Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers




Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher

Notices

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 26-Oct-2004, 08:46
takashi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default drive the way

Hello.

I came across this expression, "drive the way".
This is the whole section:
"Advertings drives the way people engage with the brand. But it can also drive the way the brand innovates on quality, and how it responds to social and cultural occasions."

For the first sentence, I think you can rewrite it as:
"Advertising influences people's attitude towards the brand."

But for the second sentence, how can advertising influence the brand on how it innovates on quality and responds to social and cultural events?

If anyone has a suggestion, I am truely thankful.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 26-Oct-2004, 11:22
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,755
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 6
Thanked 590 Times in 516 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default

Lucozade used to be advertised for sick children. Now it's for peopledoing sports. The advertising has changed the perception of the product. I think it means this.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 26-Oct-2004, 11:54
takashi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Thank you tdol.

So for the second sentence:
"But it can also drive the way the brand innovates on quality, and how it responds to social and cultural occasions."

Is it saying that advertising changed the brand's(company's) attitude (perception)?
I am bit confused.
Shouldn't advertising change the way "people" precieve the brand. How can it change the company?

Thank you so much.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 27-Oct-2004, 09:50
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,755
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 6
Thanked 590 Times in 516 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default

Maybe it's an advertiser with a huge ego.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 27-Oct-2004, 23:51
TheMadBaron
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Takashi - you've understood the expression correctly- 'drive', in this context means to exert a strong influence.

It's not your fault that the section you quoted confuses you. It's very badly written. You're trying to make sense of something which doesn't actually make very much sense.

'But it can also drive the way the brand innovates on quality and how it responds to social and cultural occasions." '....

I'm a native English speaker and a professional English teacher, and I have no idea what this is supposed to mean. Don't lose any sleep over it.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 28-Oct-2004, 03:47
takashi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Thank you so much for your reply, TheMadBaron.
You've saved my sleep.:o

The way the author writes throughout this book is entertaining literture but can sometimes be somewhat hard to understand. He tries to explain simple things in a dramatic or complex way. Maybe he's being poetic.

Again, thank you.
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 28-Oct-2004, 23:53
TheMadBaron
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

You're very welcome.
Quote:
Originally Posted by takashi
Maybe he's being poetic.
No, his use of language is too clumsy to be called poetic. I think he's just being verbose. :wink:
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
drive

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
drive "slow" or drive "slowly": the diff infinikyte General Language Discussions 16 28-Dec-2003 17:15
Five hour or five hours drive Anonymous Ask a Teacher 7 03-Oct-2003 08:17
If I have/had a car, I will/would drive to Italy. Anonymous Ask a Teacher 2 07-Mar-2003 15:57


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 02:12.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com