The phrase "a broad idea of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to convey a general or overarching understanding of a concept or topic without going into specific details.
Example: "The presentation provided a broad idea of the current trends in renewable energy."
Alternatives: "a general understanding of" or "an overarching concept of".
"We went in with a broad idea of what we hoped it would be, but we always allowed ourselves to be open to new possibilities," said Bill Ross.
"The 70s in so many ways were far more dangerous, far more edgy, far more open to a broad idea of gender than today.
They might have had a broad idea of the circumstances in which they could lose a bundle, but they would not have known how likely this was to happen.
Arthur aimed to buck both trends by printing idiosyncratic, lengthy articles on off-center music and espousing a broad idea of counterculture that harked back to the 1960s, encompassing comics, urban ecology and antiwar activism.
Even at its most straightforward, simply supplying a time, a place, and a broad idea of the merchandise — "Furniture," "Housewares," "150 pairs of size 8 shoes" — the stoop-sale sign illustrates the energy of the hustle.
Friedlander tells us where and when the images were taken, but otherwise the only context is a broad idea of restricted space, a distinction between inside and outside, or between sanctioned and unsanctioned.
Finally, the BBC represents a broader idea of "public space" that is currently not very fashionable politically.
From the standpoint of your Christian faith, with its Calvinist influence, you also argue for a broader idea of what religion means.
Enfield combined all of his influences: from Mike Dunleavy Sr. he borrowed offensive principles, like a fast tempo, with shots preferably taken in the first eight seconds of each possession; from Rick Pitino he took motivational techniques; from Leonard Hamilton he copied defensive philosophy, along with a broader idea of how to build a program, a Hamilton specialty.
And when economists talk of self-interest, they are referring not just to satisfaction of material wants, but to a broader idea of "preferences" that can easily encompass, among other things, the welfare of others.Even when the terms are properly understood, "rational pursuit of self-interest" is a simplifying assumption.
Thanks to Christine Heidemann, the curator of the show's new Berlin section, 60 items have been added to the retrospective to give a broader idea of what went on during Mr Bowie's stint in the German city between 1976 and 1978.Many items refer to Iggy Pop, whom Mr Bowie lived with.
