Know Your English

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October 2010
•How is `b te noire' pronounced? New

•What is the meaning and origin of `brevity is the soul of wit'? New
•What is the meaning of `cataclysm'? New
•What is the meaning of `shadowboxing'? New
•Is there a difference between `proper question' and `question proper'? New
How is ‘bête noire' pronounced?
The ‘bête' is pronounced like the word ‘bet', and the ‘o' in ‘noire' is like the ‘w' in ‘wet',
‘was' and ‘will'. The final ‘ire' sounds like the ‘a' in ‘path', ‘bath', and ‘ask'. One of the ways of
pronouncing the word is ‘bet NWAA', with the stress on ‘noire'. The word is of French origin,
and it literally means ‘black beast'. When you say that something is your bête noire, you mean it
is something that you avoid or detest. The object or person is a great source of annoyance.
*The new Vice-Chancellor is the bête noire of all feminists on campus.
*Madhu's particular bête noire is a sink full of dirty dishes.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘brevity is the soul of wit'?
The expression means that when you tell a joke or a funny story, make sure to keep it
brief. In other words, if your joke or anecdote is extremely long, people will lose interest in it by
the time you get to the punch line.
*I always make it a point to keep my funny stories as short as possible. After all, brevity
is the soul of wit.
At the party, Revathi bored us with her terrible jokes. She probably doesn't realise that
brevity is the soul of wit.
The expression was coined by William Shakespeare in ‘Hamlet'. Polonius, the king's
chief counsellor, informs Hamlet's mother that her son is mad. This is what he says: “Therefore,
since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief:
your noble son is mad.” During Shakespeare's time, ‘wit' meant knowledge or intelligence. The
dramatist was telling speakers and writers to communicate in as clear a manner as possible, using
as few a words as possible.
What is the meaning of ‘cataclysm'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of this word. The first syllable is pronounced like
the word ‘cat', and the ‘a' and the ‘y' that follow are like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The ‘s' sounds like the
‘z' in ‘zoo', ‘zip', and ‘zoo'. This rather literary word is pronounced ‘CAT-e-klizem' with the
stress on the first syllable. The word is mostly used to refer to any large scale destruction brought
about by natural causes – earthquakes, floods, etc. A social movement which brings about
sweeping changes can also be called ‘cataclysm'.
*Ravi's new book deals with some of the cataclysmic events of the 18 +t +h century.
What is the meaning of ‘shadowboxing'?
When a fighter shadowboxes, he throws punches at an imaginary opponent. As he is only

pretending to be boxing, he merely throws punches into the air. When you accuse someone of
‘shadowboxing' with a problem, you are implying that he is only pretending to be dealing with it.
He is, in your opinion, evading the issue.
*The Chief Minister, instead of dealing with the problem, is merely shadow boxing.
Is there a difference between ‘proper question' and ‘question proper'?
Yes, there is. When you say, ‘It was the proper question to ask', you mean it was the
appropriate or correct question to ask. When you say, ‘The question proper has not been
answered', you are implying that the question itself has not been answered.
***
“My face looks like a wedding cake left out in the rain.” — W.H. Auden
September 2010
•What is the meaning and origin of 'wild card' in tennis?

•What is the difference between 'scoot down' and 'scoot over'?
•How is the word 'lacunae' pronounced?
•Is it okay to say, 'The lawyers demanded the judge to take action against the police'?
•How is the word 'repertoire' pronounced?
•What is the origin of 'whistleblower'?
•Is it true that the word 'curds' doesn't exist in native varieties of English?
•What is the difference between 'give up' and 'give in'?
•What is the meaning of 'be on the horns of a dilemma'?
•What is the difference between 'worrisome' and 'worrying'?
•How is the word 'realtor' pronounced?
•What is the meaning of 'cul-de-sac'?
•Is it okay to say, 'I teach 18 hours in a week'?
•Know Your English
What is the meaning and origin of ‘wild card' in tennis?
During the recent U.S Open, several promising American players were given a wild card
so that they could participate in the tournament. A ‘wild card' is usually given to someone who
has failed to qualify for the event: the player's ranking is so low that he doesn't make the main
draw automatically. Tournament organisers usually give a wild card to an up-and-coming player
from their own country or to someone who has performed well in the past. In 2001, Goran
Ivanisevic was given a wild card by the Wimbledon authorities, and he went on to win the title.
He is the only wild card to have won a Grand Slam event.
The expression comes from the world of cards. A wild card is like a joker; you can assign
it any value that you want to. In other words, the person who has the wild card can use it to
represent any card that he wishes to. In the case of tennis, it is the tournament organizers who are
assigning the player a value – that he is good enough to be part of the main draw. The word can
also be spelt ‘wildcard'.
What is the difference between ‘scoot down' and ‘scoot over'?
Both expressions are used in informal contexts. When you ask someone to ‘scoot down'
to some place, you are telling him to go there quickly.
Why don't you scoot down to the supermarket and get a loaf of bread?
I'll scoot down to the library and pick up a couple of books.
When you ask someone who is sitting to ‘scoot over', you are requesting him to move
over so that you can sit down as well. This happens quite frequently when we are travelling by
train.
Sheba was too scared to ask Vikram to scoot over.
I'm sorry. I'm not going to scoot over. I need my space.
How is the word ‘lacunae' pronounced?
‘Lacunae' is the plural form of ‘lacuna'. The ‘a' in the first and third syllable of ‘lacuna'
sounds like the ‘a' in ‘china', while the ‘cu' in the second syllable is pronounced like the word
‘cue'. The word is pronounced ‘le-CUE-ne' with the stress on the second syllable. The final ‘nae'
in ‘lacunae' sounds like the word ‘knee': the plural form is pronounced ‘le-CUE-knee'. The word
comes from the Latin ‘lacuna' meaning ‘hole' or ‘pit'. In English, ‘lacuna' is mostly used in
formal contexts to mean ‘gap' or ‘deficiency'. When you say that there is a lacuna in a report, you
mean there is something missing.
The lawyer argued there was a lacuna in the witness' version of the events.
In most political parties, there is a lacuna of leadership at the top.
Is it okay to say, ‘The lawyers demanded the judge to take action against the
police'?
No, it isn't. One can ‘demand something', but one cannot ‘demand someone to do
something'. Careful users of the language would say, ‘The lawyers demanded that the judge take
action against the police'. Similarly, we can say, ‘The students demanded that the Vice
Chancellor postpone the exams', and not, ‘The students demanded the Vice Chancellor to
postpone the exams'.
****
“Being a woman is a terribly difficult task since it consists principally in dealing with
men.” — Joseph Conrad
How is the word ‘repertoire' pronounced?
The ‘e' in the first syllable is like the ‘e' in ‘net', ‘met', and ‘let', while the second ‘e'
sounds like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The ‘o' is pronounced like the ‘w' in ‘when', ‘why' and ‘what', and
the final ‘ire' like the ‘a' in ‘bath', ‘father', and ‘path'. The word is pronounced ‘RE-pe-twaa' with
the stress on the first syllable. This is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word. ‘Repertoire'
comes from the Latin ‘repertorium' meaning ‘inventory'.
The word was originally used to refer to the list of plays, songs or dances that an artist or
a group was capable of performing. Nowadays, the word is being used to refer to the skills that
an individual has which enables him to perform different tasks.
*Surabhi's repertoire is limited when it comes to cooking.
What is the origin of ‘whistleblower'?
A whistle-blower is someone who informs his superiors of the illegal activities that are
going on in an organisation. This informant, by exposing the wrongdoing, hopes to put an end to
it. If the powers-that-be do not take action, then the whistleblower may choose to take matters
into his owns hands and inform the media.
Jeffrey Wigan is the whistle-blower who let the world know how tobacco companies
manipulated the use of nicotine in their cigarettes.
*There is a need to protect whistle-blowers in our country.
The expression comes from the practice adopted by ‘Bobbies', English policeman. In the
old days, every policeman carried a whistle with him, and he would blow on it whenever he saw
a crime taking place.
This was to alert the other Bobbies who were in the vicinity.
Is it true that the word ‘curds' doesn't exist in native varieties of English?
No, it is not true. Do you remember the nursery rhyme ‘Little Miss Muffet'? According to
the rhyme, this little girl was sitting on a tuffet and eating her ‘curds and whey'. A tuffet, by the
way, is a small stool, and dictionaries define ‘whey' as the “watery part of milk that remains after
the formation of curds.” Although it exists, native speakers prefer to use the word ‘yoghurt'
instead of ‘curds'.
What is the difference between ‘give up' and ‘give in'?
People usually ‘give in' to someone or something. If you are having an argument with a
friend, and you ‘give in', it means you concede. In other words, you ‘cave in'. You accept your
friend's point of view, though you really don't want to. When a person ‘gives in', he usually does
so reluctantly.
*When Ganguly saw Namratha crying, he gave in.
*The CEO refused to give in to the demands of the workers.
In some contexts, the phrase has the same meaning as ‘hand in'.
*You must give in your assignment by Monday.
When you ‘give up' doing something, you quit or stop doing it; especially something that
you have been doing regularly. In this case, the quitting may be voluntary or forced.
*If I wish to complete the project on time, I have to give up tennis.
*My doctor has told me to give up smoking.
***
“I'm not a real movie star. I've still got the same wife I started out with twenty-eight years
ago.” — Will Rogers
What is the meaning of ‘be on the horns of a dilemma'?
The expression has more or less the same meaning as ‘between the devil and the deep
blue sea'. When you are on the horns of a dilemma, you have to choose between two rather
unpleasant options; no matter what you choose, you end up losing.
*If I sell the shares now, I won't make a profit. If I don't sell them, I won't be able to
repay the loan. I'm on the horns of a dilemma.
The word ‘dilemma' comes from the Greek ‘dilemma' meaning ‘double proposition', and
the expression ‘horns of a dilemma' comes from the world of rhetoric. In a debate, when you
present your opponent a ‘dilemma', you provide him with two choices. It does not matter which
option he chooses to respond to because either way he will lose the argument; he is in a no-win
situation. You are asking your opponent to choose between two horns of a bull, and whichever
one he chooses, he is going to be gored.
What is the difference between ‘worrisome' and ‘worrying'?
In terms of meaning, there is no difference. Americans seem to prefer ‘worrisome' in

formal contexts. In British English, ‘worrying' is the preferred form; ‘worrisome' is seldom used
by the English because it is considered to be rather old fashioned.
*The Minister said that the increase in petty crime was worrisome indeed.
How is the word ‘realtor' pronounced?
The ‘e' is like the ‘ee' in ‘fees', ‘bees', and ‘knees', and the ‘a' and ‘o' that follow like the
‘a' in ‘china'. The word is pronounced ‘REE-el-te' with the stress on the first syllable. In
American English, ‘realty' is synonymous with ‘real estate'. A ‘realtor', therefore is someone who
deals in real estate; unlike the ‘real estate agent' in India, he is a professional who is licensed to
sell real estate.
What is the meaning of ‘cul-de-sac'?

First, let us deal with the pronunciation of the word. The first word rhymes with ‘dull',
‘null', and ‘gull'. The ‘e' in ‘de' sounds like the ‘i' in ‘sick', ‘pick', and ‘chick', while the ‘sac' is
pronounced like the word ‘sack'. The word is pronounced ‘KUL-di-sack' with the stress on ‘cul'.
‘Cul' comes from the Latin ‘culus' meaning ‘bottom'; the expression literally means ‘bottom of
the sack'. A ‘cul-de-sac' is a dead-end street.
*The young couple moved into a house on a quiet cul-de-sac.
In everyday contexts, the word is used to refer to any situation where progress is no
longer possible; you have reached a stalemate or an impasse.
*The two parties have backed themselves into a cul-de-sac.
Is it okay to say, ‘I teach 18 hours in a week'?
When a doctor writes out a prescription for us, what are his usual instructions? Does he
say, ‘Take these tablets three times a day' or ‘Take these tablets three times in a day'? It is
usually the former. With expressions of frequency and duration, we generally don't use ‘in'. One
teaches 18 hours a week, and not ‘18 hours in a week'.
*Ganesh calls his mother five times a day.
******
“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it.” — Moses
Hadas
Know Your English
“What a terrific downpour we had last night. It was quite amazing, wasn't it?”
“It certainly was. The wind knocked down a couple of trees, and we didn't have power all
night.”
“Really? We were very lucky, then. We didn't have power for half an hour.”
“But that must have been enough to send your sister into a postmodem depression.”
“Postmodem depression! What kind of depression is that?”
“The kind of depression that some people go into when they realise they are unable to
access the internet.”
“My cousin Mohan went into a postmodem depression when he was visiting us. He
wanted to update his Facebook account, and he just couldn't log in. He was so depressed, he
didn't talk to us for a couple of hours.”
“When my colleague went to the village to see his parents, he went into a postmodem
depression.”
“Mohan cheered up only after he got a message on his cell phone from his friend.”
“It must have given him textual satisfaction.”
“Textual satisfaction? What are you talking about?”
“What is it that most people do nowadays when they come out of a meeting or class?”
“I can tell you what I do. Usually, I take out my cell phone and check if I have any
messages or missed calls.”
“And when you find that you do, how do you feel?
“I feel absolutely thrilled. I'm happy to know that someone was thinking of me while I
was in class.”
“That's what textual satisfaction is. It's the satisfaction you get when you realise that you
have a missed call or a new message.”
“How about this example? I had textual satisfaction on my birthday. My friends were
sending me messages all day long.”
“Textual satisfaction is something that people of my generation don't understand, I'm
afraid. Did you get many presents on your birthday?”
“I certainly did. Some of the gifts were extremely difficult to open. It drove me crazy.”
“The anger that you sometimes feel trying to unwrap something is called ‘wrap rage'.”
“I see. That's a nice term. The video game that my parents had bought was so tightly
packed that it took me nearly twenty minutes to open it. That was the first time I ever
experienced wrap rage.”
“I understand wrap rage is quite common in the U.S. and Britain during Christmas.”
“That's not at all surprising. I'm sure...”
“Whenever I buy something for my grandparents, I always repack it so that it's easy to
open. I certainly don't want them to experience wrap rage.”
“I wish some of my friends had done the same. By the way, did you send me a gift?”
“Wishful thinking. But I did call, remember?”
“That's right! But it's cheaper to send a message.”
“True, but it takes me too long. I'm textually challenged.”
“Textually challenged? Does it mean you find it difficult to text?”
“Yes, it does. Someone who is textually challenged finds it difficult to send messages on
his cell. He makes the receiver wait because it takes him a long time to type out a simple
message.”
“I guess that's the reason my grandfather never responds to my messages. He's textually
challenged.”
“That may be true.”
***
“In examinations, those who do not wish to know ask questions of those who cannot
tell.” — Walter Raleigh
August 2010
•What is the meaning and origin of 'shot your bolt'?

•How is the word 'acquiesce' pronounced?
•What is the meaning of the word 'gelotology'?
•What is the difference between 'fable' and 'parable'?
•How is the word 'entourage' pronounced?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'lived up to its billing'?
•What is the meaning of 'vegan'?
•Is it okay to say, 'He's been working in this office from March 2008'?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'plumb the depths'?
•How is the word 'fiancée' pronounced?
•What is the meaning of 'shenanigans'?
•What is the difference between 'familiar with' and 'familiar to'?
What is the meaning and origin of ‘shot your bolt'?
When you say you have shot your bolt, you mean you have used up all your energy trying
to perform a task. Although you have done everything you can to complete the task, you have
been unable to as you have exhausted all your energy/resources. You haven't finished what you
started.
*I have shot my bolt. I'm afraid I'm unable to come up with any more ideas.
The ‘bolt' in the expression refers to the short, heavy arrow used in a crossbow. I
understand that once an archer had shot his ‘bolt', he was virtually defenceless because reloading
his crossbow was a time-consuming process. The bolt was shot only when the archer was certain
of hitting his target. Shakespeare was referring to the arrow when he used the expression in
Henry V: “A fool's bolt is soon shot.”
How is the word ‘acquiesce' pronounced?
The ‘a' sounds like the ‘a' in ‘ant', ‘apple', and ‘sat', and the ‘qui' is pronounced like the
‘qui' in ‘quit', ‘quiz', and ‘quick'. The ‘e' is like the ‘e' in ‘set', ‘pet' and ‘bet', while the final ‘sce'
sounds like the ‘s' in ‘sip', ‘sin' and ‘sit'. The word is pronounced ‘a-kwi-ES' with the stress on
the final syllable. Acquiesce is mostly used in formal contexts to mean to reluctantly accept or
agree to something. The word comes from the Latin ‘acquiescere' meaning ‘to become quiet'.
One usually acquiesces ‘in' or ‘to' something.
*When the plan failed, the officers acquiesced in the cover-up.
What is the meaning of the word ‘gelotology'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of this word. The first syllable rhymes with the
words ‘tell', ‘bell', and ‘sell', while the following ‘o' is like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The word is
pronounced ‘je-le-TO-le-ji' with the stress on the third syllable. It comes from the Greek ‘gelos'
meaning ‘laughter'. Gelotology studies the effects of laughter on the human body. I wonder how
‘gelotologists' react when someone tells them that their research is a laughing matter!
What is the difference between ‘fable' and ‘parable'?
Both are used to refer to short tales told to illustrate or teach a moral principle: the stories
are told not necessarily to entertain the audience, but to teach them a lesson. The word ‘fable'
comes from the Latin ‘fabula' meaning ‘to speak, say'. The main characters in a fable usually
consist of animals behaving like human beings. Every story of Aesop's, for example, has a moral,
and sometimes it is stated explicitly at the end. ‘Slow and steady wins the race' is the lesson that
the story of the hare and tortoise teaches us. In the case of a ‘parable', the characters who appear
in the story are all human beings facing some sort of moral dilemma.
The word comes from the Greek ‘parabole' meaning ‘comparison'. The reader/listener is
meant to compare the characters in the story with those in real life, and is often asked to figure
out the moral for himself. Religious texts frequently make use of parables.
******
“I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body. Then I realized
who was telling me this.” — Emo Phillips
How is the word ‘entourage' pronounced?

