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Discussion Groups / English Usage / October 2009arrow in the bulls' quiver
Hi - I find difficulty in following sentences. What is "an arrow in the bulls' quiver"? Does it mean the strength is just nothing.? With thanks. The index of leading economic indicators rose by 1% in September for its sixth consecutive gain. The strength in the leading index is an arrow in the bulls' quiver". Kevin >Hi - I find difficulty in following sentences. What is "an arrow in >the bulls' quiver"? Does it mean the strength is just nothing.? With [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >its sixth consecutive gain. The strength in the leading index is an >arrow in the bulls' quiver". It's horrible. The author is saying that a strong leading index is an indication that we are in, or approaching, a bull market. Why he didn't just write that is beyond me. Well, on second thought, why he needed to even point out that gains in the index of the leading economic indicators is an indication that the market will be strong is also beyond me. It's like saying "In the morning, when it starts to get light outside, that's an indication that the sun is coming up." We could have figured that out on our own.  SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida I better copied the whole paragraphs...because it seems t me that he thinks the indicator is not reliable... The index of leading economic indicators rose by 1.0% m-o-m in September for its sixth consecutive gain (Consensus: 0.8%). The strength in the leading index is an arrow in the bulls’ quiver. It has risen by more over the last sixth months than in any period since 1983. Historically, this type of rapid gain has been consistent with a vigorous economic recovery. Recent increases have also been broad-based: in September, eight components of the index contributed positively and only two declined. We continue to believe that the index does not properly capture the factors that are likely to lead to subdued growth next year – such as the distressed commercial real estate sector, a fragile banking system, consumer deleveraging and dismal state and local government finances. But at least at face value, the leading index clearly points to upside risks to our growth call. The coincident index – a composite of the four monthly variables used to determine recession dates – was unchanged. Kevin >I better copied the whole paragraphs...because it seems t me that he >thinks the indicator is not reliable... [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >this type of rapid gain has been consistent with a vigorous economic >recovery. Here he says that the gains in the LEIs are indicative that we are in for a strong economic recovery based on what's happened in the past. >Recent >increases have also been broad-based: in September, eight components [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >consumer deleveraging and >dismal state and local government finances. Here he says that no matter what significance the gains in the LEIs have meant in the past, the current situation may be different. >But at least at face >value, the leading index clearly >points to upside risks to our growth call. The coincident index a >composite of the four monthly >variables used to determine recession dates was unchanged. Here he says that another indicator - the coincident index - isn't telling us anything. He apparently doesn't feel that the positive indicators are positive enough to completely offset the underlying conditions. He's predicting "subdued growth". SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida Tony - Many thanks. Then back to the "arrow in the bull's quiver", I simply guess, so it's highly likely that I am wrong. I guess an arrow that hits the bull which only quivers, then the arrow is nothing. Is it correct to think so? or it is established idiom that means something different. With thanks. Kevin > Tony - Many thanks. > Then back to the "arrow in the bull's quiver", I simply guess, so it's [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Is it correct to think so? or it is established idiom that means > something different. The latter: a quiver is a receptacle in which arrows are kept; in this case it and the arrows belong to the bull. It has nothing to do with "quivering". An "arrow in the bull's quiver" refers metaphorically to a {weapon|technique|device|instrument|approach} that the bull might use to pursue his or her objective. SignatureLes (BrE) > The latter: a quiver is a receptacle in which arrows are kept; in this > case it and the arrows belong to the bull. It has nothing to do [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > -- > Les (BrE) Leslie - Many thanks for your explanation. It sounds tricky to me, perhaps I am not the native speaker of English. And this bull is also metaphorically the rising market? Kevin >> The latter: a quiver is a receptacle in which arrows are kept; in >> this case it and the arrows belong to the bull. It has nothing to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > perhaps I am not the native speaker of English. > And this bull is also metaphorically the rising market? I agree with Leslie, except on one point. The word "bull" is plural -- "the bulls' quiver" -- and therefore it presumably refers to the group of traders who predict a bull market. An arrow in their quiver is a weapon in their imagined war with the bears: a point in the debate that they are engaged in with the pessimists, about whether the market will rise or fall. >> The latter: a quiver is a receptacle in which arrows are kept; in this >> case it and the arrows belong to the bull. It has nothing to do [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > And this bull is also metaphorically the