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drift

drift

38 4.0
The general meaning of what someone says or writes
  • noun
  • /drɪft/
: sentido
  • In his speech, the senator conveyed the drift of his message clearly, focusing on the importance of unity.

I know it's hard to explain, but you forget my drift, See?

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Examples

  • I catch the general drift.

  • Do you catch my drift?

  • I know it's hard to explain, but you forget my drift, See?

  • If you catch my drift.

  • So now you are beginning to get the drift of my theme.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • But I think you're getting the drift of what I am doing here.

  • There's plenty more where that came from, if you catch my drift, hmm?

  • Do you think I wasn't aware of the drift?

  • I'm sure you're picking up my drift here of the nature of...

  • Since human beings are storytelling beings, we are bound to rebel against a drift to storylessness.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

sense
vsdrift
∞ 4.1

A particular meaning of a word or expression

is broader and names the whole main idea not one particular meaning
message
vsdrift
∞ 1.0

The main idea someone wants to say in speech, writing, or art

is more about overall meaning rather than the specific information
substance
vsdrift
172 4.3

The main idea of something said or written

is a more general overall meaning rather than the essential point
effect
vsdrift
  • Literature
40 3.4

The main idea expressed in a speech or piece of writing

is the underlying general sense rather than the directly expressed idea
purport
vsdrift
  • Formal
1 8.4

The main meaning of a document or speech

is broader and covers general sense not only intention

Antonyms

18 7.0

The quality of being exact and detailed

Compounds

continental drift
  • Specialized
4 4.8

The slow movement of Earth's continents over a very long time

drift net
  • Specialized
3 5.1

A large fishing net that floats and moves with the water to catch fish

1 6.0

Large pieces of ice that float on the open sea

How Clear

gist
42 4.6
drift
38 4.0
implication
331 4.3
hint
276 1.5

Surface Forms

drift singular
drifts plural

Etymology

Drift comes from an old Norse word meaning 'to drive', and you can think of a speaker or writer being 'driven' toward a point, which is why the drift is the main idea or direction of what is said.