The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘on', and the second like the word ‘to'. The
‘a' sounds like the ‘a' in ‘father', ‘path', and ‘bath', and the final ‘ge' like the ‘s' in ‘measure',
‘pleasure' and ‘treasure'. The word is pronounced ‘ON-tu-raazh' with the stress on the first
syllable. This is one way of pronouncing the word. Whenever an important person goes
somewhere, he always has several people accompanying him. For example, when the Prime
Minister visits another country, he is usually accompanied by a few ministers from his Cabinet,
and by the members of his own family. These people who go along with the Prime Minister are
part of his entourage.
The film star and the members of her entourage walked in two hours late.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘lived up to its billing'?
In the old days, promoters used posters and leaflets to let the public know that a new play
was going to be staged soon. These various forms of advertisements were called ‘bills'. When a
well-known actor played the leading role, his name was written rather prominently; sometimes, it
appeared at the top of the poster or leaflet. It is from this practice that we get the expression ‘top
billing'. When you say that a movie lived up to its billing, you mean it lived up to your
expectations. In other words, the show was as good as the ‘bill' (advertisement) claimed it would
be.
I saw the film yesterday. Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to its billing.
What is the meaning of ‘vegan'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of this word. The ‘e' is like the ‘ee' in ‘fees', ‘bees'
and ‘sees', and the following ‘a' is like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The word is pronounced ‘VEE-gen' with
the stress on the first syllable.
Donald Watson, the founder of the Vegan Society, coined this word in 1944. Like a
vegetarian, a vegan lives on a diet that excludes meat. But this individual is a lot more particular
than a vegetarian; unlike a vegetarian, a vegan avoids all animal products. He doesn't eat eggs,
butter or cheese and doesn't drink milk or honey. He is also rather fussy about his wardrobe; he
avoids leather, wool and fur.
Is it okay to say, ‘He's been working in this office from March 2008'?
No, it isn't. The word that you have in mind is ‘since' and not ‘from'. When you say that
someone has been working in an office ‘since March 2008', you mean that the individual started
working in March 2008 and still continues to work there. He has been working in that particular
place for over two years now. In such sentences, the word ‘since' usually answers the question,
‘when'. ‘For', on the other hand, answers the question ‘how long'.
I've been in Hyderabad since March. (When did I come to Hyderabad?)
I've been in Hyderabad for five months. (How long have I been in Hyderabad?)
It is however possible to use ‘from' when you referring to the future. For example, you
can say, ‘Nandini says that she will start teaching from September.'
***
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those
who matter, don't mind.” — Dr. Seuss
What is the meaning and origin of ‘plumb the depths'?
The idiom has several different meanings; we'll deal with just two of them here. When
you ‘plumb the depths of something', you get to the bottom of it. As a result, you have a
thorough or complete understanding of things which other people may find difficult to
comprehend.
*Some people are interested in plumbing the depths of the human mind.
The expression is also used to refer to the sad experiences that one undergoes in life.
*When his dog died, Chethan plumbed into the depths of despair.
The idiom comes from the world of sailing. In the old days, when a captain wished to
know how deep the water was, he ordered a crew member to drop the ‘plumb line' overboard.
This ‘line' was actually a rope to which a ball of lead had been attached. The Latin word for lead
is ‘plumbum', hence the expression ‘plumb the depths'.
How is the word ‘fiancée' pronounced?

The ‘i' in the first syllable sounds like the ‘i' in ‘fit', ‘bit', and ‘sit', and the following ‘a' is
like the ‘a' in ‘father', ‘bath', and ‘park'. The final syllable is pronounced like the word ‘say'. The
word is pronounced ‘fi-AAN-say' with the stress on the second syllable. The Americans, on the
other hand, pronounce the ‘i' like the ‘ee' in ‘fees', ‘bees' and ‘sees'. They pronounce the word
‘fee-aan-SAY' with the stress on the third syllable. ‘Fiancée' refers to the woman a man is
engaged to, while ‘fiancé' (spelt with a single ‘e') refers to the man a woman is engaged to.
What is the meaning of ‘shenanigans'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of this word of Irish origin. The ‘e' in the first
syllable is like the ‘i' in ‘sit', ‘bit', and ‘knit'. The next two syllables are pronounced like the word
‘nanny', and the following ‘a' like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The final ‘s' is like the ‘z' in ‘zip' and ‘zoo'.
The word is pronounced ‘shi-NA-ny-genz' with the stress on the second syllable.
The word is mostly used in informal contexts to refer to the dishonest practices or
immoral behaviour of an individual.
*All news channels have focussed on the shenanigans of Kalmadi and his associates.
According to one theory, the word comes from the Irish saying “Shee nanna gasne”
meaning “the Shee are rattling the dishes”. The Irish believed that ‘Shee' were spirits, which took
great delight in moving furniture around in a house!
What is the difference between ‘familiar with' and ‘familiar to'?
When you say that you are familiar with a subject, you are implying that you know about
it; you have, in fact, a good knowledge of it. When you become ‘familiar with someone', you
behave in a rather informal way with an individual: you become more friendly than is acceptable,
and in the process you do not give the respect that the person deserves.
*Use simple language. The audience may not be familiar with our jargon.
*The students are too familiar with the Vice Chancellor.
Just as people are familiar with things, things are familiar ‘to' people, in other words,
‘recognizable'.
*Does the smell seem familiar to you?
******
“A man wonders what the future holds in store, a woman wonders what the stores hold in
future.”— Carol Rumsey
Know Your English
“Looks like your favourite cricketer has scored another double century.”
“Yes. Sachin has been in fantastic form of late.”
“He certainly has. That was a mean little innings he played in...”
“Mean? How can you accuse Sachin of being mean? He's ...”
“I didn't say Sachin was mean. I said his innings was mean. By that, I mean, ‘excellent' or
‘skilful'.”
“Really? So, can I say, Sachin plays a mean game of cricket?”
“You certainly can. By the way, such use of the word ‘mean' is considered slang. My
friend Badal is a mean bridge player.”
“I think I understand now. So tell me, how is your new boss? Is he mean?”
“It's a she. Most people think she's pretty laid-back.”
“Laid-back? Are you saying she's lazy?”
“No, no. That's not what laid-back means. When you say that someone is laid-back, you
mean that the person is calm and relaxed.”
“In other words, he never gets flustered.”
“Right! He may have problems, but he doesn't show it. Whenever you see this person,
you get the impression he doesn't have a care in the world.”
“I see. How about this example? I like to spend time with my cousin Indu. She's pretty
laid-back.”
“My cousin Gopal is anything but laid-back.”
“I know. He worries about everything, and he gets others around him worried too.”
“Most people in my office are like Gopal. So it's nice to have a boss who is laid-back.”
“But do you think she will be able to handle the pressure of...?”
“I don't see why not. Just because someone is laid-back doesn't mean she can't handle
pressure. She could be one tough cookie.”
“That' true.”
“And you know what they say. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going? What does it mean?”
“The first 'going' refers to the situation or circumstances. When the circumstances
become tough or difficult..”
“The people who are tough or brave get going.”
“Exactly!”
“But where do these tough people go?”
“They don't go anywhere. It means they work harder to solve the problem. They swing
into action.”
“In other words, people who are tough will never give up. No matter how difficult the
situation, they will face it bravely.”
“That's right. Whenever our team is in trouble, everyone turns to Tendulkar and Dravid.
And these two usually come through. You know what they say...”
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Any idea who came up with the
saying?”
“Many people believe it was Joseph Kennedy, the father of President John F Kennedy,
who came up with it.”
“That's interesting. Did you manage to meet your friend Ram?”
“I tried to. I went to his house, actually. I saw that terrible bore Chandu talking to him. So
I decided to leg it.”
“Leg it? Does it mean to run away from something?”
“It could be someone or something. When the robbers saw the policemen, they decided to
leg it.”
“Most students leg it when they see the Principal coming.”
***
“Forget love….I'd rather fall in chocolate.” — Unknown
July 2010
•What is the meaning and origin of 'the boot is on the other foot'?
•How is the word 'hubris' pronounced?
•What is the meaning of 'pelf'?
•What is the difference between 'interpreter' and 'translator'?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'the bum's rush'?
•What is the difference between 'stagger' and 'totter'?
•How is the word 'suave' pronounced?
•What is the difference between 'up to' and 'until'?
•How is the word 'baton' pronounced?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'keep tabs on someone'?
•What is the meaning of 'dead letter'?
•What is the difference between 'disguise' and 'guise'?
•Know your english
What is the meaning and origin of ‘the boot is on the other foot'?
This is an expression which is used in everyday contexts to mean the situation is the
opposite of what it was earlier; the tables have turned. It is also possible to replace ‘boot' with
‘shoe'.
When I joined the company five years ago, Jai was my boss. Since my recent promotion,
the boot is on the other foot.
Nowadays, even a little child can easily identify which shoe he should wear on his left
foot, and which on his right. The shoe for each foot has been designed differently. Before the 18
+t +h century, however, the idea of having a shoe specially designed for a specific foot did not
exist. A shoe was designed to fit either foot. You could wear a shoe either on your left or right
foot. The shoe you wore on your left yesterday could be on your right foot today. As you can
imagine, it wasn't very comfortable walking in such shoes.
How is the word ‘hubris' pronounced?
The ‘hu' sounds like the ‘hu' in ‘huge', ‘human', and ‘humour, and the ‘i' that follows is
like the ‘i' in ‘hit', ‘pit' and ‘bit'. The word is pronounced ‘HYUU-bris' with the stress on the first
syllable. It comes from the Greek ‘hybris' meaning ‘outrage, insolence'. Nowadays, the word is
mostly used in formal contexts to mean ‘arrogance or pride'; it is always used to show
disapproval. In Greek literature and mythology, very often it was hubris, the excessive pride or
arrogance that ultimately led to a character's downfall.
The Minister's monumental hubris resulted in the party workers rebelling.
What is the meaning of ‘pelf'?
The word rhymes with ‘self' and ‘shelf', and it is mostly used in informal contexts to
mean ‘money or wealth'. It comes from the Old French ‘pilfre' meaning ‘booty or spoils'; it is
from this word that we get ‘pilfer'. In English, ‘pelf' means wealth gained by dishonest means:
the kind of money that politicians make in our country. Needless to say, the word is mostly used
to show disapproval.
As expected, the young politician wanted to keep the pelf for himself.
What is the difference between ‘interpreter' and ‘translator'?

Many people tend to use the words interchangeably. Both a translator and an interpreter
have command of two or more languages. According to most dictionaries, an interpreter is
someone who deals with the spoken word. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee gave a speech in Hindi at
the UN General Assembly in 1977, interpreters speaking in different languages (French, English,
Spanish, etc) let the audience know what our then Minister of External Affairs was saying.
This sort of interpretation where the speaker and the interpreter talk at the same time is
called ‘simultaneous interpretation'.
We also have ‘consecutive interpretation'. In this case, the speaker talks for a few minutes
and stops, giving the interpreter time to inform the audience what the speaker has just said.
Unlike the interpreter, the translator mostly deals with the written word; he rewrites documents
from one language to another.
***
“The only way to stop smoking is to just stop – no ifs, ands or butts.”
— Edith Zittler
What is the meaning and origin of ‘the bum's rush'?
When you ‘give someone the bum's rush', you get rid of the person as quickly as possible;
often using force. You make it clear to the individual that he is not wanted. In most cases, you
grab hold of the person and throw him out. It is also possible to say, ‘get the bum's rush'; the
expression is American in origin.
*I think Sangeeta and Sajida are up to something. I got the bum's rush when I walked into
their apartment.
*When the well-known artist walked into the club wearing slippers, he was given the
bum's rush by the two security guards.
The ‘bum' in the expression has nothing to do with one's backside. In American English,
this word is also used to refer to a homeless person who makes his living by begging. When such
a person enters a shop or a hotel, what is it that the owners do? They promptly catch hold of the
individual, and rush him out the door. Hence the expression, ‘the bum's rush'.
What is the difference between ‘stagger' and ‘totter'?
Both words mean ‘to walk unsteadily'. Most people use the two words interchangeably,
but careful users of the language maintain a distinction between the two. When you stagger, you
walk with difficulty, and in the process may end up losing your balance. You manage to recover
and do not actually end up falling. Someone who is extremely sleepy or who has had too much to
drink may stagger. The use of the word ‘totter' suggests that the individual is likely to fall down
soon: the fall is imminent. In this case, the person is walking in an unsteady manner because he
is either very old or very weak. Both ‘totter' and ‘stagger' can be used with things as well.
*The old man managed to totter back to the sofa.
*The young couple staggered into the hospital looking dazed.
How is the word ‘suave' pronounced?
The ‘su' is like the ‘sw' in ‘swim', ‘swish' and ‘swan', while the following ‘a' sounds like
the ‘a' in ‘path', ‘bath', and ‘ask'. The final ‘e' is silent. This monosyllabic word is pronounced
‘SWAAV' and it comes from the Latin ‘suavis', meaning ‘agreeable'. In English, the word is
mostly used to refer to men who are charming and sophisticated.
*The seasoned actor, as expected, gave his usual suave performance.
The word is frequently used to show disapproval: it carries with it the suggestion that the
charm and the politeness of the individual are merely an act; the individual is not at all being
sincere.
What is the difference between ‘up to' and ‘until'?
‘Until' and ‘till' are usually used with time. In terms of meaning, there is no difference:
‘until' is considered to be the more formal than ‘till'.
*There are no tickets available until/till September.
‘Up to', on the other hand, is used to refer to distance, and not time.
*The students walked up to the gate and started throwing stones.
The word can also be used to talk about quantity.
*You can earn up to Rs.10, 000 sitting at home.
******
“Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian.” —
Robert Orben
How is the word ‘baton' pronounced?

If you are thinking of the stick that is passed from one runner to another in a race, there
are two different ways of pronouncing the word. The British pronounce the first syllable like the
word ‘bat' and the second like the word ‘on'. They pronounce the word ‘BAT-on' with the stress
on the first syllable.
The Americans, on the other hand, pronounce the ‘a' like the ‘a' in ‘china' and the ‘o' like
the ‘a' in ‘father', ‘path', and ‘bath'. They pronounce the word ‘be-TAAN' with the stress on the
second syllable.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘keep tabs on someone'?
When you keep tabs on someone, you monitor or keep track of what he is doing. You are
constantly watching the individual, and as a result you know what he is up to. It is possible to use
the expression with things as well.
*I keep telling my wife she needs to keep tabs on our bank balance.
*Raju feels that his wife is keeping tabs on his every move.
As for its origin, the only thing that people are certain about is that the expression was
first used in America. According to some scholars, in the mid-19 +t +h century, bartenders
started using a slate to write down the number of drinks each customer had consumed. Another
name for the slate was ‘tablet', and it is from the shortened form of this word that we get ‘tab'.
Since the bartender had to watch each customer carefully to keep track of the number of drinks
he had consumed, the expression ‘keep tabs on' began to mean ‘to monitor'.
What is the meaning of ‘dead letter'?
In the old days, when snail mail was the primary means of staying in touch with
someone, it was important to write the address of the recipient correctly. Sometimes, the writer
of the letter didn't do this. When the address was incorrect, it became more or less impossible to
deliver the letter.
A letter that remained unclaimed or undelivered was called ‘dead letter'. And where were
such letters stored? In the ‘Dead Letter Office', of course! People who use email are probably
familiar with the term ‘dead letter directory'.
What is the difference between ‘disguise' and ‘guise'?
A celebrity often wears a disguise when he wishes to go unnoticed. In order to make sure
that nobody recognises him, he makes a conscious attempt to alter his looks. He may decide to
sport a wig, wear the kind of clothes that he normally doesn't, etc. By changing his appearance,
he is pretending to be someone that he is not. People usually wear a disguise in order to fool or
trick others.
*In many of our old movies, the King always used to disguise himself as a beggar.
The word ‘guise' has a negative connotation as well: it suggests that the individual is
pretending to be something that he is not. In this case, he doesn't necessarily alter his appearance;
he changes his manner or behaviour. He puts on a front.
*She got him to tell her all his secrets under the guise of friendship.
***
“It is even harder for the average ape to believe that he has descended from man.” —
H.L. Mencken
Know your english
“What is the meaning of New York minute?”

“An extremely short period of time. It's actually less than a minute. It took the students
less than a New York minute to find a solution to the problem.”
“The new CEO arrived at a decision in a New York minute.”
“Tell me what you want. I'll give you a New York minute.”
“But why New York and not some other city?”
“When people from other cities came to New York in the late 19 +t +h century, they
found that life in this city was extremely fast. New Yorkers seemed to be constantly rushing
from one place to another without having any time to relax.”
“It's the same feeling that some of us have today when we visit Mumbai. Anyway, did
you take a look at the document I gave you? Are the instructions clear?”
“The instructions are clear as mud.”
“Clear as mud? But mud isn't very clear.”
“It isn't, and that's the point. When you say something is clear as mud, you mean it isn't
clear at all.”
“So what you are saying is that the instructions are difficult or impossible to understand.”
“Exactly! The directions that Sujatha gave to reach her house were clear as mud.”
“I've read his chapter twice, and it's as clear as mud to me.”
“Alok's presentation was clear as mud.”
“Talking about mud, there is some good news! The weatherman says we'll have a heavy
downpour tomorrow.”
“If the weatherman says that, it'll probably rain kittens and puppies.”
“Kittens and puppies? You mean cats and dogs, don't you?”
“When you say it's raining cats and dogs, you mean that it is pouring or raining heavily.
When the rain is light, it is possible to say...”
“You can say that it's raining kittens and puppies.”
“That's right! Now then...”
“Does the expression really exist or are you trying to fool me?”
“The expression does exist.”
“I see. How about this example, then? Forget the umbrella, it's just raining kittens and
puppies.”
“That's a good example. To solve the water problem, we need it to rain cats and dogs.
Not kittens and puppies.”
“That's true. By the way, why are you home so early? Not well or something?”
“I'm fine. I've taken a couple of days off.”
“You've taken a couple of days off! That's rather unusual. What do you plan on doing?”
“I'll probably be kicking it at home.”
“Kicking it? Looks like the World Cup fever has got to you too. You'll be kicking the ball
around...”
“No, no, no! When you say you'll be kicking it, you mean you'll be relaxing.”
“In other words, you'll be chilling at home.”
“I guess you could say that. For example, after a hectic two weeks, the champion kicked
it on the beach with his family.”
“My friends and I are kicking it at the mall tomorrow. Would you like to join us?”
“You must be joking. Arvind's new job doesn't allow him to kick it in the mornings.”
“That's too bad.”
“Yes, it certainly is.”
***
“I just need enough to tide me over until I need more.” — Bill Hoest
June 2010
•How is the word 'chauffeur' pronounced?

