WHAT IS The Meaning and Origin of "Red Letter Day"?

The Hindus Know Your English
41
Compiled by qobit@yahoo.com
August 07, 2001
WHAT IS the meaning and origin of "red letter day"?
(J. Suresh, Chennai)
When you refer to something as being a "red letter day", it implies that it's a very
important or a very special day. As far as you are concerned, it's a day on which
something memorable happened or will happen. Here are a few examples.* The day
the school won the championship was a red letter day for us.* Even after twentyfive years, Vasu considers his wedding day a red-letter day.* The days I spent with
Raja Rao were red-letter days. The expression comes from the practice that was
followed in religious calendars. In the old days, saints' birthdays, festivals and other
holy days were marked in red. The other days of the month,which were not special,
were marked in black. So, the original "red letter day" had a religious significance. It
was only during the 18th century that the expression began to take on a general
meaning - namely any memorable or important day in an individual's life. You can
now refer to theday of graduation as a red-letter day. The day you meet Amitabh
Bachchan or Sachin Tendulkar could also be called a red letter day! By the way, this
practice of marking special days in red continues even today. For the modern man,
Sundays and second Saturdays have become red-letter days as well!
What is the meaning of "misogynist"? How do you pronounce the word?
(Anto Maria Santosh, Chennai)
The word "misogynist" is usually used to refer to a man who hates women. Here are
a few examples.* Some scholars believe that Jack the Ripper was a misogynist.*
When his wife ran away with another man, Rahul became a misogynist.* As
expected, the misogynist didn't invite a single woman to the party. A word about the
pronunciation. The ì' in the first syllable is like the ì' in `hit', `bit', and `sit'. The
following ò' sounds like the ò' in `hot', `pot', and `lot'. The "y" in the third syllable
is pronounced like the "a" in "China", and "about". The "g", by the way, is like the "j"
in "jam", "Jew", and "jelly". The final "i" is like the "i" in "kit" and "pit". The main
stress is on the second syllable. This word is another example of how male
chauvinistic the English language is. "Misogynist" is a fairly common word; most
dictionaries include it. But not all dictionaries include the word, which refers to a
woman who hates men! Why? I guess women are supposed to like men. Perhaps
there are more women-hating men than men-hating women! Who knows! By the
way, do you know what a woman who hates men is called? "Misandrist".
Is it OK to say, "Which class are you studying?"
(K. Raghavan, Thiruvananthapuram)
This seems to be a common way of asking the question in our country. Most people
accept it the way it is - at least in speech. If you wish to be grammatically correct
the word "in" is required. You could either say, "In which class are you studying?" or
"Which class are you studying in?" It is also possible to ask a person, "Which class
are you in?" Here are a few more examples.* In which room did the murder take
place?* Which room did the murder take place in?

42
What is the difference between "martyr" and "victim"?
(F.S. Riazuddin, Port Blair)
A martyr is someone who is killed or punished because of his religious or political
beliefs. The individual is willing to undergo any amount of suffering for the cause he
believes in. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were assassinated because
of their political beliefs. Whatever bethe reason - political, or religious - the
individual in this case is usually punished or killed intentionally. A "victim", on the
other hand, may or may not have any strong political or religious beliefs. He may be
killed or punished intentionally or accidentally. A person who is murdered is referred
to as a "victim" and so is an individual who dies in a road accident. The word
"martyr" carries with it the sense that the individual gave up his life voluntarily for
the cause he believed in; that he fought hard for his beliefs. A "victim" may been
killed for no apparent reason. He could have merely been an individual who was at
the wrong place at the wrong time.
What do the initials FAQ stand?
(C.R. Lokanath , Madanapalli)
You find this in many web sites. The letters stand for "frequently asked questions".
***
"If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say,
talk in your sleep."
- Anonymous

43
August 14, 2001
WHAT IS the meaning and origin of the expression "to give someone an even
break"?
(A. Ramaniah, Secunderabad)
When you give someone an even break you are giving the person the same
opportunities as others to do something. In other words, you are giving a fair
chance to the individual; you are being impartial. Here are a few examples.*Sarita
has tonnes of talent. All she needs is someone to give her an even break and she
could be at the top.*If you don't have a Godfather, then no one will be willing to give
you the even break you need to prove how good you are.*Prasanna gave the even
break Sneha was desperately looking for. She will always be grateful to him. There
are several explanations as to the origin of this expression. I will deal with only one
here. According to some scholars, the expression comes from the sport of dog
racing. In the old days it was common practice for people to take bets on whose dog
was faster and which one was better skilled at "hare coursing". In order to
determine this, the owners held the animals tightly by the leash and released them
at the same time. This letting go of the leash at the same moment - so that neither
dog was at an advantage - was referred to as an "even break." In case you are
wondering what "hare coursing" is, well, a poor hare was let loose and the dogs
were made to chase and kill the frightened animal. A cruel sport, indeed! By giving
the dogs an even break, the faster and more skilled animal was likely to catch the
hare. Later, the expression "to give someone an even break" began to be used with
horse racing as well. Here it refers to the clean start to a race; where all the horses
start off at the same time.
Can we say 7 into 20 is 140?
(S. Mohan, Kovaipudur)
This is the standard practice in India. When we want to multiply, we say one of the
following: multiply, into, or times. Native speakers of English, on the other hand,
tend to use either "multiply" or "times". For example, a native speaker might say,
"Three hundred and twenty times twenty is six thousand four hundred" He may also
say, "Three hundred and twenty times twenty makes six thousand four hundred".
For a simple sum like the one that you have given, the native speaker would say,
"Seven twenties are one hundred and forty". Notice that it isn't "is", but "are". Two
fives are ten. Three tens are thirty. The word "into" is normally reserved for division
and not multiplication. For a native speaker, ten "into" one hundred and twenty
would mean one hundred twenty divided by ten. The answer in this case is twelve.
But for many Indians the answer would be one thousand two hundred - because we
tend to associate "into" with multiplication.

