35 mins (2007-06-01 17:33:24 GMT)
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The "sweep of issues" the candidate supports is meant to appeal to both left and centre, but many of the things he supports are somewhat contradictory...is that it?

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-06-01 18:32:27 GMT)
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"Wide sweep" can be positive: (Photography) Since zooming out includes a wide sweep of the scene, all of the objects in the scene ...
www.shortcourses.com/using/lenses/chapter5.htm

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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-06-01 18:58:50 GMT)
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But in the context given, it is the writer who is openly critical of the politician with harsh words like "opportuniste" and "pas de cohérence intellectuelle".

Robert Frankling
Canada
Native speaker of:

English

3 hrs confidence:

to be somewhat ambiguous

Explanation:
to speak somewhat ambiguously (which can be slanted to work well in front of potentially disagreeing factions)

Rita Heller
United States
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 14

12 hrs confidence:

to attract a diverse following

Explanation:
Hello,

balayer large = to sweep up a vast array....

In other words, he attracts a diverse following of people from different political parties, beliefs, walks of life, etc.

I hope this helps.

Reference: http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Articles9/Frank_Dean-Whitey.ht...

MatthewLaSon
United States
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 5

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +7

spread (our) net as wide as possible

Explanation:
bring in the masses

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs (2007-06-02 07:04:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

WIDELY as possible - "wide" will pass muster but this is better

xxxCMJ_Trans
France
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 182

Note from asker to answerer

Thanks, CMJ - this is a great equivalent. I've adapted it to my text as "casting their nets wide".

17 hrs confidence:

to sweep in everyone we can

Explanation:
Keeping the original imagery.

B D Finch
France
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 16

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French: balayer large

English translation: spread (our) net as wide as possible