What is spin

[dmbr34937]

Spin what does it mean ? Spin doctors who are they

[geofbob]

In a political context "spin" is news or policy presented or interpreted in a way that is advantageious to the politicians (often the Government) concerned; "to spin" is to do this; and a "spin doctor" (originally a US expression) is a skilled practitioner in this particular art.

[treaclefight]

think cricket, you bowl a ball the batsman hits it away. you bowl a ball with a touch of spin and it bounces differently, fooling the batsman, possibly getting you a wicket. you can say something and you can say it with a touch of spin, the point is that they're throwing the same bulls##t at us they always have, but spin makes it seem different.

[Quizmonster]

The original meaning of 'yarn' was the long, strong, continuous thread of material - silk, wool etc - that people could then weave/knit into cloth. The yarn was made from thin, weak, individual fibres of the material which were bound together by twisting. The device used to do this was a spinning-wheel and someone had to spin the yarn.

200 years ago, 'spinning a yarn' took on another meaning...ie telling a story. This is an excellent metaphor because any good story needs to have its various strands - characters, incidents, settings etc - effectively wound and bound together. The writer, in other words, has to spin a story the reader/listener will believe. (And the stories covered by the phrase 'spinning a yarn' often were very hard to believe!)

The only recent change - when the word 'spin' is used in connection with politics - is that it is now more often used as a noun rather than as a verb. Thus, we speak of politicians "putting a spin on" their policies; that is, trying to make them convincing for the electors.

The connection between 'spin' and story-telling - especially tall story-telling! - is really quite old, though.

[treaclefight]

i refuse to concede to the mighty and powerful brain that is quizmonster, i stand by my cricketing explanation. (I will make sure someone informs you all if i have been smited as a result of this blasphemy). :-)

[geofbob]

But, treaclefight, "spin" was originally an American term; and the Americans don't play cricket. Quizmonster, as always (except when I disagree with him/her), is correct.

[Quizmonster]

Geofbob, We were all but typing simultaneously yet again just then! Because of a computer-glitch, I had to switch off and then immediately back on again. Between the first and second viewings of this page, your response had appeared. We're going to have to agree a shift-system or somesuch! (I'm tempted to say I'm correct, even when I do disagree with you, but I won't.)

Treacle, I quite like your bowling comparison, actually. The only thing it lacks that 'spinning a yarn' has is a direct connection with 'twisting words'. And that, I think, is the key here. My thanks for your kind comment, by the way.

[treaclefight]

lol, i havent yet been smited so i'm still going. geofbob...cricket cant be the only sport where spin is used to make the ball slip past the standard defences, i say think cricket because its so obvious in cricket, but then i am a very big cricket fan. Whats more, if the term originates in america as you say, then i think it is even more likely to be a sporting reference, as their use of language is is...no i wont say it, i don't want ot be invaded. :-)