•What is the difference between 'demise' and 'death'?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'windfall'?
•Is it okay to say, 'bouquet of flowers'?
•What is the meaning and origin of `turncoat'?
•What is the difference between `nervous' and èdgy'?
•Is it okay to say, `She was terminated by her publisher'?
•How is the word àuteur' pronounced?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'wing it'?
•What is the difference between 'momentary' and 'momentous'?
•How is the word 'quixotic' pronounced?
•Is it okay to say, 'His condition got deteriorated on Saturday'?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'clean bill of health'?
•Who or what is a 'fax potato'?
•Why is the abbreviated form of 'will not' 'won't' and not 'willn't'?
•Is it okay to say, 'I described him what I had seen'?
•Do you 'part from' or 'part with' someone?
•How is the word 'trenchant' pronounced?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'lick and a promise'?
•What is the meaning of 'annus horribilus'?
•What is the difference between 'fragile' and 'frail'?
How is the word ‘chauffeur' pronounced?
There seem to be different ways of pronouncing this word of French origin. One simple
way is to pronounce the first syllable ‘chau' like the word ‘show', and the ‘er' in the second like
the ‘a' in ‘china'. The British pronounce the word ‘SHOW-fe' with the stress on the first syllable.
A ‘chauffeur' is someone who drives a car for rich people. When used as a verb, the word means
to drive someone around.
*The Ambanis went to the airport in a chauffeur-driven limousine.
*The mother spent the afternoon chauffeuring her son from one mall to another.
The word ‘chauffeur', which in French means ‘stoker', was in use long before
automobiles came into being. A stoker was someone who worked in the engine room of a ship,
and his job was to shovel coal into the boiler. The first automobiles did not run on petrol, but on
steam. The engine had a firebox and a boiler, and one of the functions of the driver was to keep
the fire in the engine going.
What is the difference between ‘demise' and ‘death'?
While both words mean ‘end or ending of life', demise is mostly used in formal contexts
to refer to the death of someone or something very important or well known. One usually talks
about the demise of a Prime Minister or a celebrity; the word is seldom used with ordinary
people.
*The sudden demise of the Prime Minister created a political vacuum.
The word can also be used to indicate the failure of an enterprise.
*The demise of the well-known company had many investors worried.
‘Death' is a much more general term, and unlike ‘demise', can be used with things and
animals.
*Neelam became very upset when she heard about the death of her puppy.
*It was the death of all her plans.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘windfall'?
The amount of money that you win or receive from someone rather unexpectedly is
called ‘windfall'. It's a sudden stroke of luck.
*When Gayathri visited her uncle after her marriage, she got a windfall of Rs. 75000.
Fruit that falls down from a tree because of heavy wind is also called windfall. In this
context, we can also say ‘windfalls'.
*Sameer's garden was covered with windfalls.
In the old days in England, landowners were not allowed to cut down trees which were
on their property. The law stipulated that all trees were the property of the Royal Navy, and the
wood was to be used in the building of ships. If however, heavy wind made a tree fall, the
‘windfall' became the owner's property. Since in the old days such ‘windfall' was not common,
the word began to mean unexpected good fortune.
Is it okay to say, ‘bouquet of flowers'?
Some people would argue that ‘of flowers' is unnecessary because bouquet means an
attractive arrangement of flowers. But there is nothing wrong in saying ‘bouquet of flowers'. The
‘ou' in the first syllable, by the way, is like the ‘oo' in ‘fool', ‘cool', and ‘school'. The following
‘q' is like the ‘k' in ‘king' and ‘kiss', and the final ‘uet' rhymes with ‘say' and ‘bay'. The word is
pronounced ‘boo-KAY' with the stress on the second syllable.
******
“I read a part of it all the way through.” — Sam Goldwyn
What is the meaning and origin of `turncoat'?
In India, when a politician is denied a `ticket' to contest in an election, he usually quits

the party, and joins another. People who switch allegiances or change their opinion radically
whenever they find it convenient to do so are called `turncoats'. The word is mostly used to show
disapproval.
*Why would you want that political turncoat to preside? In the old days in Europe,
people used to wear reversible coats. When one side of the coat became dirty, the owner turned
the coat inside out and wore it. According to one story, it was the Duke of Saxony who made the
word `turncoat' popular. This individual lived very close to the French border, and therefore
made it a point to keep both the Saxons and the French in good humour. The Duke's reversible
coat was blue on one side, and white on the other. Traditionally, blue was the colour of the
Saxons. Whenever a Frenchman visited his place, the Duke was seen wearing a white coat.
When he wanted to please the Saxons, the Duke turned the coat inside out, and wore the blue
side
What is the difference between `nervous' and èdgy'?
A person who is nervous or edgy is tense or worried about something. Of the two,
`nervous' is the more general term. Someone who is nervous need not necessarily show that he is
worried about something. He may be outwardly very calm, but on the inside, he may be
extremely agitated. A person who is èdgy' shows he is worried; the tension is there for all to see.
He is anxious and is therefore very irritable. Small things set him off; he may argue or fight with
those around him.
*Gayathri said she was nervous, but she certainly didn't look it during the presentation.
*The soldiers were edgy as they waited for their orders from the Captain.
Is it okay to say, `She was terminated by her publisher'?
In terms of grammar, there is nothing wrong with the sentence. It suggests that this
person was killed by her publisher! Of course, given the times we are living in, authors getting
bumped off by their publisher wouldn't be considered unusual. If you want to say that the
publisher didn't kill, but merely fired the individual, then the sentence should be written in the
following manner: `Her services were terminated by her publisher.' Not all publishers are like
Arnold Schwarzenegger; they are not `Terminator(s)'.
How is the word àuteur' pronounced?
The àu' in the first syllable sounds like the ò' in `go', `so', and `no', while the èur' in the
final syllable is like the ìr' in `birth', `bird', and `first'. The word is pronounced o-TIR with the
stress on the second syllable. In French, the word means àuthor'; nowadays it is mostly used in
relation tofilms. We know that all wellknown directors have a distinctive style of making
movies. It is possible to watch a couple of scenes from a film and guess who the director is.
Dictionaries define this distinctive style which enables a director to keep creative control over his
work as àuteur'. This is just one of the meanings of the word.
******
"The Italians' technological contribution to humankind stopped with the pizza oven." -
Bill Bryson
What is the meaning and origin of ‘wing it'?
The expression is mostly used in informal contexts. When you get up on stage and ‘wing
it', you give an impromptu speech. You have had no time to prepare, and therefore end up
speaking extemporaneously. The expression has more or less the same meaning as ‘off the cuff'.
Shanthi left her notes in the taxi. In class, she had to wing it.
The expression comes from the world of theatre. The sides of a stage which cannot be
seen by the members of the audience are called ‘wings'. Actors often wait here before they make
their entry. Sometimes, actors go on stage without really knowing their lines. In such
circumstances, they depend on the prompters hiding in the wings to whisper the lines to them. If
they cannot hear the prompter, they make up their lines. They wing it!
What is the difference between ‘momentary' and ‘momentous'?
Something that is ‘momentary' lasts for a very short period of time. The word is
pronounced ‘MO-men-tri' with the stress on the first syllable.
There was a momentary pause before the child started screaming again.
The word can also be used to mean ‘constant' or ‘present at every moment'.
Revathi lived in momentary fear of being found out.
‘Momentous', on the other hand, means very important. When you make a momentous
decision, you make one which has serious consequences.
The signing of the treaty was a momentous occasion for both countries.
The word is pronounced ‘me-MEN-tes' with the stress on the second syllable.
How is the word ‘quixotic' pronounced?
There seem to be different ways of pronouncing this word. One way is to pronounce the
first syllable like the word ‘quick', and the final syllable like the word ‘tick'. The ‘o' is
pronounced like the ‘o' in ‘pot', ‘got', and ‘hot'. The word is pronounced ‘kwik-SO-tik' with the
stress on the second syllable. The word comes from the title of a satirical novel that Miguel de
Cervantes wrote: ‘Don Quixote'. The main character, Quixote, is a slightly eccentric individual
who decides to become a knight in shining armour and save the world. He has romantic notions
of performing chivalrous deeds. Unfortunately for the ageing hero, the goals he has set for
himself are so lofty that they are practically impossible to achieve. Every time he attempts to
perform a chivalrous deed, it ends in disaster. After several misadventures, the hero returns to his
village a dejected man. When you refer to someone's ideas or plans as being quixotic, you mean
they are not practical.
The members of the secret society lived by a quixotic code of honour.
Is it okay to say, ‘His condition got deteriorated on Saturday'?
Careful users of the language would avoid using ‘got' with ‘deteriorate'. If you are keen
on using the word ‘got', you can say, ‘His condition got worse on Saturday'.
The ageing star's condition suddenly deteriorated on Sunday.
***
“Balancing the budget is like going to heaven. Everybody wants to do it, but nobody
wants to do what you have to do to get there.” — Phil Gramm
What is the meaning and origin of ‘clean bill of health'?
When you visit the doctor and he gives you a clean bill of health, you should be happy
because it is an assurance that there is nothing wrong with you physically. The doctor is
informing you that you are in the pink of health! When used with things, the idiom means that
the object is in good condition.
*Of the 20 buildings inspected, only four were given a clean bill of health.
The ‘bill' in the idiom has nothing to do with the amount of money you have to pay the
doctor. Such bills seldom bring happiness! In the old days, the captain of a ship was handed over
a document by the port authority which certified that there was no infection or epidemic at the
port from which the vessel set sail. This document was called the Bill of Health and unless it was
presented at the next port, the ship was refused entry.
Who or what is a ‘fax potato'?
We have several different types of potatoes these days. A ‘couch potato' is someone who
sits in a chair or a sofa and watches TV all day; he eats and drinks sitting in front of the tube. A
‘mouse potato' is someone who spends his time sitting in front of a computer, surfing the web. A
‘fax potato', another addition to the growing list of human potatoes, is someone who specialises
in sending faxes to people: the receiver may be less than a hundred feet away, but instead of
getting out of his chair and talking to the person concerned, he sends him/her a fax. Like the
couch potato, the fax potato is rather lazy and remains glued to his seat.
Why is the abbreviated form of ‘will not' ‘won't' and not ‘willn't'?
There was a time when it was ‘willn't'. In Old English there were two forms of ‘will':
these were ‘will' and ‘wyll'. With the passage of time ‘wyll' became ‘woll'. When the negative
‘not' was added to the two existing forms, they became ‘willnot' and ‘wollnot'. The latter, over a
period of time, changed to ‘wonnot'. When ‘willnot' and ‘wonnot' were contracted, they became
‘willn't' and ‘wo'not'. Later, ‘wo'not' became ‘won't'. For some time, both ‘willn't' and ‘won't'
were used. It was only in the 18 +t +h century that ‘won't' became the preferred contracted form
of ‘will not'. In the battle of wills, ‘will' won the first round, while ‘woll' took the second. ‘Will'
muscled out ‘woll', while ‘won't' knocked out ‘willn't'.
Is it okay to say, ‘I described him what I had seen'?
No, it isn't. You usually describe something to someone or you describe to someone
something. In the sentence you have given, you need to include the word ‘to' before ‘him'.
*I described to him what I had seen.
Do you ‘part from' or ‘part with' someone?
It is possible to use both. When you ‘part from someone', you take leave of the
individual.
*I think the time has come for you to part from him.
When you ‘part with' someone or something, you let go of them.
*Ram's new landlord didn't allow pets. Since he wasn't willing to part with the dog, Ram
moved to another place.
******
“A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of explanation.” — Saki
How is the word ‘trenchant' pronounced?
The first syllable rhymes with the words ‘French', ‘drench', and ‘wrench'. The following
‘a' is like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The word is pronounced ‘TRENCH-ent' with the stress on the first
syllable. It comes from the Old French ‘trenchier' meaning ‘to cut'. When someone presents a
trenchant argument, he makes one which is forceful or vigorous. The word can also be used to
mean ‘caustic' or ‘critical'.
*The writer's trenchant argument for a unified state made interesting reading.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘lick and a promise'?
This is not an idiom which is heard frequently. When you give the task that you have
been assigned a lick and a promise, you don't do a good job of it. The work is done in a careless
and hurried manner; since the task does not really interest you, you do it half-heartedly.
*I was very tired, but my mother insisted that I clean my cupboard. I gave it a lick and a
promise and went to bed.
In informal contexts, the word ‘lick' means a hasty wash. Therefore, in the context of the
idiom, the word means ‘hasty'. The ‘promise' refers to the assurance that the worker(s) will do a
thorough job sometime later.
What is the meaning of ‘annus horribilus'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of this Latin expression. The first syllable of
‘annus' is pronounced like the name ‘Ann', while the second sounds like the word ‘us'. The ‘o' in
horribilus is like the ‘o' in ‘hot' and ‘got', while the following ‘i' is like the ‘ee' in ‘fees', ‘sees',
and ‘bees'. The ‘i' and the ‘u' in the final two syllables are like the ‘i' in ‘kit', ‘kid', and ‘sit'.
The expression is pronounced ANN-us ho-REE-bi-lis. It literally means ‘horrible year'.
*According to experts, 2009 was an annus horribilus for the corporate sector.
The opposite of this expression is ‘annus mirabilis' meaning ‘year of wonders'.
What is the difference between ‘fragile' and ‘frail'?
Both words come from the Latin ‘fragilis' meaning ‘easily broken'. The word ‘fragile' can
be used with both things and people. When you say that the contents of a box are fragile, it
means that the things inside are rather delicate and can be easily broken. The contents need to be
handled with care.
*Please don't let Madhav handle any of the fragile plates.
When used with people, the word means physically or emotionally weak.
*Don't make fun of her. She's very fragile.
The English pronounce the final ‘ile' like the ‘ile' in ‘mile', ‘while', and ‘pile'. The
Americans pronounce the ‘i' like the ‘a' in ‘china'. In both cases, the stress is on the first syllable.
‘Frail' is used with people, usually old, who are in poor health. When used with things, it
refers to objects which can be easily damaged.
*After two weeks in hospital, Janaki was too frail to climb the stairs.
*Given the frail economy, it is not surprising that people are not investing.
***
“Ramganga river is inhabited by crocodiles. Swimming is prohibited. Survivors will be
prosecuted.”— Signboard
May 2010
•What is the difference between a 'homophone' and a 'homonym'?

•How is the word 'thanatology' pronounced?
•What is the meaning of 'shank's pony'?
•What is the difference between 'stumble over' and 'stumble on'?
•KNOW Y0UR ENGLISH
•What is the meaning of 'the be-all and end-all'?
•Which is correct: whereabouts are/is?
•How is the word 'beleaguered' pronounced?
•What is the difference between 'utensil' and 'vessel'?
•What is the plural of 'stadium'
•Does the name 'Ferrari' mean anything?
What is the difference between a ‘homophone' and a ‘homonym'?
First, let's begin with the pronunciation of the two words. The ‘o' in the first syllable is
like the ‘o' in ‘hot', ‘got', and ‘pot', while the ‘o' in the second is like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The words
are pronounced ‘HO-me-fone' and ‘Ho-me-nim'; in both cases, the stress is on the first syllable.
Though there is a difference in meaning between the two words, people tend to use them
interchangeably. ‘Homophone' comes from the Greek ‘homo' meaning ‘same' and ‘phone'
meaning ‘sound'. Careful users of the language use the term to refer to words which sound alike,
but have a different spelling and meaning.
Examples of homophones are: bear, bare; fair, fare; and where, were. A homonym, on the
other hand, is used to refer to words which have the same spelling and pronunciation, but have a
different meaning. For example, ‘ball' (dance), ‘ball' (something to play with), ruler (scale), ruler
(king), and rock (music), rock (stone). This subtle distinction is seldom maintained in everyday
conversation; of the two, ‘homonym' seems to be the preferred term.
How is the word ‘thanatology' pronounced?
The ‘a' in the first syllable is like the ‘a' in ‘apple', ‘ant', and ‘cat', while the ‘a' in the
second sounds like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The final ‘ology' sounds like the ‘ology' in ‘biology',
‘zoology', and ‘psychology'. The word is pronounced ‘tha-ne-TO-le-ji' with the main stress on
the third syllable. The word comes from the Greek ‘thanatos' meaning ‘death'. Thanatology is the
scientific study of death.
What is the meaning of ‘shank's pony'?

This idiom which has been around since the 18 th century is of Scottish origin, and it has
nothing to do with horses. When you say that you are going somewhere on ‘shank's mare' or
‘shank's pony', you mean that you are going to walk the distance.
It is a tongue in cheek way of saying that you are reaching your destination on foot. The
part of a leg between the knee and the ankle is called the ‘shank'; therefore when you say
‘shank's pony' you are saying that your legs will do the work of a horse: take you from one place
to another. The expression is mostly used in British English.
There were no autos at the station. We had to use shank's pony to get here.
What is the difference between ‘stumble over' and ‘stumble on'?
When you stumble over something or someone, you trip over the object or person. You
lose your balance; you may or may not end up falling.
At the party, Harish stumbled over the chair and fell into the swimming pool.
There are several people sleeping in the drawing room. Don't stumble over any of them.
The expression ‘stumble on' can also be used to mean to trip over someone or something.
Gayathri stumbled on the step and hurt herself quite badly.
When we find something quite accidentally, we can say, we stumbled on/upon it. The
expression can be used with people as well.
The children were looking for the ball when they stumbled on the cute puppy.
***
“It's the gossip columnist's business to write about what is none of his business.” —
Louis Kronenberger
KNOW Y0UR ENGLISH
“How was dinner last night?”