rising market? > Kevin On Wall Street investors are refered to as Bulls and Bears. the Bulls are agressive investors and the Bears are cautious. an arrow in the quiver means its a weapon/asset . A bullish market is a strong/rising market and a bearish market is a weak shrinking market. Bulls charge and Bears hibernate. Thanks all. I got it now. Kevin <snip> > [A] quiver is a receptacle in which arrows are kept; in this > case it and the arrows belong to the bull. It has nothing to do > with "quivering". An "arrow in the bull's quiver" refers metaphorically > to a {weapon|technique|device|instrument|approach} that the bull might > use to pursue his or her objective. The metaphor is most apt when the figurative arrow is one of several similar devices/techniques/&c. available to the possessor of the figurative quiver. SignatureOdysseus >Tony - Many thanks. >Then back to the "arrow in the bull's quiver", I simply guess, so it's [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >With thanks. >Kevin Others have explained this, but its a phrase that you should ignore. You'll never see it again. It shouldn't have been used in the first place. The idea is that an arrow is a metaphor for a tool, and the LEIs are tools used by stock market watchers. Bulls, investors who feel the market will go up, look for trends that indicate this. Mixing bulls and arrows and quivers, though, is an unpardonable reach for a business writer. We can only be relieved that bears weren't involved even though a decline in the LEIs would be an arrow in their quiver. You are completely off when you think the arrow strikes the bull. The bull *uses* the arrow after he draws it out of the quiver. Ridiculous metaphor. SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida >>Tony - Many thanks. >>Then back to the "arrow in the bull's quiver", I simply guess, so it's [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >involved even though a decline in the LEIs would be an arrow in their >quiver. YOu're right. Bulls don't use a bow and arrow because they can't grip the bow string with their hooves. OTOH, bears could handle the bow string with their claws, but have a very hard tie gripping the bow itself with the other paw. Otoh, since much less gripping is required, bears can strum a guitar or play pizzicato on a violin, quite well. >You are completely off when you think the arrow strikes the bull. The Quite right. >bull *uses* the arrow after he draws it out of the quiver. Ridiculous >metaphor. At the present time. There are laboratories across the country training animals in new skills, and when the bears' paws have been fitted with prosthetic gripping devices, you may see a whole new side of things. SignaturePosters should say where they live, and for which area they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in Western Pa. 10 years Indianapolis 7 years Chicago 6 years Brooklyn, NY 12 years Baltimore 26 years > At the present time. There are laboratories across the country > training animals in new skills, and when the bears' paws have been > fitted with prosthetic gripping devices, you may see a whole new side > of things. That should make hunting more of a fair sport. Bill in Kentucky ---------------------------------------------------------------- Reverse parts of the user name and ISP name for my e-address >> At the present time. There are laboratories across the country >> training animals in new skills, and when the bears' paws have been >> fitted with prosthetic gripping devices, you may see a whole new side >> of things. > > That should make hunting more of a fair sport. Perhaps we should call it the Fairsport Convention. SignatureRay UK >Hi - I find difficulty in following sentences. What is "an arrow in >the bulls' quiver"? Does it mean the strength is just nothing.? With No, not at all. It is strong because for 6 months it's been going up. Later says the 8 parts are not the best possible indicators, but that doesn't change the fact that 6 of the 8 are going up, and that means something, even if they are not the best indicators. >thanks. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Kevin The bulls are those who see the market as going up or likely to go up. It's a stock market tern. A quiver is where archers keep their arrows. It straps on the back of an archer (usually or always). The bulls, he thinks, have more than one arrow in their quiver, more than one way to show themselves or their clients that the market is going to go up and the increase in the index of leading economic indicators is one of them. Or maybe each of the leading economic indicators that increased is a separate arrow in the quiver. SignaturePosters should say where they live, and for which area they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in Western Pa. 10 years Indianapolis 7 years Chicago 6 years Brooklyn, NY 12 years Baltimore 26 years > >Hi - I find difficulty in following sentences. What is "an arrow in > >the bulls' quiver"? Does it mean the strength is just nothing.? With [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > Brooklyn, NY 12 years > Baltimore 26 years The stock market can be a bull market, with rising prices, or a bear market, with falling prices. An easy way to remember which is which: a bull's horns toss one up while a bear's paws strike one down (thank you, Cherry Ames).. >> Hi - I find difficulty in following sentences. What is "an arrow in >> the bulls' quiver"? Does it mean the strength is just nothing.? With [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > is one of them. Or maybe each of the leading economic indicators that > increased is a separate arrow in the quiver. Why, it's like having another string to their bow ... SignatureJohn Dean Oxford |
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