# What is Softbank doing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-softbank-doing/919898>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 5, 2020, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-softbank-doing/919898 "2020-09-05T19:37:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-softbank-doing/919898/21 "2020-09-10T16:10:32Z")

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Debt is a common form of leverage but not the only form.

Leverage is derived from “lever”, which is a tool which can translate small movements/force on one end into big movements/force on the other end.

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**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-softbank-doing/919898/22 "2020-09-10T18:07:31Z")

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> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#):
>
> Leverage is derived from “lever”, which is a tool which can translate small movements/force on one end into big movements/force on the other end.

I’m familiar with the etymology, but hadn’t previously seen it applied in this way to finance. Ignorance fought.

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