“We decided not to go to the new restaurant. We had dinner here.”
“Your friend Rahul had a vegetarian meal! Unbelievable!”
“Rahul has been an economic vegetarian for a month now.”
“I know what vegetarian means. But what does ‘economic vegetarian' mean?”
“Someone who is forced to become a vegetarian because he cannot afford meat.”
“I see. When Guhan lost his job, he decided to become an economic vegetarian.”
“Several months ago, when there was talk of job cuts, a few of my friends became
economic vegetarians.”
“That's understandable. They must have been...”
“What are you doing here so early?”
“Don't you remember? Our college elections. I am...”
“Oh, that's right! You must be pumped for the elections. What are the chances of...”
“Pumped for the elections? What do you mean by that?”
“When you say you're ‘pumped for' or ‘pumped up for' something, you mean that you are
tense and at the same time very excited about something.”
“I see. In other words, you are nervous and at the same time eager. Like a player before a
big match.”
“Exactly! Our captain says that the team is pumped up for Sunday's big game.”
“Unfortunately, our Indian team never seemed pumped up for any of its matches.”
“Well, according to the coach, our overpaid underachievers were only pumped up for the
IPL matches.”
“Don't forget the parties. The waistline and double chin of some players make that pretty
obvious. Tell me, why ‘pump up'? What is being pumped?”
“I understand it is adrenaline. Do you think your candidate has the smarts to win the
election?”
“Smarts? You mean ‘smart', don't you?”
“No, I mean ‘smarts'. The word is frequently used in informal contexts to mean
‘intelligence'.”
“I definitely have the smarts, but not the confidence. How does that sound?”
“Terrible.”
“What's wrong with the example?”
“You don't have the smarts. You know it, and I know it.”
“Not very funny, I'm afraid. Have you finished your project?”
“Almost. We're on the home stretch.”
“Home stretch? Does it mean you're almost done?”
“That's right. When you say you're on the home stretch, it means you're in the final stages
of something. It could be a journey, a project, a...”
“Ok, ok, I understand. Pankaj told me he is on the home stretch with his dissertation.
Another two weeks, and he'll be done.”
“Wow, that was quick. He must have spent the last two months writing. It is also possible
to say, ‘in the stretch'. We would have arrived earlier, but our car broke down in the stretch.”
“What does ‘home stretch' refer to?”
“The expression comes from the world of horse racing. The distance between the last
turning on the race track and the finish line is called the ‘home stretch'. Do you think your
candidate will win?”
“Not sure. He is trailing right now.”
“Let's hope he moves ahead in the stretch.”
*******
“Gossip is what you say about the objects of flattery when they aren't present.”— P.J.
O'Rourke
What is the meaning of ‘the be-all and end-all'?
The expression ‘the be-all and end-all' is mostly used in informal contexts to mean the
most important thing; the only thing that matters.
*Vinita's adopted children have become the be-all-and end-all of her existence.
*My uncle believes that profit should not become the be-all and end-all of business.
Shakespeare is believed to have coined this expression in his tragedy ‘Macbeth'. The
hero, Macbeth, realises that the only way he can become the King of Scotland is by killing
Duncan. Macbeth says, “that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all'.
Which is correct: whereabouts are/is?
The word ‘whereabouts' can be used either as a noun or an adverb. When used as a noun,
it means, ‘the place where a person or a thing is'. The word can be followed by a singular or a
plural verb.
*The whereabouts of the famous film star is/are unknown.
The word can also be used to mean ‘in what area or location'.
*Whereabouts in Hyderabad does the author live?
*Whereabouts did the buffoon find the treasure?
How is the word ‘beleaguered' pronounced?
The ‘e' in the first syllable is like the ‘i' in ‘bit' and ‘hit', while the ‘ea' in the following
syllable is like the ‘ee' in ‘meet' and ‘feet'. The ‘g' sounds like the ‘g' in ‘get' and ‘give', and the
final ‘uere' is like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The word is pronounced ‘bi-LEE-ged' with the stress on the
second syllable. Anyone who faces a lot of problems or criticisms is said to be beleaguered. This
word of Dutch origin is mostly used in formal contexts.
*The beleaguered Minister was forced to resign.
The word can also be used to mean ‘to be surrounded by enemies'.
*These supplies are meant for the beleaguered town.
What is the difference between ‘utensil' and ‘vessel'?
The word ‘utensil' comes from the Latin ‘utensilia' meaning ‘things for use'. It is an
umbrella term for anything that can be used in the kitchen: a plate can be called a utensil, and so
can a cup and a spoon. A ‘vessel', on the other hand, is usually a hollow container which is used
to hold liquids or other things. Cups, bowls, and pitchers are all vessels. Milk and water are
usually boiled in vessels. All vessels are utensils, but not all utensils are vessels.
What is the plural of ‘stadium'
The word has two different plural forms. The most common one used the world over is
‘stadiums'. The second plural form is ‘stadia'. It is pronounced like the word ‘stadium' without
the final ‘m' sound.
Does the name ‘Ferrari' mean anything?
Till a couple of years ago, whenever we heard this name, we immediately thought of
Michael Schumacher and Formula One racing. Enzo Ferrari was the man who came up with the
idea of ‘Scuderria Ferrari' or ‘Team Ferrari'. The name ‘Ferrari', like the name ‘Smith' in the U.S
and the U.K, is a very common family name in Italy. It comes from the Italian word ‘ferraro'
meaning ‘blacksmith'.
***
“We don't bother much about dress and manners in England, because as a nation we don't
dress well and we've no manners.” —
George Bernard Shaw
Know Your English
“Congratulations! I understand your neighbour has become the Vice Chancellor.

Everyone in your building must be really proud of her.”
“I'm not so sure. Someone said the only reason she's become a VC is because she has
friends in high places. I understand my neighbour excels in the art of brown-nosing.”
“Brown-nosing? Is it a kind of art that someone with a brown nose excels in?”
“ A brown-noser is someone who flatters people in order to get his work done.”
“In other words, he is a sycophant. He does everything possible to keep those in power,
happy.”
“Exactly!”
“Sumitra keeps brown-nosing all the time, but her boss ignores it.”
“Brown-nosing doesn't get one very far with my boss either. She puts a brown-noser in
his place.”
“Have you congratulated the new VC?”
“I stealth-called her about an hour ago.”
“A stealth-call! Never heard that expression before.”
“There are times when someone leaves a message on your cell asking you to call back.
You don't actually feel like doing it...”
“Because you're not interested in speaking to the person.”
“Exactly! So, what do you do? You ring her when you know that she won't be able to
take your call. This morning, I saw that several TV news channels had come to interview my
neighbour. I stealth-called her then!”
“That was rather mean of you. You must congratulate her in person. And don't forget to
buy her a gift.”
“I plan to get her something that won't break the bank.”
“Break the bank? What are you talking about?”
“If you break the bank in order to buy something, you spend a lot of money on it.”
“The thing that you are buying is so expensive that you end up spending all your
savings.”
“That's right! You have no money left. You exhaust your resources.”
“It'll hardly break the bank if you buy her a dozen roses.”
“You have a point there. My uncle is planning on sending his son to study in the U.S. He
says it'll break the bank to do it.”
“I don't like to spend money. But I guess an occasional movie and dinner won't break the
bank.”
“That's a good example. Now then,...”
“Has your cousin graduated?”
“Not yet. He's still a graduand.”
“A what?”
“G..r..a..d..u..a..n..d. The first two syllables are pronounced like the word ‘graduate', and
the final syllable like the word ‘ and'.”
“So the word is pronounced GRA-ju-and. But what does it mean?”
“A graduand is someone who is about to graduate. He has completed all the necessary
formalities.”
“In other words, he has finished his course work, and written the exams. He's...”
“He's finished all that. He hasn't been awarded his degree as yet. He hasn't taken part in
the formal ceremony that...”
“Formal ceremony? Oh, you mean where people wear those ridiculous caps and gowns?”
***
“A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of
students dressed in identical caps and gowns that ‘ individuality' is the key to success.”— Robert
Orben
April 2010
•How is the word 'renege' pronounced?

•What is the meaning of 'drop the ball'?
•At the bottom of a wedding invitation, is it okay to say, 'avoid presentations'?
•What is the meaning of the expression 'soap grafting'?
•Is it okay to say 'temporary respite'?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'wither on the vine'?
•What is the difference between 'memento' and 'souvenir'?
•Is it okay to say, 'According to our correspondent, three students died in the altercation'?
•Is it okay to say 'Mr & Mrs. X invite you to the marriage of our son'?
•How is the word 'eon' pronounced?
•Why do we say 'o'clock'? What does 'o' stand for?
•What is the meaning of 'perspicuous'?
•What is the meaning of the expression 'two to tango'?
•What is the difference between 'alongwith' and 'along with'?
•KNOW YOUR ENGLISH
How is the word ‘renege' pronounced?

There are two different ways of pronouncing this rather formal word. The ‘e' in the first
syllable is like the ‘i' in ‘bit', ‘pit', and ‘hit'. Some people pronounce the second ‘e' like the ‘ee' in
‘fees', ‘bees', and ‘cheese', while others pronounce it like the ‘ay' in ‘hay', ‘bay', and ‘pay'. The
‘g' sounds like the ‘g' in ‘girl' and ‘goat', and the final ‘e' is silent. The word can be pronounced
either ‘ri-NEEG' or ‘ri-NAYG'. If you renege on a promise, you go back on it; in other words,
you break the promise that you had made.
*If Sunanda reneges on the agreement now, I'll file a case against her.
*Ever since he reneged on the contract, no company wants to do business with him.
What is the meaning of ‘drop the ball'?
The expression is used in rather informal contexts to mean ‘to fail'. In sports, a player is
expected to catch the ball. If he drops it, he is conveniently labelled ‘sloppy' or ‘careless' because
he is failing to meet people's expectations. In everyday contexts, the expression ‘drop the ball' is
used to mean to commit a blunder because of one's recklessness or carelessness.
*I don't want Ramakanth in my department. He's always dropping the ball.
*The play was going just fine till one of the minor characters dropped the ball.
At the bottom of a wedding invitation, is it okay to say, ‘avoid presentations'?
No, it is not because people seldom make presentations at a wedding. A presentation is

usually a talk given by someone who wishes to provide information about something. For
example, salesmen often make presentations on a product. Scholars make presentations on their
research. I think the word the author has in mind in this case is ‘presents', and not ‘presentations'.
The person probably doesn't want people to bring presents. Why anyone would actually write
this in an invitation is beyond me. After all, presents are the best part of getting married!
What is the meaning of the expression ‘soap grafting'?

This is something that an old timer like me often does. What happens to a bar of soap
which has been used for some time? It becomes so small that at times we find it difficult to hold
on to it. What does one do with this small piece of soap that remains? Some people just throw it
away. Others attach it to the new bar of soap that they are going to use. Attaching an old piece of
soap with a brand new one is called ‘soap grafting'.
*My uncle is very rich, but he always soap grafts. He doesn't believe in wasting anything.
Is it okay to say ‘temporary respite'?
The English pronounce the ‘pite' in the second syllable like the words ‘bite', ‘kite', and
‘fight', while the Americans pronounce it like the word ‘pit'. The word is pronounced ‘RIS-pite'
or ‘RIS-pit' with the stress on the first syllable. Dictionaries define the word as a ‘short break' or
a ‘short delay'. In other words, a respite is something that it temporary. Therefore, there is no
need to use ‘temporary' before this word. Many writers, however, do.
*We need respite from the cold.
******
“If you haven't got anything good to say about anyone, come and sit by me.” —
Alice Longworth
What is the meaning and origin of ‘wither on the vine'?
What will happen to ripe grapes if they are not plucked and are left hanging on the vine?
They will go waste because if they are not picked at the right time, they will gradually dry up. In
other words, they will shrivel or simply ‘wither on the vine'. In everyday contexts, the expression
is used to mean to waste something because of neglect. It is also possible to say, ‘die on the
vine'.
*I hope Teja makes the Under 19 team. I don't want him to think he's withering on the
vine.
If a project withers on the vine, it ‘fails to come to fruition'.
*The project withered on the vine because the two parties couldn't agree on anything.
What is the difference between ‘memento' and ‘souvenir'?
Let's deal with the pronunciation of ‘souvenir' first. The ‘ou' in the first syllable is like the
‘oo' in ‘pool' and ‘cool', and the ‘e' in the second is like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The final syllable is
pronounced like the word ‘near'. The word is pronounced ‘soo-ve-NEAR' with the stress on the
final syllable. It comes from the Latin ‘subvenire' meaning ‘come to mind'. When we visit a
well-known place, we usually buy ‘souvenirs'. For example, when people visit Agra, they usually
buy picture postcards or a replica of the Taj. These things will later remind them of their trip to
Agra. Souvenirs are usually manufactured on a large scale, and visitors to the place spend money
on them. Most places of tourist attraction have ‘Souvenir Shops'.
*When we went to Goa, my wife spent a lot of money on souvenirs.
A ‘mi-MEN-toe', on the other hand, is not something that you buy. It is usually an object
given to you by an individual, and you keep it in order to remember the person. Some people, for
example, keep their grandfather's watch or pen as a memento. A ‘memento' can also be an object
like a stone or a leaf, something which you have picked up – and not bought – during a trip. The
word comes from the Latin ‘meminisse' meaning ‘to remember'.
*The coloured stone is a memento of our trip to Scotland.
Is it okay to say, ‘According to our correspondent, three students died in the

altercation'?
A careful user of the language would probably frown upon such a sentence. An
altercation is an argument between two people; it doesn't involve the use of fists. Dictionaries
define ‘altercation' as a disagreement, or a noisy, heated argument. When there is an altercation,
people shout at each other in a loud voice, but they do not come to blows. No one generally gets
hurt in an altercation. The word comes from the Latin ‘altercari' meaning to ‘dispute with
another'.
Is it okay to say ‘Mr & Mrs. X invite you to the marriage of our son'?
No, it is not. One usually invites people to the ‘wedding', and not the marriage. Mr. &
Mrs. X would like you to attend the wedding of ‘their' son, and not ‘our' son. If you wish to use
‘our', then the invitation should read, ‘We would like to invite you to the wedding of our son.....'
***
“Parents were invented to make children happy by giving them something to ignore.” —
Ogden Nash
How is the word ‘eon' pronounced?
The first syllable is pronounced like the ‘ee' in ‘fees', ‘bees', and ‘cheese', and the ‘e' in
the second syllable is pronounced like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The word is pronounced ‘EE-en' with the
stress on the first syllable. Some people pronounce the final syllable like the word ‘on'. The word
is mostly used in rather formal contexts to mean a very long period of time; so long indeed, that
it cannot be measured. In British English, the word is usually spelt ‘aeon'.
According to this article, our planet was formed aeons/eons ago.
It seemed to Ananya, she had been waiting eons/aeons for her new tennis racquet.
Why do we say ‘o'clock'? What does ‘o' stand for?
In the old days, people didn't say ‘six o'clock' or ‘ten o'clock'. When they wanted to
indicate the time, they said ‘six of the clock' and ‘ten of the clock'. The expression ‘of the clock'
was used to mean ‘according to the clock'. With the passage of time, the definite article ‘the' was
dropped; later ‘of' was reduced to ‘o'. So, when you say ‘o'clock', what you are actually saying is
‘of clock'.
What is the meaning of ‘perspicuous'?

First, let's deal with the pronunciation of the word. The ‘e' in the first syllable, and the
‘ou' in the final syllable are like the ‘a' in ‘china'. ‘Spic' rhymes with the words ‘stick', ‘pick', and
‘chick', and the following ‘u' sounds like the letter ‘u'. The word is pronounced ‘pe-SPIK-yu-es'
with the stress on the second syllable. The word comes from the Latin ‘perspicuus' meaning
‘transparent'. When you refer to someone's writing or speech as being ‘perspicuous', you mean it
is very clear, and easy to understand.
The critics say that he was a writer of perspicuous prose. I don't agree at all.
I'm looking for a perspicuous professor who will create an interest among the students.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘two to tango'?
The complete expression is ‘takes two to tango', and it is mostly used in informal
contexts to refer to a bad situation. The tango is a dance form which originated in South
America; two people are required to perform this rather intricate dance. When two people find
themselves in a bad situation, and you say ‘it takes two to tango', you are implying that both
individuals are to be blamed for the current mess they are in. One person alone cannot be held
responsible for their present misfortune.
Don't blame the fight on me. It takes two to tango, my friend.
Ajit believes Sunitha forced his son to elope with her. But you know what they say. It
takes two to tango.
The expression became popular in the 1950s, thanks to a song by Pearl Bailey.
What is the difference between ‘alongwith' and ‘along with'?
The main difference is that the word ‘alongwith' does not exist. It is always written as
two words, and not as one. If you find it written as one word, it means the editor fell asleep while
going through the article.
The children, along with their two teachers, went to the zoo.
***
“I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that
they have not said enough.” — Mark Twain
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH
“What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be studying for your final exams?”
“I'm taking a break. What's that in your hand?”
“A novel.”
“Life isn't fair at all. I have to study, while you get to read a novel.”
“You don't need to feel jealous. The novel is nothing to write home about!”
“Nothing to write home about? Does it mean it's not very good?”
“When you say that something is ‘nothing to write home about', you mean that it is
mediocre. It's not something to get excited about.”
“In other words, it's not as good as you'd expected it to be. Supriya's party was nothing to
write home about.”
“Good example. I got a raise yesterday, but it's nothing to write home about.”
“You got a raise? Then we must celebrate. Let's go to that new restaurant on MG Road.”
“Let's do that after your exams.”
“After my exams! All my friends would have visited the place by then. They…”
“Why are you so hung up on eating in new restaurants?”
“What does ‘hung up on' mean?”
“It means to be obsessed. You are constantly thinking about the thing or person.”
“Can I say, my friend Ramesh is hung up on Kajol? He just can't get her off his mind.”
“That's a very good example. Don't know if Ajay Devgan will be happy about it, though.
Quite a few politicians in our country are hung up on getting statues of themselves made.”
“These are people who probably didn't play statue when they were kids.”
“You may have a point there. Now then, you'd better...”
“I'm hung up on new restaurants because I love eating good food.”
“That's not true. You never really enjoy what you are eating. You order something, and
then when you see what someone else is eating, you have dish envy.”
“Dish envy? Does it mean being envious of something that someone else is eating?”
“Very good! Dish envy is something that we experience all the time. I order a plate of
idli, and you order a butter masala dosa. When your dosa comes, I feel I should have ordered
dosa too. I feel that my idli is inferior to your dosa.”
“It's true that I feel dish envy once in a while. But it's not...”
“All of us have experienced the anguish of dish envy sometime or the other.”
“That's true. Anyway, tell me, what's the novel about?”
“It's like a typical Indian movie. Boy meets girl. Boy is poor, girl is rich. They fall in
love, yada yada yada.”
“Yada yada yada? Never heard that expression before.”
“It means, so on and so forth. It's an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts.”
“I see. So, when you say ‘yada yada yada', you mean that everything else is understood.”
“That's right! The listener can figure things out for himself because everything is so
obvious.”
“Every time I show my report card to my father, he tells me the same thing. That I should
get up early in the morning, be more disciplined, work much harder...yada yada yada.”
“All parents give such lectures. You will too when you have kids.”
***
“I hate to spread rumours, but what else can one do with them?”— Amanda Lear
March 2010
•What is the meaning of 'put a hex on someone'?