95
"I am sure you were. Aren't you usually playing cricket with your friends at this
time""Well, yes. But since the exams are around the corner my father has forbidden
me from...forbidden me to.... I can never remember whether it's 'forbidden to' or
'forbidden from'.""Both are right actually. You can forbid someone to do something
or you can forbid someone from doing something. Here's an example. I..."".... let
me, let me. My parents have forbidden me to play cricket.""He was forbidden to
marry the girl next door.""I have been forbidden to stay out after seven.""My uncle
should forbid his daughter from using the telephone.""Good god, why"?"Because
every time she gets a call, she spends nearly two hours talking.""How about this
example? My father has forbidden me from leaving the house after 8:00 in the
evening. ""Sounds good to me. I forbid most people from smoking in my
room.""That's a good idea. I think all governments should ban cigarette
advertising.""Then where will they get the money they need"?"Ask my mom. She
has some great ideas. You know she is just a housewife, but....""... what do you
mean just a housewife.""OK, OK! I don't want to get into an argument here. Look,
every time I fill out a form I am asked what my father is and what my mother is. And
against my mother's occupation I usually put down 'housewife'. Isn't there a better
word""Well, there is....""... and I have heard some say, 'Oh, my wife is just a
housewife'. As if being a housewife isn't anything important. Do you get what I am
trying to say? I mean...""I think I understand. You want another word. How about
'homemaker'? ""Homemaker""Yes, that's right. This is the word that is commonly
used these days to refer to someone who stays at home and looks after the
house.""I see. So can I say that my mother is a homemaker"?"You certainly can. And
the good thing is the word is beginning to be used with men as well. Men who stay
at home and look after the house can be called homemakers too.""That's pretty
neat. Can a man be called a househusband"?"Yes, he can.""So, what are you going
to be? A 'homemaker' or a 'househusband'.""If my wife is willing to put up with my
cooking, I don't mind being a homemaker. But I am sure you are going to be a
henpecked husband!"* * *

96
" Only in America can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance."
- Anonymous
"The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from
some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they are okay, then
it's you."
Rita Mae Brown

97
February 12, 2002
WHAT IS the origin and meaning of the expression `cock and bull story'?
(K. Balaji, Chennai)
When you say that someone gave you a `cock and bull story', what you are
implying is that the individual told you a story that was unbelievable; he told you a
story that was obviously a lie. People often resort to cock and bull stories when they
want to come up with an excuse for not having done something. Here are a few
examples.*When I asked Namrata why she hadn't done her assignment, she gave
me some cock and bull story about being abducted by aliens.*When the Chairman
asked for an explanation, all he got from the Vice President was some cock and bull
story. There are several explanations as to the origin of this expression. Some
scholars believe that the idiom has its origins in the fables that we all read as
children; stories in which animals behave and talk like human beings. Such stories
are often considered to be unrealistic by people who are very practical in their
outlook. They can't believe that animals like lions, bulls, foxes, etc can actually talk.
Hence the expression "cock and bull story". Some others believe that "cock" and
"bull" refer to two taverns. People who went to these bars got drunk and began to
spin unbelievable stories.
Does the word "kakorraphiophobia" exist? If it does, what does it mean?
(P. Anandhi, Vellore)
Yes, the word exists, although you may not find it listed in many dictionaries. It
means fear of failure. Why people come up with these words, I have no idea.

