cut across

English translation: unite despite normally opposing views

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	cut across
Selected answer:	unite despite normally opposing views
Entered by:	Сергей Лузан

04:42 Oct 28, 2005

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Social Sciences - International Org/Dev/Coop / Union

English term or phrase: cut across

The elites’ reasons for supporting the Union project cut across the national lines. Those who oppose integration with the West can think of the Union as a layer of protection against the West’s pressures. Those who are cautious about integration with the West can argue for the Union as a bulwark of their society, enabling them to approach the broader Euro-Atlantic integration in a more leisurely, less desperate manner. Even among those who fully wish to integrate with the West, many consider this a distant hope, if only by the West’s own choice, and feel that interdependencies justify local integration at present, and local ties and similarities give reason for a more intimate local union within the framework of looser, longer-term integration with the West.
Can't get the exact meaning of 'cut across' here.
http://www.answers.com/cut across&r=67
MTIA

Сергей Лузан KudoZ activity Questions: 284 (none open) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 14203 Russian Federation
Local time: 03:31

encompass/ involve regardless of diferences of opinion

Explanation:
:)

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Note added at 10 mins (2005-10-28 04:53:25 GMT)
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Definitions of cut across on the Web:

be contrary to ordinary procedure or limitations; "Opinions on bombing the Serbs cut across party lines"

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Note added at 15 mins (2005-10-28 04:58:30 GMT)
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the basic idea is that the issue unites despite normally opposing views

Selected response from:

David Hollywood
Local time: 21:31

Grading comment

Thanks fo your perfect answer & added notes, David! Your 'Note added at 15 mins' gave me the clue both to understanding as well as to the Russian translation. Thanks for all the answers & comments.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

5 +10

prevailed over

Michael Barnett

5 +1

encompass/ involve regardless of diferences of opinion

David Hollywood

5 +1

to cross right through is an explanation

Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)

run through, run across

Andrew Vdovin

Answers

8 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

encompass/ involve regardless of diferences of opinion

David Hollywood
Local time: 21:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24

Grading comment

Thanks fo your perfect answer & added notes, David! Your 'Note added at 15 mins' gave me the clue both to understanding as well as to the Russian translation. Thanks for all the answers & comments.

17 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +10

prevailed over

Explanation:
The "cut across" is in the sense of overriding, crossing barriers that normally divide people, nations, classes etc.

Michael Barnett
Local time: 20:31
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks fo your excellent answer & explanations, Michael! It was very helpful, indeed, but David's one came just a couple of minutes earlier. I always feel uneasy when contradict the popular vote...

35 mins confidence:

run through, run across

Explanation:
I might be wrong, but it seems to me that the meaning of the 'cut across' here is 'to run through' the national lines, to concern them all one way or another. True, I am no NES, so let dear native English speakers decide if my version is right or wrong.

Andrew Vdovin
Local time: 07:31
Native speaker of:

Russian

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks, Andrew - the meaning in the context was a bit extended one.

9 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

to cross right through is an explanation

Explanation:
the meaning is the same as cross..but we say to cut across..if you translate it into Russian, I bet cross works...English likes to say cut across because that "leaves a mark"..

Imagine battle lines as a boundary: if in English, the ennemy has crossed the battle lines..it means there is a line and the ennemy has crossed that line..if you say cut across the battle line, it provides the idea of a fight through a line that stops you...so in English we usually use prepositions to enhance what comes afterwards

to cut through
to cut across
to cut under or undercut
to cut around

etc

Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Portuguese

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks for such a creative explanation, Jane!

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