•What is the meaning of 'rambunctious'?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'lotus eater'?
•Is it okay to say, 'He's a no-nonsense person'?
•What is the difference between a 'prolonged meeting' and a 'protracted' one?
•How is the word 'somnambulism' pronounced?
•Which is correct: Revathi is engaged to/with Ravi?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'to go haywire'?
•Is it okay to say, 'The student was impersonating as a police officer'?
•What is the origin of the word 'budget'?
•What is the meaning of the expression 'scrimp and save'?
•How is the word 'iconoclast' pronounced?
•What is the meaning of 'shoulder surfing'?
•How is the word 'ersatz' pronounced?
•What is the meaning and origin of 'stalking horse'?
•What is the difference between 'former' and 'erstwhile'?
What is the meaning of ‘put a hex on someone'?
Whenever the home team plays at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad, it always
loses. The Deccan Chargers haven't won a single game there, and neither has the Indian cricket
team. Some people believe that the ‘vasthu' is all wrong, while others think that someone has put
a hex on the stadium. In other words, someone has put a curse or a spell on the stadium. A few
months ago, the Hyderabad Cricket Association performed a puja to remove the curse. It seems
to have worked, because the Deccan Chargers have started winning on their home ground. The
only problem is, the team is not playing in Hyderabad anymore; it has moved to Cuttack!
*Sania has lost in the first round again. I wonder if someone has put a hex on her.
What is the meaning of ‘rambunctious'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of this word. The first syllable rhymes with the
words ‘dam', ‘ham', and ‘Sam', while the second is pronounced like the word ‘bunk'. The ‘ct' is
like the ‘sh' in ‘ship' and ‘shape', and the ‘iou' is like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The word is pronounced
‘ram-BUNK-shes' with the stress on the second syllable. When you refer to a child or a puppy as
being rambunctious, you mean that they are full of youthful energy, and therefore somewhat
difficult to control. The word can also be used to mean very noisy and disorderly. Some people
say that the word is an alteration of ‘rumbustious'.
*The rambunctious entertainer collapsed during the first scene.
*There was a lot of drinking, and it wasn't surprising that the students became
rambunctious.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘lotus eater'?
The expression comes from Homer's epic, ‘Odyssey'. During one of his voyages to North
Africa, Odysseus came across a group of people who were always in a state of dreamy
forgetfulness. The staple diet of the members of this tribe consisted of the lotus fruit and the lotus
flower. The two acted like a drug, resulting in the ‘lotus eaters' losing touch with the real world:
they forgot their responsibilities, and spent most of their time daydreaming. When you refer to
someone as being a lotus eater, you mean the person is devoted to pleasure and luxury; he is
indifferent to his responsibilities in the real world.
Is it okay to say, ‘He's a no-nonsense person'?
Yes, it is. The expression is mostly used to show approval. When you say that someone is
a no-nonsense person, you mean that he is very efficient. He is very matter of fact, and does not
put up with nonsense from other people.
*Not many people appreciated Mani's no-nonsense approach to business.
When you use the term with an object, you are implying that it is without the frills. A
no-nonsense cell phone would be something that doesn't have many of the add-on features that
modern cell phones do. It could be one which doesn't have a radio or a camera: it is very
practical, and does the job it is meant to do.
*If you are planning on going trekking, you'd better get yourself no-nonsense shoes.
***
“I'm not a real movie star. I've still got the same wife I started out with twenty-eight years
ago.” — Will Rogers
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH

What is the difference between a ‘prolonged meeting' and a ‘protracted' one?
Both words are used to refer to the duration of something. Of the two, ‘prolonged' may be
considered a neutral term. If you have a ‘prolonged meeting', you have a lengthy meeting; a
meeting which went on longer than expected. Perhaps there were many items on the agenda, as a
result of which the meeting went on for a long time. The use of ‘prolong' suggests that there
might have been reasons why the meeting was extended. ‘Protracted', on the other hand, is
usually used to show disapproval. It suggests that the duration of the meeting was needlessly
extended. The meeting was drawn out to such an extent that it was tedious.
How is the word ‘somnambulism' pronounced?
The ‘o' is like the ‘o' in ‘hot', ‘got', and ‘pot', and the following ‘a' is pronounced like the
‘a' in ‘cat', ‘bat', and ‘act'. The ‘u' rhymes with the words ‘put', ‘foot', and ‘good'; the final ‘s' is
pronounced like the ‘z' in ‘zip', ‘zinc', and ‘zoo'. The word is pronounced
‘som-NAM-byu-li-zem' with the main stress on the second syllable. It comes from the Latin
‘somnam' meaning ‘sleep', and ‘ambulare', meaning ‘to walk'. The word literally means to walk
in one's sleep. Another word which has the same meaning is ‘noctambulism'. ‘Sleepwalking' is
the word we use in everyday conversation.
Which is correct: Revathi is engaged to/with Ravi?

Just as one is ‘married to someone', and not ‘married with someone', one is always
‘engaged to' someone, and not ‘engaged with' someone. It is also possible to be ‘engaged in
something'.
*The young couple were engaged in a heated argument with the hotel manager.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘to go haywire'?
This is an expression which is mostly used in informal contexts. When you say that
something has gone haywire, you mean that it has stopped functioning or working properly. It
has become rather erratic.
*Rajeev tells me that Gayathri's old computer has gone haywire.
*When a person goes haywire, he goes slightly crazy; he becomes confused and starts
behaving oddly.
*When he didn't get the promotion, Harish went haywire
A ‘haywire' was a thin piece of wire that was used by farmers to bind together bales of
hay. The hay was rolled, and a haywire was used to tie the bundle together tightly. It was wound
so tightly that when the wire was cut, it behaved in an unpredictable manner: sometimes, it
would spring back at the person cutting the wire, injuring him in the process. According to some
scholars, this is the origin of the expression.
Is it okay to say, ‘The student was impersonating as a police officer'?
No, it isn't. When you impersonate someone, you make an attempt to deceive other
people by pretending to be someone you are not. This is just one of the meanings of the word.
You always ‘impersonate someone'. You do not ‘impersonate as someone'.
*The terrorist tried to impersonate a police officer.
******
“He had the sort of face that makes you realize God does have a sense of humour.” —
Bill Bryson
What is the origin of the word ‘budget'?
The word comes from the Latin ‘bulga' meaning ‘leather bag'. In the beginning, the word
‘budget' was used to refer to anything that was made of leather: wallets, knapsacks, bags, etc.
With the passage of time, the word began to be used to refer to the contents of the bag, rather
than the bag itself. And what is it that we keep in our wallets? Money, of course! Since a Finance
Minister usually kept his plans on how to spend the money in his ‘leather bag', the word acquired
its modern meaning: an itemized allotment of funds. Around the 16th century, the word was also
used to mean ‘a bundle of news'. As a result, the word ‘budget' became a part of the name of
many newspapers: example, ‘Pall Mall Budget'.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘scrimp and save'?
When you ‘scrimp on something', you attempt to save money by spending less than what
is required on it. If a company scrimps on security during times of recession, it is reducing the
amount that it normally spends on security, and in the process putting the company at risk. The
idiom, ‘scrimp and save' means ‘to economise'. You spend very little money on things, so that
you can save up enough in order to buy something that you really want. You wish to spend the
money that you have so carefully saved on something that is fairly expensive. The expression
‘pinch and scrape' has the same meaning.
*The young couple scrimped and saved to buy a motorcycle.
How is the word ‘iconoclast' pronounced?
The ‘i' in the first syllable is pronounced like the letter ‘i'. The second syllable is
pronounced like the word ‘con', and the following ‘o' is like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The final ‘a' sounds
like the ‘a' in ‘apple', ‘ant', and ‘ass'.
The word is pronounced ‘i-KON-e-klast' with the stress on the second syllable. It comes
from the Greek ‘eikonoklastes'; ‘eikon' means ‘image' and ‘klastes' means ‘breaker'. ‘Iconoclast'
literally means someone who goes around breaking images.
The term was originally used to refer to people who went about destroying statues and
other religious symbols in churches because they opposed idol worship. With the passage of
time, the word began to refer to anyone who challenged the traditional beliefs and values that
people accepted unquestioningly.
*Ravi is an iconoclast. He will have nothing to do with rituals.
What is the meaning of ‘shoulder surfing'?
Nowadays, whenever we go out, we not only need to be on the lookout for the
pickpocket, but also the ‘shoulder surfer'. This person will stand behind you, and look over your
shoulder to see what numbers you are punching in when you take money from the ATM. He will
also frequent cybercafés, stand behind people while they are typing in their password.
The word ‘shoulder surfer' is frequently used in computer security to refer to people who
use such observational techniques to get information about others.
******
“I hope you go before me because I don't want you singing at my funeral.” — Spike
Milligan
How is the word ‘ersatz' pronounced?
There seem to be different ways of pronouncing this German word. The ‘er' can be
pronounced like the word ‘air', and the following ‘s' like the ‘z' in ‘zip' and ‘zoo'. The final
syllable, ‘atz', sounds like the ‘ats' in ‘bats', ‘rats', and ‘cats'. One way of pronouncing the word is
AIR-zats with the stress on the first syllable. Some people, however, put the stress on the second.
The word comes from the German ‘ersetzen' meaning ‘to replace', and in English, the word is
used to mean ‘substitute'. Since the replacement is usually much inferior to the original, the word
ersatz is used to show disapproval.
*I'm told that during the war, my grandmother had to make do with ersatz chocolates and
coffee.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘stalking horse'?
When you ‘stalk' someone or something, you follow the person or animal very closely
without being spotted. You do this in order to track, catch or kill the individual/animal. Now,
let's deal with the origin of the idiom. In the old days, when people went hunting for birds, they
took a well trained horse with them. They did this because they found whenever a solitary animal
like a horse or cow approached the birds, they didn't fly away. On the other hand, whenever a
human being was seen approaching, the birds promptly flew away. In order to trick the birds into
believing that it was only a solitary animal walking around, hunters trained their horses to walk
very slowly and noiselessly towards the quarry. The hunter walked alongside the animal, and
ensured he stayed out of sight by keeping low. When he was within range of the prey, he came
out of hiding, and proceeded to kill the birds. In this case, it wasn't the horse that was doing the
stalking; it was being used to divert the attention of the birds. The hunter was using the animal as
a decoy. Something that is used to disguise one's true intention or objective is usually referred to
as ‘stalking horse'. The idiom is quite frequently used in politics and business. A candidate who
is put forward by a party in order to split the opposition is often referred to as a ‘stalking horse'.
This person may also be someone whose name has been proposed in order to conceal the
candidacy of a much more important figure.
*The party leader wanted me to play the stalking horse.
What is the difference between ‘former' and ‘erstwhile'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of ‘erstwhile'. The first syllable ‘erst' rhymes with
the words ‘burst' and ‘first', and the second sounds like the word ‘while'. The word is pronounced
‘ERST-while' with the stress on the first syllable, and it comes from the Old English ‘erst'
meaning ‘before' and ‘while' meaning ‘time'. The word literally means ‘of former time'. In terms
of meaning, there is no difference between ‘erstwhile' and ‘former'. Of the two, erstwhile is
considered old fashioned, and is mostly used in rather formal contexts. Some books on English
usage claim that ‘erstwhile' is a ‘pretentious' word for ‘former' and is best avoided.
*Gayathri, my erstwhile colleague, has become the Vice President of the new company.
***
“If you understand English, press 1. If you do not understand English, press 2.” —
Australian Tax Helpline
Know Your English
“My mom tells me your nephew will be spending a week with you.”
“Wow, news really travels fast around here.”
“It certainly does. Tell me, what's your nephew like?”
“Oh, you two will get along famously. Like you, he's a confirmed vidiot.”
“Did you just call me an idiot?”
“I didn't say, ‘idiot'. I said, ‘vidiot'.”
“What does it mean?”
“What is it that you do most of the time?”
“Play video games, of course.”
“And that's what a vidiot does as well. He plays video games all the time. You could say
that he is addicted to video games. The word is a combination of video and idiot.”
“Many of my friends are vidiots.”
“A vidiot is also someone whose intelligence level has decreased because he has been
constantly playing video games or watching too much TV. If you ask me, the younger generation
is full of vidiots.”
“I don't agree with that at all. Your friend Harish is a vidiot, isn't he?”
“He certainly is. He is waiting for approval from corporate to buy some new game. I
believe it's really expensive.”
“Approval from corporate! You mean your company allows you to buy video games?”
“Of course, not! The expression ‘approval from corporate' is used to refer to one's
significant other. The spouse who controls the purse strings.”
“So in Harish's case, it's his wife who looks after the finances. Therefore, he has to get
her approval before he buys anything.”
“Exactly! Usha is waiting for approval from corporate to buy a new sofa set for the
house.”
“Do you think she'll get approval from corporate? What do you think Raghu will say?”
“I don't know. Getting approval from the likes of Raghu is like herding cats.”
“I've heard of people herding cows, not cats.”
“One can round up cows quite easily. But cats are rather difficult. Getting all of them to
move in the same direction is next to impossible.”
“Therefore when you say that something is like herding cats, it means that you are trying
to achieve the impossible. You are attempting to perform an impossible task.”
“Good job. Getting my boss to commit to something is like herding cats.”
“How about this example? Getting our students to hand in their project on time is like
herding cats.”
“Sounds good. Did your cousin manage to get to Delhi?”
“Yes, he did. Apparently, he travelled for some time in the pantry car.”
“That must have been pretty exciting. Did he get to eat a lot of bread?”
“Bread! What are you talking about?”
“The word pantry comes from the Latin ‘panis' meaning, ‘bread'.”
“I see. So a pantry is a place where people make bread.”
“Exactly. And a companion was...”
“It also has the word ‘pan' in it.”
“As I was saying, a companion was someone with whom you shared your bread.”
“Really? Hey, there's some bread on the table. Can I be your companion for the day?”
“I don't share my ‘panis' with vidiots like you!”
***
“Only presidents, editors, and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial
‘we'.” — Mark Twain
February 2010
•What is the origin of the expression 'you're fired'?

•What is the meaning of 'bucket list'?
•How is the word 'vitiate' pronounced?
•What is the meaning of 'splitsville'?
•How is the word `malign' pronounced?
•What is the meaning of `double entendre'?
•Which is correct: He is taller than me or I?
•What is the difference between `lonesome' and `lonely'?
•What is the meaning of `many a mickle makes a muckle'?
•How is the word 'litterateur' pronounced?
•Can the expression 'double whammy' be used with good things?
•There are people who keep doing one course after another, and they never take up a job. Is there
a term for such people?
•What is the difference between 'co brother' and 'brother in law'?
•Know your english
What is the origin of the expression ‘you're fired'?
If your boss walks up to you and says, “You're fired!”, it means you are getting the sack;
you are losing your job. There are many interesting theories regarding the origin of this
expression. One theory is that it was the miners in the town of Mendip, in Bristol, England who
gave rise to this idiom. Rule No: 6 in the Law of Mendip Miners stated: “If any man... do pick or
steale any lead or ore … the Lord or his Officer … shall take the person that hath soe affeended
and bring him where his house or worke and all his tooles and instruments are... put him into his
house or worke and set fire in all together about him and banish him from that occupacon before
all the Myneders forever.” The spelling is rather strange because the law was written in the 16th
century. It clearly states if anyone was caught stealing ore from the mine, he would be arrested
by the ‘Lord' or officer. The culprit would then be locked up in his own house, and a little later,
the building would be set on fire. This punishment was strictly enforced in the 16th century. So,
in the old days, when you fired someone, you literally set him on fire! Whether this is the true
origin of the expression or not, it does make an interesting story, doesn't it?
What is the meaning of ‘bucket list'?
It is a wish list. Some people, as they get older, draw up a list of things they wish to do
before they die: this may include places they would like to see, people they would like to meet
again, etc. The list of things that the individual wants to do before he actually kicks the bucket is
called ‘bucket list'.
The expression comes from the title of a film starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan
Freeman.
*I have one more thing to add to my bucket list.
How is the word ‘vitiate' pronounced?
The ‘i' in the first and second syllable is pronounced like the ‘i' in ‘hit', ‘pit', and ‘sit'. The
first ‘t' is pronounced like the ‘sh' in ‘ship', ‘she', and ‘shape', and the final syllable rhymes with
the words ‘hate', ‘mate', and ‘fate'. The word, which is mostly used in formal contexts, is
pronounced ‘VI-shi-ate' with the stress on the first syllable. It comes from the Latin ‘vitium'
meaning ‘fault, vice'. The word has many different meanings, and I'll be dealing with only one
here. When something is vitiated, it is damaged or made defective; it is made imperfect.
*Scientists believe that moisture in the cave had vitiated the once beautiful paintings.
What is the meaning of ‘splitsville'?