126
May 21, 2002
WHAT IS the meaning of "hogwash"?
(Geetha Udaykumar, Mannarkudi)
This is a word, which is normally used in informal contexts. When somebody says
something and you respond by saying, "hogwash", what you are implying is that as
far as you are concerned what the individual has said is nonsense. Here are a few
examples.*What she told me was hogwash.*Enough of this hogwash. Now sit down
and tell me what really happened.*I have no time to listen to your hogwash, Seema.
The word has the same meaning as "baloney".*Don't give me that baloney Ashwin.
Tell me what really happened.*I am not here to listen to your baloney.*His baloney
didn't go down well with the boss.*Bad food and drink can also be called
"hogwash".*The stuff that was served at the wedding was hogwash.*Don't go to the
new restaurant. The food is hogwash.*I don't want to eat any more of this hogwash.
Shouldn't it be World Trade Centre and not "Center"?
(P. P. Hafeez, Kerala)
Well, I wouldn't go around telling the Americans that they have got the spelling
wrong! As it is they are pretty upset about what happened on September 11. And I
am sure they wouldn't take kindly to an Indian questioning their ability to spell.
Getting back to your question, the word "Center" has been spelt correctly. That's the
way the Americans spell it. A few words, which end in "re" in British English, the
Americans spell it "er". Here are a few examples: meter, center, and theater.
Which of the following sentences is correct? "He walked into the
apartment" or "He walked in the apartment"?
(B. Abhishek, Bangalore)
Both the sentences are grammatically acceptable, but their meaning is very
different. When someone "walks into" an apartment he enters it. In other words, the
individual has stepped into the apartment. He was outside all the while and now he
has stepped inside. Similarly, when you say that someone has "moved into" his new
apartment, what you are implying is that he has shifted to his new apartment. He
has made the new place his home. When you say that someone "walked in the
apartment" what you are saying is that the individual walked around inside the
apartment. Unlike the earlier example, the individual is not entering the apartment.
He is already inside and he is moving about. The action takes place within the
apartment.

127
How is the word "sour" pronounced?
(John Paul, Trivandrum)
Many Indians tend to pronounce the word like "four", "pour", and "door". This word,
however, is not pronounced in that fashion. The word "sour", rhymes with "shower",
"our", and "power".
What is the meaning of the idiom "sink your teeth into something"?
(P. K. Abu Baker, Calicut)
When you sink your teeth into something you undertake to do something; you
perform the task with a great deal of enthusiasm and interest. Here are a few
examples.*His new role as a villain gave him something that he could sink his teeth
into.*The new project is really interesting. Can't wait to sink my teeth into it. It is
also possible to say "get one's teeth into something". Here are a few examples.*He
just couldn't get his teeth into his new role.*My wife has been telling me to get my
teeth into some social work.
How is the word "onion" pronounced?

(Athiya Fathima, Chennai)
The "on" in the first syllable is pronounced like the "un" in "fun", "bun", and "sun".
The following "i"is like the "y" in "yes", "yellow", and "young". The final "o" is like
the "a" in "China". The mainstress is on the first syllable.*** *** ***
"Once you've put one of his books down, you simply can't pick it up again."
Mark Twain talkingabout Henry James.

128
May 28, 2002
WHAT IS the difference between "dinner" and "supper"?
(Nellai S. Murugan, Chennai)
The word "dinner" is normally used by Indians to refer to the meal that is eaten in
the evening. Nativespeakers of English, on the other hand, use the word to refer to
the main meal of the day. Some peoplehave their main meal in the afternoon, while
others have it in the evening. So what we call "lunch"may be referred to as "dinner"
by native speakers of English. The important thing to remember here isthat "dinner"
is considered by some to be the most important meal of the day. "Supper", on the
otherhand, is something that is had only in the evening. And unlike "dinner", it is
usually a very light meal.One can have it early in the evening or just before going to
bed. Americans tend to use the word"supper" quite often. It is usually a meal eaten
at home with members of the family. When you invitesomeone to have a meal with
you in the evening, you usually ask him/her to have "dinner" with you,not supper.
The Prime Minister of India hosts dinners and not suppers.

197
The vowel in the first syllable sounds like the "a" in "rat", "bat", and "sat". The "o" in
the secondsyllable and the final "e" are pronounced like the "o" in "hot", "pot", and
"got. Some peoplepronounce the "o" like the "o" in "pole", "sole", and "hole". The
"ch" is like the "sh" in "ship","sheet", and "shoot". The following "e" is silent, while
the final "nt" sounds like the "ng" in "sing","bring", and "ring". The main stress is on
the second syllable "pro".Any idea what the word means? Rapprochement is a word
that is normally used in formal contexts. Itis used to indicate the establishment of a
good relationship between two countries after they have beenhostile towards each
other for some time. The word can be used with groups of people as well. Hereare a
few examples.*The article argues that there are signs of rapprochement between
the two parties.*There are no signs of rapprochement between the United States
and Iraq.*** *** ***
"The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a
common enemy."
Sam Levenson

