loose focus

[Isotope]

Hi there!

Does anybody know the meaning of focus in the following sentence:

"He often lost focus during interviews. He hated doing them."

Does it mean something like: He lost attention/interest?

Thanks so much for your help.

[emsr2d2]

Hi there!

Does anybody know the meaning of focus in the following sentence:

"He often lost focus during interviews. He hated doing them."

Does it mean something like: He lost attention/interest?

Thanks so much for your help.

His attention wavered, yes.
He lost interest, no.

He was probably still interested in the job but for some reason during the interview he just found that he was having trouble concentrating on what he was meant to be doing (answering the questions intelligently and eloquently). He might have been distracted by other thoughts going through his mind. Perhaps he starts answering a question perfectly well but during the course of his answer he drifted off the topic instead of focusing on what he had actually been asked.

[Raymott]

Hi there!

Does anybody know the meaning of focus in the following sentence:

"He often lost focus during interviews. He hated doing them."

Does it mean something like: He lost attention/interest?

Thanks so much for your help.

The verb you want is "lose", despite what you might read on the web. "Loose" is an entirely different word.

[emsr2d2]

Thanks Raymott. I just popped back to this thread and realised that I'd failed to mention the use of "loose" instead of "lose" in my original response.

It's such a common error and I can completely understand why so many people get the two confused.

[Isotope]

Thanks for the answer! (and sorry for the typo...)

[BobK]

I ncidentally I think 'loose focus' does have a meaning for photographers. It would be the opposite of 'tight focus' - which I know exists. (I thought I'd strayed into the wrong forum! )

b]

[emsr2d2]

I ncidentally I think 'loose focus' does have a meaning for photographers. It would be the opposite of 'tight focus' - which I know exists. (I thought I'd strayed into the wrong forum! )

b]

My flatmate is a photographer and says that's not the case. "Tight focus" is a phrase for an extremely close up shot (so for a portrait you would get really tight in to just the face and it would fill the frame) but "loose focus" doesn't mean anything to him.

[BobK]

My flatmate is a photographer and says that's not the case. "Tight focus" is a phrase for an extremely close up shot (so for a portrait you would get really tight in to just the face and it would fill the frame) but "loose focus" doesn't mean anything to him.

I stand corrected.

b

[emsr2d2]

A lot of us have been standing corrected today. Our legs must be very tired. Shall we set up a naughty corner?!

[Hedwig]

A lot of us have been standing corrected today. Our legs must be very tired. Shall we set up a naughty corner?!

Yes, let's!