This is an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts in American English. When
you tell someone that you are ‘splitting', you mean that you are leaving. Therefore when you say
‘splitsville', you mean that you are exiting quickly or escaping.
*In movies, by the time the detectives arrive, the crooks are splitsville.
When a couple splits, they break up or separate. The expression ‘splitsville' can also be
used to refer to a breakup or separation.
*If you ask me, their relationship is headed for splitsville.
******
“It was very good of God to let Carlyle and Mrs. Carlyle marry one another, and so make
only two people miserable, instead of four.” —
Samuel Butler
How is the word `malign' pronounced?
The à' in the first syllable is like the à' in `china', and the syllable that follows, sounds
like the word `line'. The word is pronounced `me-LINE', with the stress on the second syllable.
This word can be used either as a verb or an adjective. When you malign someone, you speak ill
of the person; you deliberately say false or unpleasant things about him.
*The young politician took great delight in maligning his opponent.
*Padma's enemies maligned her by saying she was a spy.
When used as an adjective, the word means something that causes harm.
*The bleak weather had a malign influence upon his usually cheerful mood.
What is the meaning of `double entendre'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of this expression. The òu' in `double' is
pronounced like the òo' in `pool', `cool', and `fool'. The è' in the first and second syllable of
èntendre' is pronounced like the à' in `bath', `task', and `path'. The final è' is like the à' in
`china'. The expression is pronounced `doobl aanTAANdre' with the main stress on `taan'. This is
just one of the ways of pronouncing `double entendre'.
The expression is of French origin, and it literally means, `double meaning' or `double
understanding'. The comedy scenes that we see in our films are often rather vulgar: the dialogue
sometimes has a double meaning.
Some of the lines are often crude, and sexually suggestive. A word or phrase which can
be interpreted in two different ways, one of which is sexual, is referred to as `double entendre'.
*As a stand-up comedian, Ajit specialises in coming up with outrageous double
entendres.
Which is correct: He is taller than me or I?
Both are correct. Old grammar books, however, would claim that the correct option is Ì'
and not `me'. The understood meaning is, `He is taller than I am.' Although sentences like `He is
taller than I' and `She is smaller than he' are grammatically correct, they sound rather bookish.
Native speakers of English do not consider them to be idiomatic. This explains why in everyday
conversation, native speakers say, `He is taller than me' and `She is smaller than him.'
What is the difference between `lonesome' and `lonely'?
Most dictionaries claim, that in terms of meaning, there is no difference between the two
words. `Lonely' is preferred by the British, while the Americans prefer `lonesome'. When
someone is `lonely' or `lonesome', he is very unhappy because he is alone.
*Sharada called up her parents to tell them how lonely/ lonesome she was.
*I'll go with you. I don't wish to spend a lonesome/ lonely evening at home.
What is the meaning of `many a mickle makes a muckle'?
This is an old Scottish saying, meaning, when small amounts are put together, they add
up to a big amount. The interesting thing is that the two words, `mickle' and muckle', are actually
variants of each other. They originally meant àmount'. With the passage to time, the words
began to acquire a different meaning. Mickle began to mean `small amount', and `muckle', `large
amount'!
******
"I believe in reincarnation. So I've left all my money to myself." - Tony Blackburn
How is the word ‘litterateur’ pronounced?
The ‘litt’ rhymes with ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and ‘kit, and the ‘e’ and ‘a’ that follow sound like the
‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘eu’ in the final syllable is pronounced like the ‘ir’ in ‘bird’, ‘birth’, and
‘first’. The word is pronounced li-te-re-TIR with the stress on the final syllable. A ‘litterateur’ is
a man of letters; he is a person who is engaged in literary work. This individual is very interested
in and very knowledgeable about literature. The word comes from the Latin ‘litterator’ meaning
‘critic’. ‘Litter’ has nothing to do with garbage; in Latin, ‘littera’ means ‘letter’.
I tell you, only a great litterateur could have come up with those lines.
Can the expression ‘double whammy’ be used with good things?
The expression was coined by the American cartoonist Al Capp in his cartoon strip, ‘Li’l
Abner’. When you put a ‘whammy’ on someone, you put a curse on him; a double whammy,
therefore, is a ‘double curse’. In the cartoon, a character named ‘Evil-Eye Fleegle’ often put a
curse on people. When he did this, he pointed a finger at the person, and kept one of his eyes
open. If he wanted to put a double whammy, he kept both eyes open. Till recently, the expression
was mainly used when things went bad. When someone put the double whammy on you, you
suffered a major setback, a double blow of sorts.
My boss tells me that I didn’t get the promotion, and you tell me my leave has not been
sanctioned. Talk about a double whammy.
Nowadays, the expression is being used when good things happen as well. The Urban
Dictionary defines a ‘double whammy’ as the ‘occurrence of two super awesome things or
events at one time’. This explains why when A R Rahman won two Grammies recently,
newspapers wrote about ‘Rahman’s double whammy’.
There are people who keep doing one course after another, and they never take up a
job. Is there a term for such people?
Yes, there is. The slang term for such people is ‘professional students’. A professional
student is someone who prefers to stay in college as long as possible; he acquires many degrees,
but is very reluctant to embark on a career of his own. The term can be used as a compliment, as
well as an insult.
Your father’s debts are mounting. I think it’s about time you quit being a professional
student. Find yourself a real job.
In the United States, the term is also used to refer to students who are majoring in
subjects like engineering, medicine, law, and management.
What is the difference between ‘co brother’ and ‘brother in law’?
People in India, especially South India, use the terms ‘co-brother’ and ‘co-brother-in-law’
to refer to one’s wife’s sister’s husband. Native speakers of English do not use these terms.
Instead, they prefer to use ‘brother-in-law’. This term is usually used to refer to one’s wife’s
brother, or one’s sister’s husband. It can also be used to refer to one’s wife’s sister’s husband. In
the past, the plural of ‘brother-in-law’ was ‘brothers-in-law’. Nowadays, ‘brother-in-laws’ is also
being used.
*****
“All of us have moments in our lives that test our courage. Taking children into a house
with a white carpet is one of them.” — Erma Bombeck
Know your english

Hi! You don't look too good. Is something bothering you?
"I complained to my boss about Hemant yesterday."
"Why did you do that? Do you have a problem with him?
"You know that I've had a beef with him for a long time."
"You've had beef? Do you parents know?"
"I didn't say I ate beef. I said that I had a beef with Hemant. When you have 'beef with'
someone, you ..."
"You probably have a complaint against the person."
'That's right! The expression could also mean 'grudge'. You are itching for a fight or an
argument."
"I see. Well, in that case, your next door neighbour has a beef with you."
"I hope that was just an example. Otherwise, I'll..."
"It was an example, that's all. I don't think your new neighbour would recognise you even
if he saw you."
"That's true! In most universities, students have beef with teachers."
"And I'm sure teachers have beef with the students as well."
"You're probably right. 'Beef with' is mostly used in informal contexts.
Also, we..."
"What did your boss say when you complained against Hemant?"
"He said I was at fault."
"What?"
"That was my reaction as well. Apparently, Hemant had already complained about me,
and he..."
"Is Hemant related to your boss?"
"I don't really know. But they are pretty close. According to Sharma, the two are in
cahoots with..."
"In what? What did you say?
"C..a..h..o..o..t..s. The 'a' is pronounced like the 'a' in 'china', and the'oo' like the 'oo' in
'pool' and 'cool'."
"So, the word is pronounced ke-HOOTS with the stress on the second syllable."
"Very good! That's exactly how the word is pronounced."
"But what does it mean?
"When you are 'in cahoots with someone', you are conspiring with another person. You
are scheming or plotting with someone to get something."
"An expression with a very negative meaning!"
"You could say that. The two individuals are up to no good."
"I've been told that the Principal is in cahoots with the dealer who supplies our school
with computers."
"I understand that some of our Ministers are in cahoots with organised crime."
"Given the kind of politicians we have, the news shouldn't surprise anyone.
What are you going to do about Hemant?"
"I really don't know. I seem to have fouled my own nest by complaining to the boss about
him."
"Fouled your own nest? What does it mean?"
"When you foul your own nest, you end up harming or hurting yourself."
"I see. It's not surprising that Yuktha wasn't promoted. She fouled her own nest by
spreading wild rumours about her boss."
"Uday complains that his wife doesn't respect him. He fouled his own nest by constantly
making fun of her in front of others. And now, she..."
"Now, she has beef with him!"
***
"A woman in love can't be reasonable - or she probably wouldn't be in love." -
Mae West
January 2010
•What is the meaning of `scuttlebutt'?

•How is the word `sycophancy' pronounced?
•What is the meaning and origin of `set the ball rolling'?
•What is the difference between `revue' and `review'?
•What is the difference between eminent and famous ?
•How is amour-propre pronounced?
•What it the meaning of cut loose ?
•What is the meaning of kitchen cabinet ?
•KNOW YOUR ENGLISH
What is the meaning of `scuttlebutt'?
This is a word which comes from the world of sailing. `Butt' means `barrel' or `cask', and
`scuttle' refers to the hatch on the deck of a ship.
A`scuttlebutt' was actually a barrel containing the day's supply of drinking water for the
ship's crew. Since this barrel (butt) of water was placed near the hatch (scuttle), the container
began to be called `scuttlebutt'. What do you think happened when the members of the crew got
together to drink water? The same thing that happens today when colleagues in an office gather
around the water cooler or the coffee machine. They gossiped! The sailors drank water, and
gossiped about what was happening on the ship. In informal contexts, the expression `scuttlebutt'
is used to mean `rumour' or `gossip'.
Have you heard the latest scuttlebutt about my new neighbour?
I don't pay too much attention to the scuttlebutt around here.
How is the word `sycophancy' pronounced?
There are several ways of pronouncing the word. One simple way is to pronounce the
`syc' like the word `sick'. The following ò' and à' sound like the à' in `china', and the final `y' is
like the ì' in `bit', `sit', and `kit'.
The word is pronounced SICK-e-fen-si with the stress on the first syllable. A `sycophant'
is someone who flatters others in order to get something from them. He is a like a parasite: he
hangs on to people in power for personal gain.
At the party, the wellknown cricket player was surrounded by sycophants.
Please, we do not want any of your sycophancy here.
What is the meaning and origin of `set the ball rolling'?
According to some scholars, the idiom comes from the world of football: the game starts
when the ball is set rolling.
When you set the ball rolling, you do something which starts an activity. You make a
beginning. It is also possible to say, `get the ball rolling' and `start the ball rolling'.
Ajit set the ball rolling by putting up posters in the nearby supermarkets.
You can get the ball rolling by talking to your classmates.
What is the difference between `revue' and `review'?

Don't let the spelling fool you. `Revue' is pronounced the same way as `review'; both
words have the stress on the second syllable. Their meanings, however, are very different.
A `revue' is a form of theatrical entertainment. It is not a full length play; it is a multi-act
form of entertainment, which usually includes songs, dances, and short sketches. People enjoy
going to revues because they are satirical in nature; they make fun of politicians, actors, writers
and other public figures. This form of entertainment was very popular in the early decades of the
20th century.
Ashok wants me to write a political revue for his theatre group.
The word `review' has several different meanings, but I'll be dealing with only one here.
When someone writes a review of a book or a film, for example, he gives his opinion of it. He
tells us what he liked and didn't like about the film/book.
The reviews that the film got weren't particularly good. My friend has been asked to write
a review of my favourite author's latest book. * * *
"Rogues are preferable to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest."
- Alexandre Dumas
What is the difference between ‘eminent’ and ‘famous’?
When it means, ‘widely known’, the word ‘famous’ can be used with both people and
things. ‘Eminent’, on the other hand, is mostly restricted to people. ‘Famous’ suggests that the
individual is widely known for a particular reason: it can be for good or bad. For example, Aamir
Khan is a famous actor. Someone like Monica Lewinsky is also famous; perhaps, not for the
right reasons.
‘Eminent’ is a stronger word than ‘famous’. It comes from the Latin ‘eminentem’
meaning ‘to stand out’. An eminent person, therefore, is someone who stands apart from others;
in other words, he is an outstanding and distinguished member of his profession. He is respected
by both the public and the members from his own profession. India has produced many eminent
artists.
How is ‘amour-propre’ pronounced?
There seem to be different ways of pronouncing this expression of French origin. One
way is to pronounce the ‘a’ in ‘amour’ like the ‘a’ in ‘ask’, ‘bath’, and ‘path’, and the ‘ou’ like
the ‘u’ in ‘put’, ‘full’, and ‘pull’. The second word ‘propre’ is pronounced like the word ‘pro’.
The expression is pronounced ‘aamur PRO’ with the main stress on ‘pro’. ‘Amour’ means ‘love’
and ‘propre’ means ‘own’; the expression is mostly used to refer to one’s self-esteem or
self-respect.
*Whatever you do, don’t offend Kavitha’s amour-propre.
What it the meaning of ‘cut loose’?
The expression has several different meanings. While watching cricket, we often hear
Gavaskar and Bhogle say, ‘Sehwag has cut loose’. In this context, the expression means ‘free
and relaxed’. In other words, the batsman is not holding back; he is going for his shots, and is
thoroughly enjoying himself. He is batting without restraint. He is like an animal that is no
longer tied up.
*When Prahlad, Bala, and Rakesh get together, they really cut loose.
What is the meaning of ‘kitchen cabinet’?
Every head of state is believed to have his/her own ‘kitchen cabinet’. It usually consists
of a small group of people whom the Prime Minister or President turns to for advice. These
unofficial advisers are not politicians, and the head of state implicitly trusts them. It is believed
that sometimes the kitchen cabinet has a greater influence on the head of state than the official
cabinet. This is understandable, I guess, because the official cabinet consists of politicians, and
as everyone knows, politicians are not meant to be trusted — even if they happen to be from
your own party!
The expression ‘kitchen cabinet’ was coined in the United States in the 1830s during the
presidency of Andrew Jackson. He had three friends whom he depended on for advice. Since he
wanted to keep their visits a secret, he usually had them ushered in through the kitchen door. It is
believed that most of their meetings actually took place in the kitchen: hence the term ‘kitchen
cabinet’. Other expressions which have more or less the same meaning are ‘brain(s) trust’ and
‘think tank’.
******
“A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of
students dressed in identical caps and gowns that ‘individuality’ is the key to success.” —
Robert Orben
Know Your English
“Understand your boss has built a new house. What’s it like?”

“Fantabulous is the word that Sujatha used to describe it.”
“Fantabulous?”
“It’s a combination of ‘fantastic’ and ‘fabulous’. It means, unbelievably good or great.”
“When I went to Goa, the view from my room was fantabulous.”
“What was the view like from your boss’ new house?”
“Haven’t a clue. Never been to his house.”
“Well, if you didn’t go to your boss’ party, where were you on New Year’s Eve?”
“I went for a drive.”
“I understand you were stopped by the police.”
“News travels fast. Who told you?”
“Does it really matter? Were you speeding?”
“No, I wasn’t. The policeman thought I was intexticated.”
“I didn’t know you drank. When did…”
“I didn’t say ‘intoxicated’. I said ‘intexticated’.”
“Don’t think I’ve heard that word before.”
“It’s when you try to send a message on your cell phone while you’re driving.”
“In other words, you are driving and texting at the same time.”
“That’s right! According to this newspaper article, more accidents are caused by
intexticated drivers than by intoxicated ones.”
“There are many intexticated drivers in our country.”
“That’s true. Tell me, can the word be used with people who walk and message at the
same time?”
“Yes, it can. Rajeev was so intexticated that he didn’t see where he was going. He fell
into a manhole and broke his leg. He’s been advised to take it easy for three months.”
‘Oh, the poor chap. I hope he has insurance.”
“Don’t worry about Rajeev. He’s flush.”
“Flush? What do you mean?”
“One of the meanings of flush is abundant. In this context, it means the person is rich. For
example, at the beginning of every month, I feel flush.”
“We are not exactly flush, but we manage to live a comfortable life.”
“That’s what most people want.”
“That’s true. According to my father, the best thing…”
“Talking about your father, has he returned the laptop to the dealer?”
“He’s been talking to him on the phone and...”
“Nothing will come of it, I’m afraid. Tell your dad to stop pussyfooting around and...”
“Pussyfooting around? What does it mean?”
“It means to do something in a cautious or timid manner. When you…”
“In other words, you walk or tread carefully like a cat?”
“Exactly! The person is unwilling to commit to any course of action. Listen Radha,
you’ve been pussyfooting around for over six months now. I want a decision by the end of the
day.”
“If I were you, I wouldn’t promote him. He’s incapable of taking decisions. He’ll
pussyfoot around and not get on with anything.”
“That’s a good example. We have a crisis on our hands. You need to take action. You
can’t pussyfoot around.”
“I’ll talk to my dad about the laptop.”
“You’re leaving? That’s fantabulous!”
***
“A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one ’year’ and out the other.” —
Unknown
December 2009
•KNOW YOUR ENGLISH (20091201)
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH
"You look upset about something."

