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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010ready with a pitch
Hi, Could anyone tell me what does "I was ready with a pitch" mean? In Alan Greenspan's book, I found this sentence, he talked with Clinton, the president-elect, about the huge deficit, and when Clinton asked him to assess the economic condition of the US. Greenspan said "I was ready with a pitch". With thanks. Kevin >Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >asked him to assess the economic condition of the US. Greenspan said >"I was ready with a pitch". With thanks. "Pitch", in this context, means "presentation". Greenspan was ready to make a presentation on some aspect of the economic conditions. Usually, "pitch" means a presentation in order sell something or to present something for approval. We say salesmen have "sales pitches". Advertising and marketing people make pitches to clients to get them to agree to a campaign. Greenspan is being very informal in this usage. A person of his stature would only put himself on the level of a salesman as a form of mock humility. He wouldn't think that he was selling anything; he would think he was presenting gospel.  SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida > >Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > -- > Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida Thanks Tony, I know that many people, especially those who had worked with him, dislike him very much. Some seemed to imply Greenspan knows nothing about economy, while others said he is arbitrary. Kevin [re Alan Greenspan] > I know that many people, especially those who had worked with him, > dislike him very much. > Some seemed to imply Greenspan knows nothing about economy, while > others said he is arbitrary. Greenspan confessed a few months ago that the basic economic principle on which his entire career was founded -- that economic markets in a capitalist society are self-correcting and need little if any regulation -- was wrong. I admire his courage, but his judgment seems in retrospect to have left much to be desired. He was also a loyal disciple of Ayn Rand. Make of that what you will. SignatureBob Lieblich The foregoing is not an invitation to debates on topics political or economic > [re Alan Greenspan] > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > The foregoing is not an invitation to debates on topics political or > economic Bob - sorry that I could not get your meaning of "but his judgment seems in retrospect to have left much to be desired". Do you mean Greenspan's own confession is far enough? Kevin [ ... ] > > Greenspan confessed a few months ago that the basic economic principle > > on which his entire career was founded -- that economic markets in a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > > > He was also a loyal disciple of Ayn Rand. Make of that what you will. > Bob - sorry that I could not get your meaning of "but his judgment > seems > in retrospect to have left much to be desired". Do you mean > Greenspan's > own confession is far enough? It appears, Kevin, that I used an idiom with which you are unfamiliar. "Leave much to be desired" means "Perform inadequately" or simply "be inadequate." The idea is that people who desired good performance (from Greenspan in this case) did not get the quality of performance they desired, so more was left to be desired. I was attempting to convey the idea that Greenspan's judgment was not good enough to enable him to consistently make correct choices while he ran the Federal Reserve. Better judgment was much to be desired. I hope this helps more than it confuses. SignatureBob Lieblich Block that idiom! Hi, 'A pitch' often refers to the persuasive presentation of an idea or plan, to someone whose approval is required. Best wishes, Clive -------------------------------------------------------------- El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Clive: http://www.englishforums.com/user/drqr/profile.htm -------------------------------------------------------------- > Hi, > 'A pitch' often refers to the persuasive presentation of an [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > -------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks Clive, I could not find the definition in my dictionaries. I initially guessed, would it be that he raised his voice (with a pitch)...:).. Kevin >> Hi, >> 'A pitch' often refers to the persuasive presentation of an [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >guessed, would it be that he raised his voice (with a pitch)...:).. >Kevin Wow. What a great example of the importance of an idiom, compared to what I think is taught mostly in Engish classes. BTW, I don't think using "pitch" is necesarily an example of false modesty. In public, he may have felt the need to speak in one style, perhaps formally to be more convincing, but in his book and since he's probably retired from public office, he can use any style he wants. "Familiarity breeds contempt" and he too by now may think of his presentations to Congressional committees and presidents as more like pitches than anything else. I did here him quote someone who said roughtly "he can use more words to say less than anyone I know." And if he wasn't modest before, if this book was written after he made an enormous mistake, he may be modest now. For 15 years everyone thought he was doing a great job. 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, >>> 'A pitch' often refers to the persuasive presentation of an [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >BTW, I don't think using "pitch" is necesarily an example of false >modesty. I didn't say it was. I said that Greenspan was using the word with false humility. Greenspan, saying that he had a pitch on economics ready, is like Moses saying he had some suggestions to offer about ways to conduct a proper life. SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida >>>> Hi, >>>> 'A pitch' often refers to the persuasive presentation of an [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >>BTW, I don't think using "pitch" is necesarily an example of false >>modesty. I should have said '"pitch" as used by Greenspan'. >I didn't say it was. I said that Greenspan was using the word with >false humility. Yeah, I knew that. I don't think it's necessarily true, for the reasons I gave. > Greenspan, saying that he had a pitch on economics >ready, is like Moses saying he had some suggestions to offer about >ways to conduct a proper life. 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 > And if he wasn't modest before, if this book was written after he made > an enormous mistake, he may be modest now. For 15 years everyone > thought he was doing a great job. I still think he did. What happened to change the perception? SignatureYou'd be crazy to e-mail me with the crazy. But leave the div alone. >> And if he wasn't modest before, if this book was written after he made >> an enormous mistake, he may be modest now. For 15 years everyone >> thought he was doing a great job. > > I still think he did. What happened to change the perception? The big econominc tumble, led by the collapse of investment banks, and including the big problmes of a lot of commerical banks. Greenspan felt market forces would keep this sort of thing from happening, and he was one of many reasons. but an important one, why more steps weren't taken in advance to prevent it. He admitted he was wrong, in testimony to Congress I think, and iirc apologized. I'm sure his actions were sincere and he didn't gain personally from the positions he took, but that doesn't mean he did a great job. Much as I'd like to say he did. He was appointed by both Demorcatic and Republican president(s?) P&M. Sorry I didn't notice this post earlier. 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 |
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