front and center

Forums: English
Email this Topic • Print this Page

"When I became governor, I pledged to put the people of California front and center," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "I don't want there to be any question or doubt that the people have my full devotion.

What does he mean by saying put sb. front and center?

And in the last sentense "I don't want there to be any question or doubt that the people have my full devotion my full devotion.", I can't understand its grammar. I had thought it should be "I don't want there to be any question or doubt that the people have about(on) my full devotion." which may mean that "the people may have some question or doubt on his full devotion, but Schwarzenegger tries to let them trust him.

Topic Stats
Top Replies
Link to this Topic

Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 949 • Replies: 13

No top replies

Re: front and center

translatorcz wrote:

"When I became governor, I pledged to put the people of California front and center," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "I don't want there to be any question or doubt that the people have my full devotion.

What does he mean by saying put sb. front and center?

In the most important position, in order to give that sb your full attention.

And in the last sentense "I don't want there to be any question or doubt that the people have my full devotion.", I can't understand its grammar. I had thought it should be "I don't want there to be any question or doubt that the people have about(on) my full devotion." which may mean that "the people may have some question or doubt on his full devotion, but Schwarzenegger tries to let them trust him.

Let me paraphrase to see that that will help.

I don't want there to be any question or doubt IN ANYONE'S MIND WHEN THEY CONSIDER THE STATEMENT, "the people have my full devotion".

0 Replies

Very clear. JTT, thank you. Can you explain why "put sb. front and center" means to give sb. full attention?

0 Replies

translatorcz wrote:

Very clear. JTT, thank you. Can you explain why "put sb. front and center" means to give sb. full attention?

Because it's pretty hard to ignore or forget sb who is constantly in your view, T.

0 Replies

So what about "center"? Is that also in one's view? How to understand this? Where in one's view is "center"? Thank you.

0 Replies

Imagine we are talking about a theatrical stage. The front and centre of the stage is the most prominent position; whichever of the actors stands there will be the best seen and most noticed.

0 Replies

Ok, very clear, thank you.

0 Replies

I've never heard the phrase used outside the US and I believe it may have US military origins but not sure.

0 Replies

goodfielder wrote:

I've never heard the phrase used outside the US and I believe it may have US military origins but not sure.

Interesting, Goodfielder. Isn't Syntinen from England?

Googled, UK pages only, seems to support your position somewhat yielding only,

Results 1 - 10 of about 7,180 for "front and center"

a google.com shot reveals,

Results 1 - 10 of about 562,000 for "front and center"

and a pages from Canada only shot gives,

Results 1 - 10 of about 23,500 for "front and center"

0 Replies

Front and center is a military term. It is used when troops are in formation, meaning arranged in ranks or lines with their commanders. The person in the front of this formation is in the position called Front and Center.

http://library.usu.edu/Specol/digitalexhibits/cyanotypes/Thumb/588.jpg

If you were standing in those ranks and they were going to give you a medal, maybe for asking such good questions, the order would be called out, "Sargent Translatorcz, Front and Center!" You would then snap to attention, step out of the ranks and march smartly to the position.

It's just Arnold's way of saying that the people will have his full focus, they will be the primary, most important, foremost thing.

Joe(never in the front and a little off-center)Nation

0 Replies

Yes, I am indeed from England (specifically London). My husband tells me there is no such command in the British military (at least there wasn't 15 years ago when he was in it).

Also, to get the true UK results for that phrase you'd have to Google using the British spelling, of course.

0 Replies

syntinen wrote:

Yes, I am indeed from England (specifically London). My husband tells me there is no such command in the British military (at least there wasn't 15 years ago when he was in it).

Also, to get the true UK results for that phrase you'd have to Google using the British spelling, of course.

It doesn't seem to make a great deal of difference, Syntinen, 'center' or 'centre'.

Googled, UK pages only:

Results 1 - 10 of about 7,180 for "front and center"

Results 1 - 10 of about 7,670 for "front and centre".

0 Replies

Joe Nation wrote:

Front and center is a military term. It is used when troops are in formation, meaning arranged in ranks or lines with their commanders. The person in the front of this formation is in the position called Front and Center.

If you were standing in those ranks and they were going to give you a medal, maybe for asking such good questions, the order would be called out, "Sargent Translatorcz, Front and Center!" You would then snap to attention, step out of the ranks and march smartly to the position.

It's just Arnold's way of saying that the people will have his full focus, they will be the primary, most important, foremost thing.

Joe(never in the front and a little off-center)Nation

All the explanation is very clear except this one which I can't understand: "meaning arranged in ranks or lines with their commanders" Do you mean the formation is arranged in ranks? Officials who will be awarded higher ranks are at one side and those will be awarded lower ranks are at the other side? And they all stand in this order in a row?

0 Replies

It is confusing isn't it? In a military formation, persons are lined up in ranks and files as on a chess board. In chess notation the 'ranks' are the lines across and the 'files' are the end to end lines, ie, the King's bishop is on the F file. In a formation it is the same, the ranks are the ones with the soldiers shoulder to shoulder next to one another and the files are the ones with each soldier marching behind each other in a line.

The term 'rank and file' has come to mean the ordinary members of any group, excluding the officers and leaders. So, the rank and file members of a union, or the rank and file members of a political party are the common folks.

Quote:

Do you mean the formation is arranged in ranks? Officials who will be awarded higher ranks are at one side and those will be awarded lower ranks are at the other side? And they all stand in this order in a row?

Now, the good part, yes and no. Sometimes formations are lined up by rank, Private, Corporal, Sargent etc, but not always. In formal situations they would be likely to be arranged by rank, but in formations marching off to a mess hall or to a compound to get supplies, maybe not. Squad leaders, who sometimes have the same rank as everyone else in the file, usually march at the front.

Joe

0 Replies

front and center

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know