198
February 11, 2003
WHAT IS the meaning and origin of "blue blood"?
(B. Prabhuraj, Tiruvannamalai)
When you say that someone has blue blood running in his veins what you mean is
that he comes froma royal family. He is a person of high or noble birth.*Raju is a
blue blooded aristocrat.*Don't be crazy. There's no blue blood running in her
veins."Wanted, tall, fair, slim girl for...." Ring a bell? That's what you normally find in
the matrimonialsection these days. Such ads often upset a lot of people. They say
that this country of ours is verycolour conscious. Well, I have news for them. People
all over the world are colour conscious. Eventhe Europeans. "Blue blood" is actually
a translation of the Spanish term "sangre azul". At one time,the Moors (people of
the Arab race) ruled over much of Spain. The Moors were dark complexionedand
during the seven centuries that they ruled Spain, a lot of interracial marriages took
place. But theSpanish aristocrats who lived in Castile did not intermarry with the
Moors. As a result, they remainedextremely fair and began to distinguish

themselves from their rulers and fellow aristocrats by callingthemselves "sangre
azul". What they meant by this was that because of their very fair complexion,
theveins in their arms looked blue. It was as if blue blood was running in their veins.
How vain can oneget! Anyway, this term was borrowed by other European countries
to describe a nobleman. InEngland, the expression was borrowed to refer to
prestigious institutions as well. Did you know thatuniversities like Oxford and
Cambridge are called "blue brick" universities in England?
What is the difference between "residence" and "home"?
(M. Dickens Leonard, Trichy)
Both these words have several different meanings. I will limit myself to one the
place where onelives. Home is usually a place where one stays and to which one is
emotionally attached. "Home", asthe saying goes, "is where the heart is". There is a
lot of sentimental value attached to a home. Amillionaire may have several houses,
but he usually has one home. Not every house can become ahome. As for the word
"residence", we Indians are terribly fond of it. We use it synonymously with"house"
and "home". According to the dictionaries, "residence" is a formal word for "home".
But it'sno ordinary home either. It's usually something huge and imposing; like the
Raj Bhavan. We thereforetalk about the "Governor's residence". A native speaker
doesn't usually refer to a one bedroomapartment, or a two bedroom house as his
"residence".
How is the word "moustache" pronounced?
(Dilip, Chennai)
Depends on which side of the Atlantic you are from. An Englishman would
pronounce the "ou" in thefirst syllable like "a" in "china". The following "a" sounds
like the "a" in "path", "bath", and "pass",while the final "che" is like the "sh" in
"sheet", "sheep", and "shoot". The main stress, as you haveprobably guessed, is on
the second syllable. As for the Americans, well, they always do thingsdifferently.
First of all, they spell the word differently. It's spelt "mustache". The "u" is like the
"u" in"cut", "but", and "gut". The "a" in the second syllable is like the "a" in "act",
"pact", and "fact". Themain stress is on the first syllable.

199
What is the meaning of "umpteen"?
(U. Dharini, Thiruvarur)

First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The first syllable "ump" rhymes with "bump",
"pump", and"lump". The "ee" is like the "ee" in "fees", "bees", and "sees". The main
stress is on the secondsyllable. Umpteen can mean "many" or "a lot of". Here are a
few examples.*I emailed Janani umpteen times, but she never responded.*Bhaveen
revised the paper umpteen times before submitting it.*Naila has seen the movie
umpteen times.

250
August 12, 2003
What does "looking good" mean?
"HI! HOW are things?""Pretty good. You look happy today. What's the
reason?""Believe it or not. Sujatha actually complimented me. She said I was
handsome!""She needs to see an eye doctor! Did she actually use the word
handsome?""No! When she saw me at the bookstore, she said that I was looking
good. It's the same as calling mehandsome, right?""Wrong! She said you were
'looking good'. She didn't say you were 'good looking'. There's adifference between
the two, you know.""Really? What is the difference?""Well, when you say that a guy
is 'good looking', what you mean is that he is handsome.""So a 'good looking
woman' is a beautiful woman?""Exactly! When you say that someone is good
looking, it is a statement of fact. There is no doubtabout it in your mind.""Aishwarya
is good looking.""My boss' son is very good looking.""O.K, but what does 'looking
good' mean?""Well, if I say, 'You are looking good today' what it implies is that you
are looking much better thanyou normally do. It is a comparison. The fact that you
are looking better than usual today is probablytemporary. Maybe it's got something
to do with the shirt or trousers that you are wearing.""In other words, any person
can look good on a certain day, but not all of us are good looking. Is thatwhat you
are saying?""Exactly! For example, I can say, you are looking good for someone
your age! Here..""..talking about someone who looks good for his age, how is your
friend Ramesh doing? Did youattend the presentation he gave a couple of days
ago?""Yes, I attended his dog and pony show.""Dog and pony show! What are you
talking about?""A speech, presentation, or demonstration that an individual gives
repeatedly is often referred to as adog and pony show. It is usually a presentation
that has no substance.""So it is used to show disapproval?""That's right. A sales

presentation intended to impress people can be called a dog and pony show.""I see.
So a presentation that a professor makes over and over again can be called a dog
and ponyshow?""Yes! Here's an example, Geetha was there with her dog and pony
show about computermaintenance.""I've seen Dilip's dog and pony show so many
times that I remember most of the words."