"I am. Sujatha said something nasty."
"That's nothing new. Sujatha is always saying something nasty. Why should it upset
you?"
"She accused me of being lily-livered."
"She's called me that several times. But it didn't upset..."
"At least you know what it means. I don't!"
"I see. It means timid. Someone who is lily-livered lacks the courage to do things."
"In other words, he's too chicken to do things?"
"That's right! I laughed when Chandu asked a lily-livered person like Ganesh to try
bungee jumping."
"There's no point in asking those lily-livered bunch of individuals. They won't help us."
"The lily-livered Principal went on leave when he heard there was trouble at college."
"Do you want to go to the new restaurant on Saturday?"
"I can't. I'm going to Delhi on some personal work."
"Delhi? And that too personal work? Are you planning to quit your job?"
"I'm just exploring other possibilities."
"Have you told your friend Chandu about it?"
"Are you joking? Why would I tell something like this to the office snitch?" "Office
itch?"
"Not itch, but snitch. Do you know what it means?"
"Not really. But I can figure it out. A snitch is probably someone who carries tales to
other people. Someone who tattles on others."
"Well, kind of. A snitch is an informer."
"I see. How about this example? The snitch told the police what the gang was planning to
do."
"That's a good example. Tell that snitch that I have no wish to talk to her."
"Which snitch?"
"That was just an example.
The word can also be used as a verb. When you `snitch on someone', you are informing
on that..."
"In other words, you are telling another individual what the person said or did."
"That's right! As soon as he stepped into the bank, the police surrounded Hemant. He
realised that someone had snitched on him."
"I don't like it when students snitch on their classmates."
"Good example. Well then,..."
"Does the word 'snitch' have any other meaning?"
"It does. We'll deal with it later. Why don't you go to the new restaurant on your own?"
"I would like to, but unfortunately,
I have spent all my pocket money on other things."
"That's too bad. Why not ask your friend Madhu for a treat? He seems to have no
problems spending money like nobody's business."
"Like nobody's business? What do you mean?"
"When you say that someone spends money like nobody's business, you mean he spends
money excessively. He spends it without restraint."
"In other words, he spends a lot of money. Perhaps, too much."
"That's right. This informal expression can also be used to mean `very well'."
"I see. At one time my sister used to play the veena like nobody's business."
"That's a wonderful example. My grandmother makes laddus like nobody's business."
""Why not ask her to make you some?"
"I'll do that. After I return from Delhi." ******
"Efficiency is intelligent laziness."
- Anonymous
S. UPENDRAN
upendrankye@gmail.com
November 2009
•What is the meaning and origin of `Comstockery'? (20091124)

•Can the word `guys' be used to refer to a group of girls? (20091124)
•What is the meaning of `derring-do'? (20091124)
•How is the word `dereliction' pronounced? (20091124)
•What is the meaning of ‘close on the heels of something’? (20091117)
•What is the difference between ‘railroad someone into something’ and ‘railroad something
through’? (20091117)
•Is it okay to say, ‘My friend wants to retire and live in a farm’? (20091117)
•How is the word ‘subterfuge’ pronounced? (20091117)
•Is it okay to say ‘prepare the vegetables’? (20091117)
•How is the word `masquerade' pronounced? (20091110)
•What is the meaning of `mollycoddle'? (20091110)
•Does the word `daymare' exist? (20091110)
•What is the difference between a `soliloquy' and a `monologue'? (20091110)
What is the meaning and origin of `Comstockery'?
(Govil Gautam, Agra)

Anthony Comstock was the U.S Postal Inspector in the late 19th century. He was a firm
believer in the principles of Victorian morality. In 1875, he succeeded in getting the `Comstock
Law' passed by Congress. This law made it illegal for people to send obscene materials through
post. Anyone sending or receiving such material through mail was promptly put in prison.
Comstock's definition of obscene material included pamphlets related to birth control, and
medical books on human anatomy. These things were banned as well. According to some
scholars, it was this ridiculous censorship which made George Bernard Shaw coin the word
`Comstockery' to mean, `censorship because of perceived obscenity or immorality'. The Irish
dramatist said, "Comstockery is the world's standing joke at the expense of the United States."
This angered Comstock, and he called Shaw, "the Irish smut dealer".
Can the word `guys' be used to refer to a group of girls?

Yes, it can. When used in the singular, the word always refers to a man. One can never
say, `She is a nice guy'. It is always, `He is a nice guy'. The word `guys' can be used to refer to a
group of people. The people in question could be a group of boys, a group of girls, or a group
consisting of boys and girls.
*Come on you guys. Let's think of something interesting to do.
What is the meaning of `derring-do'?
This is a word which is seldom heard nowadays. Some dictionaries list it as being old
fashioned. It means daring, displaying courage against overwhelming odds. The term is mostly
used to refer to the daring actions which heroes perform in stories. The main stress is on `do'.
*The title suggested it would be a tale of derring-do. It turned out to be a soppy love story.
As children, when we misspelt a word, our teachers circled it, and made us rewrite it
several times. Hoping that we would learn the correct spelling! When printers make an error in
spelling, it sometimes results in the creation of a new word. Derring-do is one such example. The
original expression as used by Chaucer was `dorrying don' meaning `daring to do'. Through a
series of copying and printing errors, it became `derring-do'.
How is the word `dereliction' pronounced?
The è' in the first syllable is like the è' in `set', `bet', and `get', and the è' in the second is
like the à' in `china'. The final two syllables rhyme with the words `fiction' and `diction'. The
word is pronounced 'de-re-LICK-shen' with the stress on the third syllable. In some contexts,
`dereliction' can be used to mean `failure'; failure to do one's duty. When you accuse someone of
`dereliction of duty', you are implying that the individual deliberately chose not to do his work. It
is a case of wilful negligence.
*The students are taking the Principal to court for dereliction of duty.
*What you and your friends did was a grave dereliction of duty.
The word can also be used to mean ìn bad condition'; it is normally used in reference to
abandoned buildings.
*The old hotel was in a state of dereliction. The new owner wanted to renovate it.
******
"Half the lies they tell about me aren't true." - Yogi Berra
What is the meaning of ‘close on the heels of something’?
This is an expression which has been around for quite some time. When you say that
something came close on the heels of something else, you mean that it came soon after or
immediately after. Other expressions which have more or less the same meaning are, ’hard on
the heels of something’ and ’hot on the heels of something’.
The young couple had a baby close on the heels of buying a house.
The expression comes from the world of hunting; when a hunter is close on the heels of
an animal, he is very close to his prey.
What is the difference between ‘railroad someone into something’ and ‘railroad
something through’?
Americans tend to use the word ‘railroad’ instead of ‘railway’. When you ‘railroad
someone into doing something’, you are forcing the individual into doing it. You are compelling
a person to do something without giving him much time to think about what he is being forced to
do.
The agent tried to railroad me into buying the old house.
When you ‘railroad something through’, you force a bill through a legislative body. The
bill is passed quickly without being given due consideration. Every year we see this happening in
Parliament.
On the last day, we managed to railroad the new constitution through.
Is it okay to say, ‘My friend wants to retire and live in a farm’?

No, it isn’t. Remember the lines from the nursery rhyme, ‘Old MacDonald had a farm’?
We say, ‘And on his farm, he had a cow’. Just as one doesn’t play ‘in’ the beach, but ‘on’ it, one
doesn’t live ‘in’ a farm, but ‘on’ it.
How long have you been living on this beautiful farm?
Nagesh finds it difficult to work on the farm during winter.
How is the word ‘subterfuge’ pronounced?
The first syllable rhymes with the words ‘cub’, ‘tub’, and ‘hub’. The following ‘er’
sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the final syllable rhymes with the word ‘huge’. The word is
pronounced ‘SUB-te-fyuuj’ with the stress on the first syllable.
When you trick someone or employ dishonest means in order to achieve your goal, you
are making use of subterfuge. Very often, the deception is employed to hide one’s real intentions.
The word literally means ‘escape secretly’; it comes from the Latin ‘subter’ meaning ‘secretly’
and ‘fugere’ meaning ‘to flee’.
I don’t care how you get the information. Obtain it by subterfuge if you have to.
Everyone knew the minister wasn’t sick at all. It was only a subterfuge.
Is it okay to say ‘prepare the vegetables’?
I understand this is an expression commonly found in recipe books. When you ask
someone to prepare the vegetables, what you would like the person to do is to wash them, clean
them, peel them, and cut them. In other words, the person ensures that the vegetables are ready to
be used.
Maya, you’ll have to prepare the potatoes. I want you to peel them and then cut them into
thin slices.
***
“Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it,
and wiser than the one that comes after it.” — George Orwell
How is the word ‘masquerade’ pronounced?
The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘mask’, and the ‘ue’ in the second syllable
is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The final syllable sounds like the word ‘raid’. The word is pronounced
‘mask-e-RAID’ with the stress on the final syllable. Some people drop the vowel in the second
syllable, and pronounce the word ‘mask-RAID’.
The word comes from the Italian ‘mascarata’ meaning ‘a ball at which masks are worn’.
People generally wear a mask when they wish to hide their identity. When you masquerade as
being someone else, you are pretending to be someone that you are not.
*Terrorists masquerading as policemen managed to enter the Minister’s house.
The word can also be used to mean ‘to put on a show’ or to cover up; you act in a way
which prevents others from knowing the truth about something unpleasant.
*For the sake of her parents, Gayathri kept up a masquerade of being happily married.
What is the meaning of ‘mollycoddle’?
The expression can be used both as a noun and a verb. When you ‘coddle’ someone, you
go out of your way to protect the person; you are being overly protective. ‘Molly’, I understand,
was traditionally a nickname for ‘Mary’. The expression ‘mollycoddle’ is often used
contemptuously to refer to a man whom you think is rather weak and ineffectual; the individual,
in your opinion, is effeminate. When used as a verb, it means to overprotect or pamper someone.
*The new principal believes that students should be mollycoddled.
Does the word ‘daymare’ exist?

Yes, it does. In fact, the word has been in use for several hundred years now; the
well-known author, Charles Dickens, used ‘daymare’ in his novel ‘David Copperfield’. A
‘daymare’ is like a nightmare except that it takes place during the day time. The anxiety attacks
that we sometimes have when we are wide awake can be called ‘daymares’. The pressure that we
feel on the chest when we have a nightmare is usually present during a daymare as well.
*She has a daymare every day around noon.
What is the difference between a ‘soliloquy’ and a ‘monologue’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘soliloquy’. The ‘o’ in the first and third
syllable is pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The second syllable ‘lil’ rhymes with ‘fill’, ‘bill’,
and ‘chill’. The ‘qui’ in the final syllable is like the ‘qui’ in ‘quit’ and ‘quiz’. The word is
pronounced ‘se-LIL-e-kwi’ with the stress on the second syllable. It comes from the Latin
‘soliloquium’ meaning ‘talking to oneself’. A soliloquy is a device used by a dramatist to let the
audience know what a character is thinking. In a soliloquy, a character is speaking to himself; he
is thinking aloud, and what he says is meant only for the audience, and not for the other
characters in the play. The plays of Shakespeare are well known for their soliloquies. A
monologue is one person talking; not necessarily to himself. A play in which there is only one
character is called a ‘monologue’. The term can also be used to refer to a conversation between
two individuals in which one person does most of the talking. The other individual merely
listens.
******
“Efficiency is intelligent laziness.” — Anonymous
October 2009
•Why is the place where the pilot sits called a `cockpit'? (20091027)
•What is the meaning and origin of the expression `hair of the dog that bit someone'? (20091027)
•How is the word `paedophile' pronounced? (20091027)
•Is it okay to say `House: To Let'? (20091027)
•What is the difference between `despite of' and ìn spite of'? (20091027)
•How is the word ensconce pronounced? (20091013)
•Many supermarkets have an express counter with a sign which says, Ten items or less . Is it
okay to use less in this context? (20091013)
•What is the meaning and origin of plume yourself on something ? (20091013)
•What is the difference between believe in and believe ? (20091013)
•What is the meaning of dog-eared ? (20091013)
•Shut-eye? What's that? (20091006)
Why is the place where the pilot sits called a `cockpit'?
The word `cockpit' was in use long before the airplane was invented. Cock-fighting was a
very popular sport in Europe. Men would dig a small pit, drop the two feathered contestants into
it, and watch as the two birds tore into each other. The original meaning of `cockpit' was a small
enclosure where birds fought. With the passage of time, however, the word took on a broader
meaning: it began to refer to any place, usually small, where there was a lot of fighting. Belgium,
for example, was referred to as `the cockpit of Europe'. When planes began to be used during the
First World War, the place where the pilot sat began to be called a cockpit because all the action
was taking place in the confined space.
What is the meaning and origin of the expression `hair of the dog that bit someone'?
Some people think that the best way to overcome a hangover is to have another drink.
This remedy is based on the principle of `likes are cured by likes': in other words, the cause of a
problem is just as likely to be the cure.
The headache is getting worse. I think I need some of the hair of the dog that bit me.
Here, drink this. It's the hair of the dog that bit you.
In the old days, people believed that if you were bitten by a mad dog, the best antidote
was to place the hair from the animal's tail on the wound!
How is the word `paedophile' pronounced?

There seem to be different ways of spelling and pronouncing the word. `Pedophile' seems
to be the common American spelling. far as the pronunciation is concerned, the first syllable is
like the `ped' in `pedal', and the following ò' like the ò' in `go', `so', and `no'. The final syllable
sounds like the word `file'. The word is pronounced `PED-o-file' with the stress on the first
syllable. It is also possible to pronounce the àe' in the first syllable like the èe' in `fees', `bees',
and `sees'. The word is used to refer to an adult, usually male, who is sexually attracted to
children. `Paedophile' comes from the Greek `paidos' meaning `child' and `philos' meaning
`loving'.
Is it okay to say `House: To Let'?
Yes, it is. In our country, it is quite common to see such a sign in front of houses and
apartment buildings. The Old English word `laetan' from which we get the word `let' had several
different meanings. One of the meanings was `to rent'. Therefore, when you see a `to let' sign in
front of a house, it means the house is available for rent. In the game of tennis, when a player is
serving, we sometimes hear the umpire say, `let'. In this context, the word means òbstruction'.
The ball touched the net before dropping into the proper service box.
What is the difference between `despite of' and ìn spite of'?
The big difference is we cannot say `despite of'. It is always `despite'. Ìn spite', on the
other hand, is always followed by òf'. As far as the meaning is concerned, there is no difference.
In spite of /despite the rain, the children really enjoyed themselves.
***
"When I was a young man I vowed never to marry until I found the ideal woman. Well, I
found her but, alas, she was waiting for the ideal man." - Henri Alain -Fournier
How is the word ‘ensconce’ pronounced?
The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘in’, and the ‘con’ in the second is
pronounced like the word ‘con’. The final ‘ce’ sounds like the ‘s’ in ‘sit’, ‘sun’, and ‘swim’. The
word is pronounced ‘in-SKONS’ with the stress on the second syllable. This is one way of
pronouncing the word. ‘Ensconce’ is mostly used in formal contexts to mean ‘to settle oneself
comfortably’.
*I found Sajid watching TV ensconced in my favourite chair.
The word can also be used to mean hidden in a safe environment, unseen by others.
*The children were playing hide and seek. Chitra decided to ensconce herself in the small
cupboard in the kitchen downstairs.
Many supermarkets have an express counter with a sign which says, ‘Ten items or
less’. Is it okay to use ‘less’ in this context?
I don’t know why we have such counters in our country because even people with twenty
items or more bulldoze their way into them. If you make the mistake of telling them they have
too many items, they give you a dirty look. ‘Less items’ is wrong. The word ‘less’ is mainly used
with uncountable nouns. One can talk about ‘less time’, ‘less sugar’, ‘less money’, etc. ‘Item’, on
the other hand, is a countable noun, and in the case of such nouns, we use ‘few’. We do not say
‘less items’, but ‘fewer items’.
*For some strange reason, we had fewer participants this year.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘plume yourself on something’?

