What Good Comes from 'Casting a Wide Net'?

2024-05-05

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1
  • And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
    • 2
  • Sometimes in life, you may want to have as many choices as possible.
    • 3
  • For example, let's say you need a new job.
    • 4
  • You want to look far and wide.
    • 5
  • You do not want to limit your options.
    • 6
  • In this situation, you may want to cast a wide net.
    • 7
  • Casting a wide net means to search a very wide area.
    • 8
  • To cast a wide net is an expression that probably comes from fishing.
    • 9
  • For some types of fishing, you attach a hook to a line on a fishing pole.
    • 10
  • Then you cast the hook into the water.
    • 11
  • This will only catch one fish.
    • 12
  • However, casting a net into the water can catch many fish!
    • 13
  • When you cast a wide net, you might search a wider area, or you might aim to catch something bigger.
    • 14
  • For example, if someone looks for a partner, he might cast a wide net by searching - the world.
    • 15
  • He might be willing to move anywhere.
    • 16
  • He would have no limits to where he might go.
    • 17
  • People who cast a wide net want to have many choices or options.
    • 18
  • They broaden their search or widen the qualities they are willing to accept.
    • 19
  • There are many related expressions that describe similar ideas.
    • 20
  • One is to cast your net wide.
    • 21
  • Others include considering all options or exploring all opportunities.
    • 22
  • Casting a wide net also means you leave no stone unturned.
    • 23
  • You look thoroughly.
    • 24
  • You search high and low for what you want.
    • 25
  • Now, let's hear this expression used in two discussions.
    • 26
  • The first is at work:
    • 27
  • A: So, how's the search going for a web designer?
    • 28
  • B: Surprisingly, it's going slowly. So far, only five applicants have responded to the job announcement.
    • 29
  • A: Five? In this job market, I thought resumes would have been pouring in.
    • 30
  • B: Well, I only sent the job advertisement to one employment agency.
    • 31
  • A: That's not enough! We need to cast a really wide net this time.
    • 32
  • B: Right. I'm on it. I'll be casting a really wide net today!
    • 33
  • Now, let's hear two friends use the same expression:
    • 34
  • A: So, how is your online dating search going?
    • 35
  • B: Not well. It's difficult to find the perfect partner.
    • 36
  • A: Well, no one is perfect. What qualities are you looking for?
    • 37
  • B: I'm looking for a person who is tall, 1.9 meters or taller, with a good job but not in politics or acting.
    • 38
  • And they must have a master's degree.
    • 39
  • A: Hmmm ... the height and job criteria might be a bit limiting.
    • 40
  • B: Oh, I'm not done. They must also live within 10 kilometers of me, love dogs ... big dogs, and they can't be a smoker.
    • 41
  • Oh, they must be active outdoors but especially with water skiing and rock climbing.
    • 42
  • Oh, and they must be a vegetarian.
    • 43
  • A: I think if you want to meet more people and have more options, you may want to cast a wider net.
    • 44
  • B: Maybe you're right. I know. I'll take off the dog criteria. If they like cats ... I guess that's okay.
    • 45
  • Do you have a similar expression in your language? Let us know in the comments section. Or send us an email at LearningEnglish@VOANews.com
    • 46
  • And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
    • 47
  • Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.
    • 1
  • And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
    • 2
  • Sometimes in life, you may want to have as many choices as possible. For example, let's say you need a new job. You want to look far and wide. You do not want to limit your options. In this situation, you may want to cast a wide net.
    • 3
  • Casting a wide net means to search a very wide area.
    • 4
  • To cast a wide net is an expression that probably comes from fishing. For some types of fishing, you attach a hook to a line on a fishing pole. Then you cast the hook into the water. This will only catch one fish. However, casting a net into the water can catch many fish!
    • 5
  • When you cast a wide net, you might search a wider area, or you might aim to catch something bigger. For example, if someone looks for a partner, he might cast a wide net by searching - the world. He might be willing to move anywhere. He would have no limits to where he might go.
    • 6
  • People who cast a wide net want to have many choices or options. They broaden their search or widen the qualities they are willing to accept.
    • 7
  • There are many related expressions that describe similar ideas. One is to cast your net wide. Others include considering all options or exploring all opportunities.
    • 8
  • Casting a wide net also means you leave no stone unturned. You look thoroughly. You search high and low for what you want.
    • 9
  • Now, let's hear this expression used in two discussions. The first is at work:
    • 10
  • A: So, how's the search going for a web designer?
    • 11
  • B: Surprisingly, it's going slowly. So far, only five applicants have responded to the job announcement.
    • 12
  • A: Five? In this job market, I thought resumes would have been pouring in.
    • 13
  • B: Well, I only sent the job advertisement to one employment agency.
    • 14
  • A: That's not enough! We need to cast a really wide net this time.
    • 15
  • B: Right. I'm on it. I'll be casting a really wide net today!
    • 16
  • Now, let's hear two friends use the same expression:
    • 17
  • A: So, how is your online dating search going?
    • 18
  • B: Not well. It's difficult to find the perfect partner.
    • 19
  • A: Well, no one is perfect. What qualities are you looking for?
    • 20
  • B: I'm looking for a person who is tall, 1.9 meters or taller, with a good job but not in politics or acting. And they must have a master's degree.
    • 21
  • A: Hmmm ... the height and job criteria might be a bit limiting.
    • 22
  • B: Oh, I'm not done. They must also live within 10 kilometers of me, love dogs ... big dogs, and they can't be a smoker. Oh, they must be active outdoors but especially with water skiing and rock climbing. Oh, and they must be a vegetarian.
    • 23
  • A: I think if you want to meet more people and have more options, you may want to cast a wider net.
    • 24
  • B: Maybe you're right. I know. I'll take off the dog criteria. If they like cats ... I guess that's okay.
    • 25
  • Do you have a similar expression in your language? Let us know in the comments section. Or send us an email at LearningEnglish@VOANews.com
    • 26
  • And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
    • 27
  • Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.
    • 28
  • Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.
    • 29
  • _______________________________________________
    • 30
  • Words in This Story
    • 31
  • option -n. one of at least two choices
    • 32
  • cast -v. to throw using a wide motion or a stick or rod to widen the path of the object being thrown
    • 33
  • net -n. a large number of connected lines used to catch fish
    • 34
  • hook -n. a curved piece of metal used to catch fish
    • 35
  • broaden -v. to make something wide or more spread out
    • 36
  • criteria -n. a standard on which a judgment or decision may be based
    • 37
  • We want to hear from you. Do you have similar expressions in your language? Our comment policy is here.