251
"That's a good example.""Thank you. Anyway, did Ramesh's audience like his dog
and pony show?""Yes, they loved it. He got his mojo going and the...""his
what?""M.o.j.o. The vowel in the first and second syllable is pronounced like the 'o'
in 'go' and 'so'. The mainstress is on the first syllable. Any idea what the word
means?""Haven't the faintest clue.""It means charm or magic. It is a word mostly
used in American English. Sandeep has to get his mojoworking if he wants to win
the tournament.""Sunil got his mojo going and boy did things liven up at the
party.""We won't win unless our strike bowler gets his mojo back. Anyway, as I was
saying, the audience just lapped up Ramesh's dog and pony show.""That must have
made Ramesh happy.""Oh, yes. He was in orbit.""In orbit? Does it mean to be
extremely happy?""That's one of the meanings. When you say that someone is in
orbit what you mean is that he isecstatic.""How about this example? When Meera
was told she had got the promotion, she was in orbit.""Pretty good. Here's another
one. The workers were in orbit when they heard that the company hadbagged the
order.""Divya was in orbit over the raise she got.""And you were in orbit because
you thought Sujatha had called you handsome.""Well, you made sure that I didn't
stay there too long. You brought me down to earth pretty quickly.""That's what
friends are for!"***** ***** *****
"The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country."
George W. Bush

252
August 19, 2003
HOW DO you pronounce the word "panacea?" ?

(M. Balasubramanian, Erode)
The "a" in the first syllable is like the "a" in "cat", "pat", and "fat", while the
following vowel is likethe "a" in "china". The final "ea" is like the "eer" in "beer",
"deer", and "peer". The main stress is on"cea".Any idea what the word means?
When you refer to something as being a panacea, what you mean isthat it is the
solution to all problems. The word is often used disapprovingly. Here are a few
examples.* The introduction of computers is not the panacea for all the school's
problems.* There is no panacea for the problems that we have in our country.*
Mohan was desperate to find a quick panacea.

266
October 07, 2003
WHAT IS the meaning and origin of the expression "to go hammer and tongs at
someone"?
(K. Madhu, Bangalore)
When you go hammer and tongs at someone what you are doing is fighting or
arguing with theindividual with a lot of energy and force. You are making use of all
the resources at your disposal tofight him. Here are a few examples.*I wouldn't go
in if I were you. Ramesh and Sujatha are going at it hammer and tongs.*Kamlesh
used to go at his jogging hammer and tongs till he broke his leg.*For three days, the
two parties went at it hammer and tongs. The hammer and the tongs were two tools
generally used by a blacksmith. We all know what a hammer is; as for the "tongs",
well it was the instrument which helped the blacksmith remove red hot metal from
the fire and place it on the anvil. The blacksmith held the metal down with the help
of the long tongs and beat the hot metal into shape with the hammer. Since this
activity of beating the metal into shape involved a lot of vigorous hitting, the
expression "to go hammer and tongs" began to be used to refer to any activity
where an individual went after something or someone vigorously.
What is the difference between "misinformed" and "ill-informed"?
(S. Preethi, Hyderabad)
An ill-informed person does not have much knowledge of a particular subject. Some
dictionaries saythat it is the opposite of "well informed". You may know a lot about
cricket, but you may not knowmuch about rugby. In such a case, I can say you are
ill-informed about rugby. Many of us are ill-informed about a lot of things. It is but
natural; it is not possible for an individual to be well informedabout everything. Here
are a few examples.*The ill-informed comments made by the Vice Chancellor had
the students worried.*The workers were ill-informed of their rightsWhen you
"misinform" someone you are deliberately lying to the individual. You are providing
himfalse information in order to trick him. You are trying to deceive him. Politicians
are very oftenaccused of misinforming the public. Unlike ill-informed, misinform has
a negative connation.Here are a few examples.*Some people believe that Bush and
Blair misinformed the public about Saddam's weapons of massdestruction.*The
author accuses the tobacco company of misinforming teenagers about the dangers
of smoking.
Why do we refer to ordinary paper as "full scape" paper?
(Raju, Vizag)
Printing paper measuring 13.5 inches by 17 inches is usually called "foolscap" paper
and not "fullscape" paper. The first syllable is pronounced like the word "fools" and
the second like the word"cap". The main stress is on the first syllable. The paper is
called "foolscap" because there was a timewhen paper was watermarked with a
fool's cap i.e. a cap worn by a court jester. According to somepeople, it was Oliver
Cromwell who decided to put this design on paper. It was to replace symbol of the
royal crown which had appeared earlier. Many people however dismiss this idea.

