Hello everyone, today i ,while not remembering how, came across an article that includes the following paragrph:
"In happier times, the retail industry was something for politicians to cultivate and imitate — a symbiotic relationship I wrote about in my last book, Shopping For Votes. Now, the shopping business in Canada a constant source of concern and disruption for the political class."
My question is "what does 'cultivate and imitate' mean?" I've looked at their definitions and cultivate seems to be used as in the meaning of to promote or to improve. As for the 'imitate' i didn't quite understand what the writer meant by it, to copy perhaps?
Link to the article if context matters: As Sears goes dark, middle-class votes may be elusive: Delacourt
thanks in advance (and also i'd greatly appreciate it if you'd suggest some other phrases that can subsitute 'as in the meaning of' in my text)
"In happier times, the retail industry was something for politicians to cultivate and imitate — a symbiotic relationship I wrote about in my last book, Shopping For Votes. Now, the shopping business in Canada a constant source of concern and disruption for the political class."
My question is "what does 'cultivate and imitate' mean?" I've looked at their definitions and cultivate seems to be used as in the meaning of to promote or to improve. As for the 'imitate' i didn't quite understand what the writer meant by it, to copy perhaps?
Link to the article if context matters: As Sears goes dark, middle-class votes may be elusive: Delacourt
thanks in advance (and also i'd greatly appreciate it if you'd suggest some other phrases that can subsitute 'as in the meaning of' in my text)