bet on strands of research

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GoodTaste

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Does the phrase "bet on strands of research" mean "bet on a bunch of research"? That is, "strands" is an informal usage meaning "a lot of". I am not sure.

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From the start, some countries bet on strands of research suggesting young children are unlikely to spread the virus: schools in the Netherlands cut class sizes in half but didn’t enforce distancing among students under age 12 when they reopened in April. Other schools adopted a “pod” model as a compromise. Denmark, the first country in Europe to reopen schools, assigned children to small groups that could congregate at recess. It also found creative ways to give those groups as much space and fresh air as possible, even teaching classes in a graveyard. Some classes in Belgium met in churches to keep students spread out. Finland has kept normal class sizes, but prevents classes from mixing with one another.

Source: Science Jul. 7, 2020
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...pite-outbreaks
 
A strand is the opposite of a bunch. Please find an appropriate definition in a dictionary and tell us what you find.
 
Different or a few?
 
Does 'strand' mean 'different' or 'a few' in the OP?
"Strand" is a noun. "Different" and "a few" are adjectives so no, it doesn't mean either of those words. The author has the idea of difference in mind, though.
 
"Strand" is a noun. "Different" and "a few" are adjectives so no, it doesn't mean either of those words. The author has the idea of difference in mind, though.

What does it mean then?
 
You could paraphrase it as "some countries based their strategies on the results of certain sets of scientific studies suggesting young children are unlikely to spread the virus …."
 
I think "strand" here also has the sense of being thin, which all information about covid was at the time. There were many strands of thought and none of them were very strongly supported.
 
A strand is the opposite of a bunch. Please find an appropriate definition in a dictionary and tell us what you find.

This definition seems to be okay:

an element in a larger structure:
You have to work hard to put together the strands of the plot.

So the phrase "bet on strands of research" may simply mean "bet on pieces of research" - or "bet on parts of the picture of research". You put some pieces together to figure out what the whole picture is like.

Another way of understanding:

"bet on strands of research" = "bet on clues of research"
 
Another way of understanding:

"bet on strands of research" = "bet on clues of research"
No. "Clues" doesn't work there.

The author is thinking more about different directions of inquiry within the larger overall effort.
 
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Think of strands as the separate fibres of a rope which contribute to its strength when bundled together.
 
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