267
How is the word "kudos" pronounced? Is it singular or plural?
(N. Gayathri, Madurai)
The "ku" in the first syllable is pronounced like the word "cue", and the following "o"
is like the "o"in "hot", "got", and "dot". The main stress is on the first syllable. When
you receive "kudos" fromsomeone for having done something, you receive his
admiration and respect. The word is usuallyfollowed by a singular verb. Here are a
few examples.*Radha received kudos for coming first in the race.*Unfortunately the
author didn't receive the kudos that was her due.*Kudos is the last the thing I
expect to get from my friends.
When you call a shop and want to know if it is open can you say, "Are you open"?
(Athiya Fathima, Chennai)
I suppose you could, but the fact that someone has answered the phone suggests
that they are open,doesn't it? You could try one of the following.*How long are you
open today?*What are your working hours?*How late are you open today?*****
***** ******
I'd move to Los Angeles if New Zealand and Australia were swallowed up by a tidal
wave, if there was a bubonic plague in England and if the continent of Africa
disappeared from some Martian attack."
Russell Crowe

268
October 14, 2003
WHAT IS the difference between "earmark" and "hallmark"?
(John Silas, Chennai)
A "hallmark" was originally an official mark put on objects made out of gold and
silver. This wasdone to certify the purity of the metal, and also as to when and
where the object was made. The wordis being used these days to refer to a typical
feature of a thing or person. Here are a few examples.*Kalyan treated us with an
indifference that has become his hallmark.*Religious tolerance is the hallmark of a
democracy.*The bombing bore all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.When you
earmark something for a particular purpose, you have decided that it will be used
for thatparticular purpose.*The government has earmarked some funds for the antidrug programmes.*You cannot touch those funds. They have been earmarked for
the school library.*Vinita says that her school has been earmarked for closure.

304
February 16, 2004

WHAT IS the meaning of the idiom "give a dog a bad name and hang him"?
(P. Vanitharatham, Pollachi)
"Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the
immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial." That's what Cassio says in
Shakespeare's "Othello". Oncesomeone has lost his reputation, it is very difficult for
the individual to regain it. When a person iscaught stealing, he is forever thought of
as a thief. He is branded a thief for the rest of his life. Nomatter what he does later
on, he is usually associated with the one thing that he has done wrong.People
continue to condemn him for the criminal act. The expression "give a dog a bad
name andhang him" is used to mean when an individual acquires a bad name, he
gets stuck with it. It is alsopossible to replace "bad" with "ill". Here are a few
examples.*Harish was arrested because there was a burglary in his neighbourhood.
The poor guy wasn't even intown. I think it's a case of give a dog a bad name and
hang him.*Nothing that Ram does will convince Janaki that he is being honest with
her. It's a case of give a dogan ill name and hang him.Another expression which has
more or less the same meaning is "He that has an ill name is half hanged".
Why can't we say "chairwoman"?
(L. S. N. Murthy, Hyderabad)
There is nothing, which prevents you from using the word. You can use
"chairwoman" if you want to.But since this is the age of political correctness, the
more appropriate word would be "chairperson".Native speakers are trying hard to
make English gender free in other words, they are attempting toget rid of the pro
masculine image that the language has. For example, the word "actor" is now
beingused to refer to both men and women. "Authoress" and "stewardess" have
become old fashioned; theyhave been replaced by "author" and "flight attendant".
Similarly, "spokesperson", "business person","mail carrier", and "police officer" are
replacing "spokesman", "businessman", "mailman", and"policeman".
Is it OK to say "sponsorers"?
(Aruna Subramanian, Hyderabad)
Though we hear a lot of people in our country use this word, "sponsorer" doesn't
actually exist.Someone who is willing to support your show or cause by giving you
money or encouragement isusually called a "sponsor", not "sponsorer". If you have
more than one sponsor, then they are called"sponsors". Here are a few
examples.*Some of the sponsors were unwilling to make the necessary changes.*If
it is a one day international, we won't have problems finding sponsors.
What is the difference between "premier" and "premiere"?
(S. Sulochana, Bangalore)

Both words are pronounced the same way. The "e" in the first syllable is like the "e"
in "set", "bet",and "met". The second syllable rhymes with "near", "dear", and
"fear". In British English, the stress inthe case of both words is on the first
syllable.The leader of a country is sometimes referred to as "premier". For example,
we can say, "Atal Bihari

305
Vajpayee, the premier of India, will be visiting Japan next week." The word can also
be used to meanthe best or the most important.*Ten years ago, this was one of the
premier colleges in the state.*We have invited the country's premier drama
company to entertain the foreign delegates.*As the nation's premier scientist,
funding is no problem for him.The first public performance of a new play or a film is
usually called a "premiere". In other words, theplay or film is shown to the public for
the first time.*The film had its premiere last week.*The film's director wants the
premiere to be postponed to December.*Mohan's documentary was premiered at
the Mumbai Film Festival.
How is the word "psyche" pronounced?
(Umadevi Ramasamy, Chennai)
The "psy" in the first syllable is pronounced like the word "sigh" The "che" is like the
"ki" in "kit","kiss", and "kill". The main stress is on the first syllable.***** ***** *****
"The single most exciting thing you encounter in government is competence,
because it's so rare." Daniel Patrick Moynihan

306
February 23, 2004
WHICH OF the following sentences is correct? "I wish I was a minister", or, "I wish I
were aminister".
(V. S. Paul Devasahayam, Chennai).

