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Meaning & use

spin control

noun·Advancedinformaldisapproving

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UK/ˈspɪn kənˌtrəʊl/
US/ˈspɪn kənˌtroʊl/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meaning

  1. noununcountableinformal

    Efforts to shape how the public sees bad news or a mistake, so that it looks less harmful.

    Grammar: Uncountable: they engaged in spin control, not a spin control.

    Patterns

    • engage in spin control
    • do spin control

    The company went into spin control after the data leak.

    The senator's aides spent the weekend on spin control.

    Good spin control cannot hide a real failure.

Common combinations

engage in spin control
The team engaged in spin control after the scandal.
spin control team
A spin control team drafted the statement.
damage and spin control
The press office handled damage and spin control.
spin control effort
The spin control effort failed to persuade voters.
go into spin control
Both parties went into spin control after the debate.

Synonyms and how they differ

damage control
Is about limiting harm in general, and does not stress shaping the message the way spin control does.
public relations
Is the neutral name for managing an organization's image, while spin control suggests bending the facts.
spin
Is the shorter form and can be used on its own as a noun or verb.

Opposites

transparency

Word family

spin noun
a biased way of presenting information
spin doctor noun
a person who shapes public messages for a politician or company
control noun
power to direct something
spin verb
to present information with a favorable slant

Commonly confused: spin control or damage control?

spin control vs damage control

Damage control tries to reduce the actual harm, while spin control tries to change how the harm is seen.

Practice

After the report was leaked, the minister's office went into ___ to improve how it looked.

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