flood the zone: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘flood the zone’ mean?
The idiom flood the zone means to overwhelm or saturate an area or situation with a large quantity of something, typically information or resources, in order to achieve a specific goal or outcome.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "go to town on" means to do something with great enthusiasm or energy, often with a focus on doing it thoroughly or excessively.
The idiom "go to town" means to work or proceed vigorously and with enthusiasm.
The idiom "go overboard" means to go to great or excessive lengths, often beyond what is necessary or reasonable. It implies an extreme or exaggerated action or behavior, often resulting from enthusiasm or excitement.
The idiom "get wet" means to be exposed to or experience something new or unfamiliar, often in a difficult or challenging way. It implies facing a novel situation that may be uncomfortable or outside one's comfort zone.
The idiom "full to the gills" means completely or excessively full, often referring to a person or a container that is completely filled to its capacity.
The idiom *flush out* means to force someone or something out into the open, especially by using tactics or methods that expose their true nature or intentions.
The idiom "fish in troubled waters" means to take advantage of a difficult or chaotic situation for personal gain or advantage.
The idiom "fire hose" is used to describe a situation or experience that is overwhelming, intense, or difficult to handle, often due to a large amount of information or tasks coming at once.
When used as an idiom, "fill up" means to completely occupy or use the available capacity of something, such as a container, a room, or a schedule. It implies reaching the maximum limit or making something full. This term can be used literally or figuratively, depending on the context.
Deciphering the Deluge
Flood the zone is an idiom that comes from American football. It developed in the 1970s and has since been used in different contexts. In football, the "zone" refers to the defensive formation on the field. It consists of different areas or zones that players are responsible for covering. Off the field, the term "flood the zone" means to overwhelm a specific area or situation with an excessive amount of something like information or resources. It is a proactive and concerted effort to dominate or control a particular space, often with the intention of overpowering others.
In the world of journalism and media, "flood the zone" is frequently used to describe a strategic approach. This approach involves a news organization heavily focusing its coverage on a particular topic, event, or issue. By flooding the zone, journalists aim to provide extensive and in-depth reporting on the subject, leaving little room for alternative viewpoints or competing stories to gain attention. This tactic helps control the narrative and ensures that a specific perspective is dominant.
Businesses and politicians have also adopted the "flood the zone" strategy. In these contexts, it means taking a proactive and overwhelming approach to tackle a problem or achieve a goal. It requires deploying a high volume of resources and actions to maximize impact and achieve success.
However, it's important to note that flooding the zone can have both positive and negative implications. On one hand, it can be seen as a focused and efficient method to achieve a desired outcome. On the other hand, it can be viewed as an aggressive and potentially manipulative approach that disregards differing perspectives or the need for balanced reporting.
Let's explore how the idiom "flood the zone" is related to other idioms, such as "fire hose", "drown out", and "drink from a firehose."
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "flood the zone" can be used in a sentence:
- After the hurricane hit, the government swiftly decided to flood the zone with emergency supplies.
- The company's marketing strategy was to flood the zone with advertisements to reach as many potential customers as possible.
- In order to gather information about a crime, the detectives decided to flood the zone by questioning everyone in the neighborhood.
The idiom "flood the zone" is commonly understood to mean taking a comprehensive or overwhelming approach in a particular situation. It often refers to a strategy of providing a large quantity or concentration of something to cover a specific area or task intensively. The term can be used in various contexts, such as natural disasters, marketing campaigns, or investigative efforts.
More "Coverage" idioms
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