Depending on the context, both are correct. People who love grammar will argue
that after "if","were" should be used and not "was". Even if the subject is singular,
the verb that follows "if" must beplural. Therefore in the two examples you have
given, in formal contexts, "were" would be the correct answer. Here are a few
examples.*If I were Spiderman, I would swing from Mount Everest every now and
then.*If her nose were a little longer, she would be really pretty.In informal contexts,
however, even native speakers of English, use the singular "was". You can getaway
with "was" in ordinary conversation.*If I was Spiderman, I would rob a bank every
day.*If Sujatha was to go to Chennai, she would lose her job.

370
October 05, 2004
What is the meaning and origin of "in apple pie order"?

(S. N. Viswanathan, Trichy)
This is an idiom that has been around for several centuries, and contrary to what
many people believe,it is not of American origin. When you say that something is "in
apple pie order", what you mean isthat it is in perfect order. Everything has been
neatly organised; things are in their proper place.*Bala puts his desk in apple pie
order every evening.According to many scholars the idiom is a corruption of the
French "nappe plie" meaning "foldedlinen". But the popular story doing the rounds
is that the expression became popular thanks to aColonial (that's what Americans
were called before they got their independence) wife who lived inNew England.The
story goes that this lady was in the habit of baking seven apple pies every Sunday
one pie forevery day of the coming week. Once the pies had been baked and
cooled, she would then proceed toplace them on different shelves. The pie that was
to be eaten on Monday was placed on the first shelf,the one to be eaten on Tuesday
on the shelf next to it, and so on and so forth. The story goes that thislady was so
meticulous that she made sure that all the pies were lined up just right. Hence
theexpression, "apple pie order". Interesting story, isn't it? But then, that's all it is, a
story.
Is it ok to say "but then"?

(Subodh Kumar Mishra, New Delhi)
Yes, it is. We use it all the time in speech and in informal styles of writing. It has the
same meaning as"but". For example, when we say, "Tendulkar is a gifted batsman,
but then, so is Dravid", what wemean is that both Dravid and Tendulkar are gifted
batsmen. Tendulkar is a gifted batsman, but so isDravid.Here is another example. "I
would like to help you, but then my wife wouldn't like it." What youmean here is that
you would like to help the individual, but you are not in a position to because
yourwife wouldn't like it. Maybe, she will get angry and no husband wants to
make his "better half"angry!
What does "sine die" mean?
(K. Manujula, Bangalore
)First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The "i" in "sine" is like the "y" in "my", "by",
and "sky", whilethe following "e" is like the "i" in "pit", "kit", and "bit". The "i" in
"die" is pronounced like the "i" in"sine". The following "e" is like the "ee" in "bee",
"see", and "fee". The main stress is on the firstsyllable of "die". This is one of the
ways of pronouncing the word. "Sine die" is normally used inlegal contexts and it
means indefinitely, "without a date being fixed".*The meeting was adjourned sine
die.
What's the difference between a "militant" and a "terrorist"?
(S. Ravisankar, Chennai)
Dictionaries define a terrorist as someone who uses terror to achieve his end. The
individual resorts toviolence in order to get what he wants; he uses violence in order
to make a political statement.The word is normally used with individuals and
organisations and never to a country as a whole. Thisexplains why people talk about
countries that "sponsor" terrorism.

371
*The terrorists threatened to kill the hostages.A "militant", like a terrorist, believes
in something very strongly; but unlike a terrorist does notalways make use of
violence to achieve his ends. He will, however, not hesitate to use it if thesituation
demands it. He exerts a lot of pressure on others to get what he wants. Here is an
example.*The militants took shelter in an abandoned church.
***** ***** *****

"Let me tell you something that we Israelis have against Moses. He took us 40 years
through the desert in order to bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has
no oil!"
Golda Meir

372
October 11, 2004
What is the meaning and origin of the expression "running from pillar to post"?
(
D. Srinivasan, Kaludaikurichi
)What is it that usually happens when you want to get some work done in a
government office? Youask a clerk something and he grumpily tells you that you
have to go to some other department; whenyou go there, you are told you are in
the wrong place. You are constantly given the runaround. Whenyou run from pillar
to post, you are constantly on the move; you are made to go from one place
toanother, but you don't achieve anything at all. There is a lot of aimless running
around. The idiomcarries with it the sense of being harassed. The expression has
been around for several centuries, andwhen it entered the language it was "from
post to pillar".*The students were made to run from pillar to post for their mark
sheet.According to some scholars, the expression comes from the world of court
tennis a game that Iunderstand is very different from the game of lawn tennis
that is played today. Another theory is thatthe expression refers to a form of
punishment that was meted out to criminals. In the old days,criminals were first tied
to a "post" in the marketplace and whipped. After that they were dragged to apillory
("pillar"). This was essentially a wooden frame that had three holes in it. The
prisoner wasmade to put his head and his two hands through the holes, and made
to stand or kneel for daystogether. The public had fun throwing rotten vegetables
and eggs at the hapless victim.
What is the difference between "criticism" and "critique"?
(
C. Sephr, Ernakulam
)The word "criticism" has several different meanings. Your criticism of someone or
somethingindicates your disapproval of the person or his action. A criticism can be
either verbal or written; theword always carries with it a negative meaning. The
main stress is on the first syllable. Here is anexample.*As far as I am concerned the
criticism was unjustified.The word can also be used to mean an evaluation or
judgment of something novel, painting andfilm. In this case, you are giving your
considered opinion of a work of art; you are highlighting itsgood and bad
qualities.The second syllable of "critique" rhymes with the words "peak", "beak",
and "leak". It is this syllablewhich has the main stress. When you critique something
what you are doing is giving in writing your judgment of something it could be
someone's work. You are highlighting the good and badqualities of a piece of work.
According to some people, "critique" is a high sounding word for"criticism".*The
article was a critique of my neighbour's latest novel.

