I would need to understand the following:
They tried very hard to mislead the interviewer, for the stakes were very high.
What is the meaning of the second part of the sentence?
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closed as general reference by Matt Эллен, TimLymington, MετάEd, Daniel δ, Zairja Oct 31 '12 at 13:39
This question is too basic; it can be definitively and permanently answered by a single link to a standard internet reference source designed specifically to find that type of information. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.
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First, replace for with because. Using for instead of because or, perhaps, since is a bit old-fashioned and formal. However, it might also be the standard idiom in some dialects of English. High stakes is a gambling metaphor which means the gambler is going to win or lose a lot of money in the game. In an interview with a potential employer, misleading the interviewer may lead to the interviewee's getting the job: if the job's important, then the stakes are high. In an interview with the police, misleading the interviewer may lead to not being suspected of having committed a crime. One's freedom is at stake, so the stakes are very high. |
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