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Claudia
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:42 pm
Post subject: Can somebody help me understand this phrase? |
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I'm translating an essay on Dan Brown's new novel, can someone help me
with this phrase?
«Some might stop pursuing allusions and allegories at this point, but
this is exactly the kind of stepping-off point for an author like Dan
Brown. That’s because “widow’s son” might go beyond the strict
definition of the son of a woman..»
What exactly stepping-off point means? What does it refer to?
TNX!!!
Claudia
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John of Aix
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 10:49 pm
Post subject: Re: Can somebody help me understand this phrase? |
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Claudia wrote:
| Quote: | I'm translating an essay on Dan Brown's new novel, can someone help me
with this phrase?
«Some might stop pursuing allusions and allegories at this point, but
this is exactly the kind of stepping-off point for an author like Dan
Brown. That’s because “widow’s son” might go beyond the strict
definition of the son of a woman..»
What exactly stepping-off point means? What does it refer to?
|
For instance if you were going for a walk, then you could say that that
where you started was a 'stepping off point', the same for the moment
you began a project, or jumped into a river (though that would be
'jumping off point' strictly speaking). So you always go somewhere from
a stepping-off point. |
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Nick Wagg
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 10:54 pm
Post subject: Re: Can somebody help me understand this phrase? |
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"Claudia" <claudia@claudia.com> wrote in message
news:OyWte.20700$bc.6247@tornado.fastwebnet.it...
| Quote: | I'm translating an essay on Dan Brown's new novel, can someone help me
with this phrase?
«Some might stop pursuing allusions and allegories at this point, but
this is exactly the kind of stepping-off point for an author like Dan
Brown. That’s because “widow’s son” might go beyond the strict
definition of the son of a woman..»
What exactly stepping-off point means? What does it refer to?
|
In British English we would probably say "starting point".
I presume that it means that whereas most people might do their
research and stick as closely to the truth as possible, Dan Brown
is not one let mere facts stand in his way. No, if there's a myth,
then he will use it as a basis for a story and write about it as if it
really is true - it's just that only he has been clever enough to
stumble over it.
"Widow's son" is often a euphemism for an illegitimate child for
fairly obvious reasons.
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Claudia
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 11:00 pm
Post subject: Re: Can somebody help me understand this phrase? |
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Nick Wagg wrote:
| Quote: | "Claudia" <claudia@claudia.com> wrote in message
news:OyWte.20700$bc.6247@tornado.fastwebnet.it...
I'm translating an essay on Dan Brown's new novel, can someone help me
with this phrase?
«Some might stop pursuing allusions and allegories at this point, but
this is exactly the kind of stepping-off point for an author like Dan
Brown. That’s because “widow’s son” might go beyond the strict
definition of the son of a woman..»
What exactly stepping-off point means? What does it refer to?
In British English we would probably say "starting point".
I presume that it means that whereas most people might do their
research and stick as closely to the truth as possible, Dan Brown
is not one let mere facts stand in his way. No, if there's a myth,
then he will use it as a basis for a story and write about it as if it
really is true - it's just that only he has been clever enough to
stumble over it.
"Widow's son" is often a euphemism for an illegitimate child for
fairly obvious reasons.
|
=O in fact, with starting point it makes sense! Tnx also for explaining
the whole concept =) |
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Claudia
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 11:00 pm
Post subject: Re: Can somebody help me understand this phrase? |
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John of Aix wrote:
| Quote: | Claudia wrote:
I'm translating an essay on Dan Brown's new novel, can someone help me
with this phrase?
«Some might stop pursuing allusions and allegories at this point, but
this is exactly the kind of stepping-off point for an author like Dan
Brown. That’s because “widow’s son” might go beyond the strict
definition of the son of a woman..»
What exactly stepping-off point means? What does it refer to?
For instance if you were going for a walk, then you could say that that
where you started was a 'stepping off point', the same for the moment
you began a project, or jumped into a river (though that would be
'jumping off point' strictly speaking). So you always go somewhere from
a stepping-off point.
TNX John =) you made it very clear =) |
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Paul Wolff
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:34 am
Post subject: Re: Can somebody help me understand this phrase? |
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In message <d99gp1$bs8$1$8302bc10@news.demon.co.uk>, Nick Wagg
<naw@transcendata.com> writes
| Quote: | "Claudia" <claudia@claudia.com> wrote in message
news:OyWte.20700$bc.6247@tornado.fastwebnet.it...
I'm translating an essay on Dan Brown's new novel, can someone help me
with this phrase?
‹Some might stop pursuing allusions and allegories at this point, but
this is exactly the kind of stepping-off point for an author like Dan
Brown. That’s because “widow’s son” might go beyond the strict
definition of the son of a woman..›
What exactly stepping-off point means? What does it refer to?
In British English we would probably say "starting point".
I presume that it means that whereas most people might do their
research and stick as closely to the truth as possible, Dan Brown
is not one let mere facts stand in his way. No, if there's a myth,
then he will use it as a basis for a story and write about it as if it
really is true - it's just that only he has been clever enough to
stumble over it.
"Widow's son" is often a euphemism for an illegitimate child for
fairly obvious reasons.
Dan Brown is keen on Masonic allusions. Stick 'freemason widow's son' |
into Google and you'll find plenty to follow up through with <runs out
of prepositions>. I'll make a small bet that this is what the essayist
is referring to.
--
Paul
In bocca al Lupo! |
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Claudia
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 1:15 pm
Post subject: Re: Can somebody help me understand this phrase? |
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TNX Paul =)
In fact, I wasn't sure I got the stepping-off point right =) but I
already knew about the widow's son and the masonry link. =)
Claudia
Paul Wolff wrote:
| Quote: | In message <d99gp1$bs8$1$8302bc10@news.demon.co.uk>, Nick Wagg
naw@transcendata.com> writes
"Claudia" <claudia@claudia.com> wrote in message
news:OyWte.20700$bc.6247@tornado.fastwebnet.it...
I'm translating an essay on Dan Brown's new novel, can someone help me
with this phrase?
‹Some might stop pursuing allusions and allegories at this point, but
this is exactly the kind of stepping-off point for an author like Dan
Brown. That’s because “widow’s son” might go beyond the strict
definition of the son of a woman..›
What exactly stepping-off point means? What does it refer to?
In British English we would probably say "starting point".
I presume that it means that whereas most people might do their
research and stick as closely to the truth as possible, Dan Brown
is not one let mere facts stand in his way. No, if there's a myth,
then he will use it as a basis for a story and write about it as if it
really is true - it's just that only he has been clever enough to
stumble over it.
"Widow's son" is often a euphemism for an illegitimate child for
fairly obvious reasons.
Dan Brown is keen on Masonic allusions. Stick 'freemason widow's son'
into Google and you'll find plenty to follow up through with <runs out
of prepositions>. I'll make a small bet that this is what the essayist
is referring to. |
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