543
June 26, 2006
How is the word `poignant' pronounced?

(Kripa Rajesh, Mangalore)
The òi' is like the òy' in `boy', `toy', and `joy'; the following `g' is silent. The first
syllable `poign'therefore rhymes with the word `coin'. The sound following the `n' is
like the `y' in `yes', `yell', and`yellow'. The à' that follows is like the à' in `china',
and the main stress is on the first syllable. Whenyou say that something is
`poignant', what you mean is that it affects you very deeply and makes youfeel
rather sad.Please change the channel. I am not in the mood to watch a poignant
love story.
Why is television called the ìdiot box'?
(Medepalli Seshu, New Delhi)
It is not the box which is the idiot, but the people watching it. Have you ever
observed peoplewatching their favourite programme? Their eyes remain glued to
the television set, and on mostoccasions they have no clue what is going on around
them. When you ask them questions, they eithertell you to keep quiet, or don't take
the trouble to answer you. The only time they come alive is duringthe commercial
break; otherwise, they remain passive. They keep staring at the `box' as if they
were abunch of idiots; the TV turns them into one. By the way, did you know that
the words ìdiot' andìdiom' are related? Both come from the Greek ìdios', meaning
`peculiar'. Why is an idiom peculiar?Because the meaning of an idiom is not the
sum of the meaning of all the words of the idiom. Forexample, whenever it rains
heavily, we say, Ìt's raining cats and dogs'. It doesn't mean that cats anddogs are
actually falling from the sky.
What is the meaning of `buy someone off'?
(A. S. Beg, Aligarh)
When a policeman stops us for a traffic violation, what is it that we normally do? We
try to talk ourway out of paying the fine. Sometimes we plead with the officer, at
other times, we try to bribe him sothat we don't have to pay the full penalty. This
act of bribing someone so that he turns a blind eye tothe wrong that we have done
is referred to as `buying someone off'.The businessman succeeded in buying off
some of the income tax officials.
What's the difference between "How are you?" and "How do you do?"
(Rohan Tendulkar, Bidar)
In British English, `How do you do?' is normally used when you are introduced to
someone for thefirst time. It is a way of greeting someone, and the standard
response to this expression is, `How doyou do?' You normally use this expression
only once with a person. The next time you meet him, youcan say, `How are you?'
This expression is used with people you already know. Unlike `How do youdo', `How
are you' is intended to find out how the individual is doing both emotionally
andphysically. `How do you do?' does not carry this meaning. Did you know that the
word `hi' is actuallyfrom `how are you'? When `how are you' is said very fast, it
sounds like `hiya'. So instead of saying,`how are you', people started saying, `hiya'.
Later on, `hiya' was reduced to `hi'. Therefore when youmeet someone and say, `Hi,
how are you?', what you are actually saying is, `How are you? How areyou?'.
What is the difference between `shovel down' and `shovel into'?

(L. Jaya, Bangalore)

544
When you `shovel something down', you take a huge bite of something and gulp it
down very quickly.It is an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts.Listen,
you don't have to shovel your sandwich down. We have plenty of time.When you
`shovel something into something', you make use of a shovel to put something
intosomething else.The old gardener spent a lot of time shovelling gravel into the
wheelbarrow.
"When you steal from one author, it's plagiarism; when you steal from many, it's
research."
WilsonMizner

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The Hindus Know Your English

The Hindus Know Your English

The Hindus Know Your English

The Hindus Know Your English

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Rita Mae Brown

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How is the word "onion" pronounced?

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Moors. As a result, they remainedextremely fair and began to distinguish

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(U. Dharini, Thiruvarur)

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that has no substance.""So it is used to show disapproval?""That's right. A sales

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HOW DO you pronounce the word "panacea?" ?

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February 16, 2004

(S. Sulochana, Bangalore)

The Hindus Know Your English

The Hindus Know Your English

(V. S. Paul Devasahayam, Chennai).

The Hindus Know Your English

What is the meaning and origin of "in apple pie order"?

Is it ok to say "but then"?

The Hindus Know Your English

***** ***** *****

The Hindus Know Your English

The Hindus Know Your English

How is the word `poignant' pronounced?

What is the difference between `shovel down' and `shovel into'?

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