cause

[Taka]

The sentence:

Despite the media's tendency to leap from one fashionable cause to the next (from world hunger to AIDS to the environment), it would be narrow-minded to deny their part in increasing environmental awareness.

What does "cause" mean here? Contextually, I think it's almost the same as "topic" or the like, but I don't find such entry in my dictionary...

[Tdol]

'Cause'is generallysomething that is both a fashionable topic and something that can be given money.

[Taka]

'Cause'is generallysomething that is both a fashionable topic and something that can be given money.

Wow! I didn't know "cause" can be used that way! After posting my question, I found The American Heritage has this definition: "a subject under debate or discussion." But it doesn't have the money part. Interesting.

Zillion thanks, tdol!! :D

(Where do I find such definition...?)

[twostep]

'Cause'is generallysomething that is both a fashionable topic and something that can be given money.

Wow! I didn't know "cause" can be used that way! After posting my question, I found The American Heritage has this definition: "a subject under debate or discussion." But it doesn't have the money part. Interesting.

Zillion thanks, tdol!! :D

(Where do I find such definition...?)

Helping a good cause - a charity such as Red Cross (or one very dear to me - me)
Promote a cause - save the whales

[Francois]

You can plead your cause, too.

FRC

[twostep]

You can plead your cause, too.

FRC

Well, well - I sure will, stranger! :wink:

[Natalie27]

The sentence:

Despite the media's tendency to leap from one fashionable cause to the next (from world hunger to AIDS to the environment), it would be narrow-minded to deny their part in increasing environmental awareness.

What does "cause" mean here? Contextually, I think it's almost the same as "topic" or the like, but I don't find such entry in my dictionary...

We usually fight for a cause and I understand this to be a goal or a principle. In that case it has nothing to do with money. We might go out picketing on the streets against killing seals in the northern territories of Canada, we might petition the governmnet to do something to stop the cruelty and slaughter of thousands of seals every year. This is the way I understand "cause" as shown in your sentence.

[Tdol]

'Cause'is generallysomething that is both a fashionable topic and something that can be given money.

Wow! I didn't know "cause" can be used that way! After posting my question, I found The American Heritage has this definition: "a subject under debate or discussion." But it doesn't have the money part. Interesting.

Zillion thanks, tdol!! :D

(Where do I find such definition...?)

It's my own interpretation.

[Natalie27]

'Cause'is generallysomething that is both a fashionable topic and something that can be given money.

Wow! I didn't know "cause" can be used that way! After posting my question, I found The American Heritage has this definition: "a subject under debate or discussion." But it doesn't have the money part. Interesting.

Zillion thanks, tdol!! :D

(Where do I find such definition...?)

It's my own interpretation.

I know and that's fine TDOL!!

[Natalie27]

The sentence:

Despite the media's tendency to leap from one fashionable cause to the next (from world hunger to AIDS to the environment), it would be narrow-minded to deny their part in increasing environmental awareness.

What does "cause" mean here? Contextually, I think it's almost the same as "topic" or the like, but I don't find such entry in my dictionary...

Hi Taka,
a few quotes from online dictionaries that might help:


that's from infoplease.com

6. a principle, ideal, goal, or movement to which a person or group is dedicated: the Socialist cause; the human rights cause.
7. the welfare of a person or group, seen as a subject of concern: support for the cause of the American Indian.

longman dict.

3 STH YOU SUPPORT
a) [countable] an organization, principle, or aim that a group of people support or fight for: How many of them are sympathetic to our cause?
[+ of]: her lifelong devotion to the cause of women's rights