to give the economy a shot in the arm

[Gregory.]

Hi everybody,

Could someone explain to me what this following expression means and where does it come from:

"to give the economy a shot in the arm"

Because the equivalent in French is:

"apporter une bouffée d'oxygène à l'économie" which means as a verbatim report:

"to bring a puff of oxygen to the economy" which is not really elegant I would admit.

Why a shot in the arm? I have really difficulties to imagine this image as pertinent to our French expression which insists on the fact that economy has undergone a new vivification; it really is hard to comprehend the causality with the English expression.

Thanks

 

[corum]

IT means to put a rocket under economy, to give it a significant boost.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi everybody,

Could someone explain to me what this following expression means and where does it come from:

"to give the economy a shot in the arm"

Because the equivalent in French is:

"apporter une bouffée d'oxygène à l'économie" which means as a verbatim report:

"to bring a puff of oxygen to the economy" which is not really elegant I would admit.

Why a shot in the arm? I have really difficulties to imagine this image as pertinent to our French expression which insists on the fact that economy has undergone a new vivification; it really is hard to comprehend the causality with the English expression.

Thanks

Imagine it as a shot/injection of medicine to revive the economy.

 

[Andylu2]

This means to stimulate the economy. That's what my teacher told me anyway.

 

[Gregory.]

thanks,

The second time you answer to a question of mine; I must confess that you have a good grasp on English language, and your answers are really toughly pertinent.

I look forward a new reply.

Gregory

 

[BobK]

Imagine it as a shot/injection of medicine to revive the economy.

:up: That's it. The image is personifying the economy (as if it had an arm). The idea of sudden stimulation (as through a shot of liquor) is close enough to interpret the image in this context, but it's worth learning this use of 'shot' (medicinal, hypodermic injection) for its less figurative uses - such as 'I'm going to Venezuela. I must see the doctor about what shots I need'.

b