per·spec·tive (p r-sp k t v)n. 1. a. A view or vista. b. A mental view or outlook: "It is useful occasionally to look at the past to gain a perspective on the present" (Fabian Linden). 2. The appearance of objects in depth as perceived by normal binocular vision. 3. a. The relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole: a perspective of history; a need to view the problem in the proper perspective. b. Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view: the perspective of the displaced homemaker. c. The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance: tried to keep my perspective throughout the crisis. 4. The technique of representing three-dimensional objects and depth relationships on a two-dimensional surface. adj. Of, relating to, seen, or represented in perspective. [Middle English, science of optics (influenced by French perspective, perspective), from Medieval Latin perspect  va (ars), feminine of perspectvus, optical, from perspectus, past participle of perspicere, to inspect : per-, per- + specere, to look; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]per·spec tiv·al adj.per·spec tive·ly adv. |
perspective [pəˈspɛktɪv]
Perspective
(See also NIT-PICKING.)
by and large From an overall perspective; on the whole; in general; without going into details. The origin of this phrase and its current literal use are both nautical. It means to sail to the wind and slightly off it, or with the wind near the beam.
Thus you see the ship handles in fair weather and foul, by and large. (Samuel Sturmy, The Mariner’s Magazine, 1669)
By and large was used figuratively as early as 1706 in Edward Ward’s Wooden World Dissected. The jump from literal to figurative use is difficult to follow. This method of sailing is generally faster, a bit safer and easier (it offers less chance of being “taken aback” than sailing directly “by the wind”)—on the whole, better in the long run. It is the quality of being preferable ‘on the whole’ or ‘in general’ (even if a detailed analysis proved otherwise) that is transferred to nonnautical situations.
The virtue of sound broadcasting was that, by and large, the content mattered more than anything else. (Times, May 23, 1955)
in the long run In the end, when all is said and done; from the perspective of knowing the outcome or end result. This expression alludes to a long distance race in which runners who start slowly and conserve their energy often pull ahead and win the race, as in the story of the tortoise and the hare.
not see the forest for the trees To be so concerned with details as to lose a sense of the larger whole; to ignore the obvious, to miss the main point; to have tunnel vision. This expression appeared in print by the 16th century, at which time wood was used instead of forest. Today wood, woods, and forest are used interchangeably.
number the streaks of the tulip To be overly concerned with details and thereby miss the main point. This expression derives from Imlac’s dissertation on poetry in Johnson’s Rasselas, in which he contends that a poet should be concerned with the general rather than the particular. A related current expression is not see the forest for the trees.
over the long haul See the long haul, DURATION.
stumble at a straw To become bogged down in petty details; to suffer a setback because of a minor or trifling incident. This expression is derived from a proverb cited in Homilies (1547):
They were of so blind judgment, that they stumbled at a straw and leaped over a block.
The implication is that either as a result of misplaced priorities or poor judgment, a person may concentrate on the picayune while ignoring issues of greater significance.
He that strives to touch the stars Oft stumbles at a straw. (Edmund Spenser, The Shepheardes Calendar, 1579)
trade off the orchard for an apple Not to see the forest for the trees, to be myopic; to be so concerned with details that one loses sight of the larger whole.
| Noun | 1. |  perspective - a way of regarding situations or topics etc.; "consider what follows from the positivist view"orientation - an integrated set of attitudes and beliefs bird's eye view, panoramic view - a situation or topic as if viewed from an altitude or distance futurism - the position that the meaning of life should be sought in the future cutting edge, forefront, vanguard - the position of greatest importance or advancement; the leading position in any movement or field; "the Cotswolds were once at the forefront of woollen manufacturing in England"; "the idea of motion was always to the forefront of his mind and central to his philosophy" paradigm - the generally accepted perspective of a particular discipline at a given time; "he framed the problem within the psychoanalytic paradigm" light - a particular perspective or aspect of a situation; "although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand" sight - a range of mental vision; "in his sight she could do no wrong" Weltanschauung, world view - a comprehensive view of the world and human life straddle - a noncommittal or equivocal position |
| 2. |  perspective - the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewerappearance, visual aspect - outward or visible aspect of a person or thing vanishing point - the appearance of a point on the horizon at which parallel lines converge apparent horizon, horizon, sensible horizon, visible horizon, skyline - the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet picture plane - the plane that is in the foreground of a drawing or painting; coextensive with but different from the objective surface of the work |
perspective
it has given him a new perspective on life → le ha dado una nueva perspectiva or visión de la vida
I would like to offer a historical perspective → me gustaría ofrecer una perspectiva histórica
from our perspective → desde nuestro punto de vista
let's get things in perspective → pongamos las cosas en su sitio
he gets things out of perspective → ve las cosas distorsionadas
to keep sth in perspective → guardar algo en su justa medida
to look at or see sth in perspective → mirar or ver algo en su justa medida
it helped me put things into perspective → me ayudó a ver las cosas con cierta perspectiva or en su justa medida
that puts things in a different perspective → eso le da otro cariz a las cosas
try to keep a sense of perspective → trata de ser objetivo
It was impossible for me to identify with his religious perspective → Il m'était impossible de m'identifier avec sa perspective religieuse
a new perspective on sth → un nouveau regard sur qch
a new perspective on life → un nouveau regard sur la vie
to get sth into perspective (fig) → mettre qch en perspective
to put sth into perspective (fig) → mettre qch en perspective
to see or look at sth in perspective (fig) → vedere qc nella giusta prospettiva
to get sth into perspective → ridimensionare qc
perspective → منظور perspektiva perspektiv Perspektive προοπτική perspectiva näkökulma perspective perspektiva prospettiva 観点 시각 perspectief perspektiv perspektywa perspectiva перспектива perspektiv ทัศนะคติ perspektif cách nhìn nhận 观点
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