When you plume yourself ‘on’ or ‘upon’ something, you congratulate yourself on
something. You are extremely proud of something that you have achieved.
*Every now and then, Yogesh plumes himself on his good looks.
The long feathers that a bird has are referred to as ‘plumes’. In order to look their best,
and attract the members of the opposite sex, birds often clean their plumes with the help of their
beak. In the past, it was common practice among soldiers to wear such plumes on their helmet:
very often, the feather one wore indicated one’s rank.
What is the difference between ‘believe in’ and ‘believe’?
When we are young, we believe in a lot of things: we believe in monsters, Santa Claus,
ghosts, green witches, giants, etc. As children, we think that these people/things are real; that
they actually exist. When you ‘believe in’ something, you feel rather strongly that it exists. If
you ‘believe in some idea’, you support it because you think it is the right thing to do.
*I believe in capital punishment, but my father doesn’t.
When you believe someone, you trust the person. You are willing to accept what he says
as being true.
*The problem with Bala is he doesn’t believe anyone.
What is the meaning of ‘dog-eared’?
Not everyone makes use of a bookmark when they read. In order to remember which
page they have to return to, many people choose to fold the top corner of the page instead. The
page that is folded in this manner is said to be ‘dog-eared’. The expression can also be used to
mean ‘shabby from overuse’.
*The old trunk in the garage contained many of my sister’s dog-eared notebooks.
***
“Asking politicians to give up a source of money is like asking Dracula to forsake
blood.” — Cal Thomas
Know your english
"Surprise!"
"Not a very good one, I’m afraid. I was hoping to get some shut-eye."
"Shut-eye? What’s that?"
"When do you normally shut or close your eyes?"
"When I don’t want to see something horrible, or when...."
"Really? Does this mean you never look at yourself in the mirror?"
"Not very funny, you know. So tell me,...."
"Trying to needle you, that’s all."
"In other words, trying to irritate me?"
"That’s right! When you needle someone, you try to annoy the person. People think I just
love needling Ananya."
"Do you?"
"It’s fun to needle people once in a while, you know."
"That may be true, but stop needling me. Now tell me, what does ‘shut-eye’ mean?"
"It means ‘sleep’. It’s mostly used in informal contexts. It’s getting late; you’d better get
some shut-eye."
"How about this example? I’m really tired. I need to get some shut-eye."
"Sounds good. I could use another hour of shut-eye."
"Well, you’re not going to get it. I’ve come here to...."
"What are you doing here anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be in school? You’d better
come clean. What...."
"What do you mean ‘come clean’? I had a bath before coming here. Doesn’t it...."
"When you ‘come clean’ with someone, you tell him everything. You unburden
yourself."
"In other words, if you’ve done something wrong, you admit it to the person."
"Exactly! Sujatha refused to come clean with her problems."
"I’m sure she’ll come clean eventually."
"Let’s hope so. So tell me, what are you doing here?"
"Haven’t you been reading the papers?"
"No, ever since I got my ‘no-motion’, I’ve been extremely busy."
"No-motion? What are you talking about?"
"It’s an expression that is being used in the corporate world these days. A ‘no-motion’ is
a promotion, but without monetary benefits."
"Your pay doesn’t increase, but your responsibilities do."
"Exactly! More work for the same pay."
"When did you get this no-motion?"
"Last week. Fifteen people were fired, and six of us were given a no-motion."
"I guess congratulations are in order."
"No need. I’d rather have my old job back. Now, there’s too much work and too much...."
"Why don’t you do what we students are doing? Go on strike."
"The students are on strike! Why?"
"About ten days ago, our principal died, and someone else was appointed in her place.
The students want the principal’s daughter to become the principal."
"Your principal’s daughter? How is she qualified? She’s still in school, isn’t she?"
"Hey, when a politician dies, they see to it that his son, daughter or wife takes his place.
Nobody talks about qualifications, then."
"Listen, I’m in no mood to argue. I need my shut-eye. Now, please leave."
"Do you have anything to eat?"
"LEAVE!"
***
"Anybody who thinks talk is cheap should get some legal advice."
Franklin P. Jones
September 2009
•What is the meaning of the expression `to lose face'? (20090915)

•How is the word `fecund' pronounced? (20090915)
•What is the meaning and origin of `sweat like a pig'? (20090915)
•What is the difference between à loving child' and à lovely child'? (20090915)
•Which is correct: Monday through Friday or Monday to Friday? (20090915)
•What is the meaning of `dragon lady'? (20090908)
•What is the meaning and origin of `the ghost walks'? (20090908)
•Is it okay to say `revert back'? (20090908)
•What's the difference between àll in all' and àll and all'? (20090908)
•What is the meaning of the word abnegate ? (20090901)
•What is the meaning and origin of even Homer sometimes nods ? (20090901)
•What is the meaning of thick and fast ? (20090901)
•How is the word conscientiously pronounced? (20090901)
What is the meaning of the expression ‘to lose face’?
When you say that someone has ‘lost face’, you mean that the individual has lost some of
the respect that others had for him. Something that the person said or did has made those around
him stop respecting him. When you lose face, you are usually publicly humiliated.
The pilots didn’t want to call off the strike because they were afraid to lose face.
The idiom ‘lose face’ is actually a translation of the Chinese expression ‘tiu lien’
meaning ‘lose face’.
How is the word ‘fecund’ pronounced?
There are several ways of pronouncing this word. The ‘e’ can be pronounced like the ‘ee’
in ‘fees’, ‘bees’ and ‘cheese’ or like the ‘e’ in ‘bet’, ‘set’, and ‘get’. The ‘c’ is like the ‘k’ in ‘kit’,
‘kiss’ and ‘kind’, and the following ‘u’ like the ‘a’ in ‘china’.
The word can be pronounced FEE-kend or FE-kend with the stress on the first syllable.
‘Fecund’ comes from the Latin ‘fecundus’ meaning, ‘fertile’ or ‘fruitful’. The word, which is
mostly used in formal contexts, can be used with human beings, animals and plants.
The fecund soil enabled them to grow crops throughout the year.
If we don’t control these fecund animals, they will overrun the vegetation.
When you say that someone has a ‘fecund imagination’, you mean that the individual has
a vivid imagination.
Ram’s fecund imagination enabled him to write four wonderful books.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘sweat like a pig’?
This rather strange expression is mostly used in informal contexts to mean to perspire
profusely or excessively.
When I met Usha for the first time, I was so nervous that I sweated like a pig.
By the end of the first set, Naresh was sweating like a pig.
This is an odd expression because pigs do not have sweat glands, and therefore do not
perspire like humans do. According to some scholars, the idiom refers to the ‘sweating’ that a pig
does when it is roasted over fire. I understand when a pig is roasted, fat oozes out, and it is this
fat that is referred to in the idiom.
What is the difference between ‘a loving child’ and ‘a lovely child’?
A ‘loving child’ is an affectionate child; someone who shows a lot of love and affection
towards other people.
Yogesh’s six year old daughter is a loving child.
The word ‘lovely’, on the other hand, has several different meanings. In British English,
one of the meanings of ‘lovely’ is ‘kind, friendly, and pleasant to be with’. Unlike a ‘loving
person’, a ‘lovely person’ need not openly demonstrate his/her affection for someone. The word
‘lovely’ also means ‘beautiful’; a ‘lovely child’ therefore is someone who is good to look at. A
‘loving child’ need not necessarily be good looking; similarly, a ‘lovely child’ need not always
be affectionate towards one and all.
Which is correct: Monday through Friday or Monday to Friday?
Both are correct. The expression ‘Monday through Friday’ is mostly used in American
English, while the British prefer ‘Monday to Friday’.
“Here’s to our wives and girlfriends: may they never meet.” — Irish Toast
What is the meaning of ‘dragon lady’?
A dragon is a very powerful animal; therefore, a ‘dragon lady’ should be a woman who is
very powerful. Men, of course, don’t like it when a woman becomes powerful. It is not
surprising, therefore, that the expression ‘dragon lady’ has a negative connotation. The term is
used to refer to a powerful woman who goes about her business in a ruthless manner; she is a
tyrant who bosses over everyone around.
*I have been working for a dragon lady for twenty years.

The term can also be used to refer to a glamorous woman who has a seductive quality
about her: a femme fatale. ‘Dragon lady’ comes from the world of comics. Milton Caniff, the
creator of the comic strip ‘Terry and the Pirates’, named his villain, a woman of Asian descent,
‘Dragon Lady’. This resulted in people calling any powerful woman who was Asian, a ‘dragon
lady’. With the passage of time, the term began to be used to refer to any woman who was as
ruthless as the character in the comic strip: she didn’t necessarily have to be Asian.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘the ghost walks’?
For those who grew up reading Phantom comic books, let me assure you, the idiom has
nothing to do with the masked hero: Lee Falk’s character was ‘the ghost who walks’. The
expression ‘the ghost walks’ is mostly used in the world of theatre to mean ‘payday’. It is the day
on which all those who are involved in a production get paid.
*According to the Manager, the ghost walks today.
The idiom is believed to have been coined in the 19th century. The story goes that the
actors working for a small company hadn’t been paid for several weeks. They were extremely
angry about this, and decided to teach the producer a lesson. The play they were staging was
Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’. During one particular performance, Hamlet, waiting for his father’s
ghost to appear, said, “Perchance ‘twill walk again.” When he heard this, the actor playing the
ghost shouted from the wings: “No, I’ll be damned if the ghost walks any more until our salaries
are paid.” According to the story, everyone received their salary that night!
Is it okay to say ‘revert back’?
We very often hear people using the word ‘back’ with both ‘revert’ and ‘return’. ‘We will
be returning back to Hyderabad on the 20th.’ ‘The software company has asked us to revert back
to the older version.’ In both these sentences, the word ‘back’ is unnecessary. When you revert to
something, you are ‘returning’ or ‘going back’ to it. There is no need to use the word ‘back’ with
‘revert’.
*The new schedule is creating too many problems. Should we revert to the old one?
In legal contexts, the word ‘revert’ can be used to mean ‘to become the property of a
person again.’
*If I lose the case, the property will revert to my brother.
What’s the difference between ‘all in all’ and ‘all and all’?
When you say, ‘All in all, it’s been a really bad week’, what you mean is that everything
considered, it’s been a terrible week. The expression can also be used to mean ‘everything’.
*Cricket has become the all in all for Ananya.
Dictionaries do not list ‘all and all’.
“The only imaginative fiction being written today is income tax returns.”
— Herman Wouk
What is the meaning of the word ‘abnegate’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of this formal word. The ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘ant’
and ‘apple’, and the ‘e’ sounds like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’ and ‘bit’. The final syllable sounds like the
word ‘gate’; the word is pronounced ‘AB-ni-gate’ with the stress on the first syllable. This is just
one of the ways of pronouncing the word. When you ‘abnegate’ something, you give up your
claims on it; you deny yourself the pleasures of something.
*The ailing King was unwilling to abnegate his powers to his son.
The word can also be used to mean ‘to renounce’ or ‘deny’.
*We were shocked when everyone in their family abnegated their god.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘even Homer sometimes nods’?

This is an expression which is not heard very often these days. Homer is the Greek poet
who wrote two great epics: the Iliad and the Odyssey. The word ‘nod’ in this context means to
‘fall asleep’. What happens when you are at work and feel drowsy? As you are unable to think
clearly, you begin to make numerous mistakes. What the idiom means is ‘nobody is perfect’:
even someone as great as Homer ended up making mistakes in his two epics.
*When I told Anjali there were a couple of errors in her report, she replied that even
Homer sometimes nods.
*Anand has been doing a brilliant job. Every now and then, he slips up. Even Homer
sometimes nods, I guess.
The idiom is actually a translation of a line from the Roman poet Horace, who in his ‘De
Ars Poetica’, wrote: “I think it is a shame when the worthy Homer nods: but in so long a work it
is allowable if drowsiness comes on.”
What is the meaning of ‘thick and fast’?
The idiom is mostly used in informal contexts to mean that things are coming at you very
quickly and in great numbers. Another expression which has the same meaning is ‘fast and
furious’.
*During the press conference, the questions came thick and fast.
In Old English, both ‘thick’ and ‘fast’ meant ‘close together’. The idiom suggests that
things are coming at you so quickly that they seem to be joined or ‘fastened’ to each other. Since
the flow is uninterrupted, you get little or no time to react.
How is the word ‘conscientiously’ pronounced?
The first syllable sounds like the ‘con’ in ‘concert’ and ‘conscious’; the ‘sci’ is like the
‘shi’ in ‘ship’ and ‘shin’. The ‘e’ that follows is pronounced like the ‘e’ in ‘set’ and ‘bet’, and the
‘t’ like the ‘sh’ in ‘shoot’ and ‘sharp’. The ‘iou’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china,’ and the final ‘y’ like the
‘i’ in ‘it’ and ‘bit’. The word is pronounced ‘con-shi-EN-shes-li’ with the stress on the third
syllable. Politicians have real problems pronouncing this word. Understandable I guess, because
the word means ‘putting a lot of effort into your work’. We all know how much work a politician
puts in once he’s been elected!
*Vikram is very conscientious, and I’m certain he will finish his dissertation on time.
*The Minister said that he had been carrying out his duty conscientiously.
***
“Learning is not a spectator sport.” — Anonymous
August 2009
•What is the meaning and origin of the expression kiss of death ? (20090825)
•What is the meaning of He works like a Trojan ? (20090825)
•What is the difference between a home away from home and a home from home ?
(20090825)
•How is the word officious pronounced? What does it mean? (20090825)
•What is the meaning of everything but the kitchen sink ? (20090825)
•What is the difference between misdemeanour and misbehaviour ? (20090818)
•What is the meaning of all hell broke loose ? (20090818)
•Is there a word to describe a driver who slows down in order to have a good look at the accident
that has happened? (20090818)
•How is the word burlesque pronounced? (20090818)
•What is the meaning and origin of the expression tally ho ? (20090818)
•What is the meaning and origin of `rain check'? (20090811)
•Trees and hedges are sometimes cut in the shape of animals. Is there a word for this?
(20090811)
•What is the meaning of the expression àd nauseam'? (20090811)
•What is the meaning of `get to the bottom of something'? (20090811)
•What is the difference between àvoiding taxes' and èvading taxes'? (20090811)
•How is the word `besiege' pronounced? (20090804)
•Is it okay to say, `He was sworn in President'? (20090804)
•What is the meaning and origin of `fly off the handle'? (20090804)
•What is the meaning of `neophyte'? (20090804)
What is the meaning and origin of the expression ‘kiss of death’?
In the old movies dealing with the Mafia, whenever the Don kissed someone squarely on
the mouth, it meant the person was going to be ‘bumped off’ soon. It was the kiss of death. The
idiom ‘kiss of death’ refers to an action which results in the ruin or failure of something. It is the
instrument of a person’s downfall.
Throwing up on the stage was the kiss of death for Rahul’s acting career.
The origin of the idiom, however, has nothing to do with the Mafia. Judas helped identify
Jesus to the Roman authorities by kissing him. The idiom ‘kiss of death’ refers to the betrayal of
Jesus by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. The earlier expression, I understand, was ‘Judas
kiss’.
What is the meaning of ‘He works like a Trojan’?
The expression is considered rather old fashioned, and is seldom heard nowadays. The
Trojans were people who lived in the beautiful city of Troy. They were believed to be very
courageous, and when the Greeks invaded their city, they defended it in a determined manner.
The expression ‘to work like a Trojan’ means, ‘to work hard’.
Rahul is a good person to have on the team. He works like a Trojan.
What is the difference between ‘a home away from home’ and ‘a home from home’?
There is no difference in meaning between the two expressions. The idiom ‘a home away
from home’ is mostly used in American English, while the British and the Australians prefer ‘a
home from home.’
When you say that a place is your home away from home, what you mean is that you feel
as comfortable and as relaxed there as you do in your own home.
My brother-in-law visits Mumbai so often that it’s become his home away from home.
How is the word ‘officious’ pronounced? What does it mean?

The ‘o’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the following ‘ffic’ is
pronounced like the word ‘fish’. The ‘iou’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the final ‘s’ is like the ‘s’
in ‘sit’, ‘stand’, and ‘sip’. The word is pronounced ‘e-FISH-es’ with the stress on the second
syllable. ‘Officious’ has nothing to do with the word ‘official’. When you say that someone is
officious, what you mean is that the person is rather meddlesome. The individual pokes his nose
in other people’s affairs; he is eager to offer advice. Such people are overly aggressive in their
desire to help, and usually have a very high opinion of themselves. The word is mostly used to
show disapproval.
It’s not surprising that the officious little man has no friends.
What is the meaning of ‘everything but the kitchen sink’?
This is an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts. If you are planning on
taking a trip, and you pack everything but the kitchen sink, it means you’re taking almost
everything you own. It’s an exaggerated way of saying that the individual has packed too many
things.
It was the first time they were travelling with the baby. They packed everything but the
kitchen sink.
“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to
make it worth the effort.” — Herm Albright
What is the difference between ‘misdemeanour’ and ‘misbehaviour’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘misdemeanour’. The first syllable sounds like
the word ‘miss’, and the ‘e’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and ‘sit’. The following syllable is
pronounced like the word ‘mean’, and the final ‘our’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is
pronounced ‘mis-di-MEAN-e with the stress on the third syllable. Both ‘misdemeanour’ and
‘misbehaviour’ can be used to mean ‘bad unacceptable behaviour’; an act which breaks a rule.
Of the two, misdemeanour is considered to be formal.
*The young bride wasn’t aware of her husband’s past misdemeanours.
Misdemeanour is also used in the context of law. When you commit a ‘misdemeanour’,
you are breaking the law; you are committing a crime which is not very serious. Since the
offence is minor, the penalty is usually a fine; sometimes, the person is put in prison for a very
short period of time. Petty theft, simple assault, trespass, etc are all examples of misdemeanours.
A ‘felony’ is a serious crime.
What is the meaning of ‘all hell broke loose’?
The expression is mostly used in informal contexts in American English. ‘Hell’ is usually
associated with chaos; therefore, when you say, ‘all hell broke loose’, what you mean is that the
situation went completely out of control. There was pandemonium; people started shouting and
screaming at each other, and at times resorted to violence.
*All hell broke loose when the CEO saw the article in the magazine.
Is there a word to describe a driver who slows down in order to have a good look at
the accident that has happened?
This happens all the time in our country, doesn’t it? Whenever an accident takes place,
people are curious to see what has happened. Even those who generally drive fast, slow down,
look out of the window to see what’s happened. Instead of looking straight ahead at the road,
they strain their neck to take in the details. Such drivers are called ‘rubbernecks’.
*I was delayed because there were several rubbernecks ahead of me intent on staring at
the crash.
How is the word ‘burlesque’ pronounced?

The ‘ur’ sounds like the ‘ur’ in ‘fur’ and ‘purr’, and the ‘lesque’ rhymes with ‘desk’. The
word is pronounced ‘bur-LESK’ with the stress on the second syllable. A burlesque is usually a
parody; it is something written or enacted, and its aim is to make people laugh, usually by
making fun of something. The word comes from the Italian ‘burla’ meaning ‘joke, fun,
mockery’. When used as a verb, the word can mean, ‘to make ridiculous’.
What is the meaning and origin of the expression ‘tally ho’?
The expression comes from the cruel world of fox hunting. When a hunter sighted the
fleeing fox, he shouted ‘tally ho’; this was supposedly to alert the dogs (hounds) which had been
brought along to chase and kill the fox. I understand that ‘tally-ho’ is actually a corruption of the
French expression ‘ty-hillaut a qui forheur’: this was shouted by hunters in France when they
spotted a deer.
******
“What’s the point in going out? We’re going to wind up back here anyway?” — Homer
Simpson
What is the meaning and origin of ‘rain check’?
If someone invites you to dinner, and you are unable to go, you can always ask for a ‘rain
check’. What you mean by this is that circumstances do not permit you to accept the invitation;
you are, however, willing to go out with the person some other time.
*I can’t go to the beach with you this weekend. How about a rain check?
*He promised to give me a treat this weekend. I’ve asked for a rain check.
The expression comes from the world of baseball. Whenever a ballgame had to be
cancelled because of rain, spectators who had paid to get in were given a ticket stub as they left
the stadium. This stub was called ‘rain check’, and it allowed a person to see another game at the
same stadium on some other day.
Trees and hedges are sometimes cut in the shape of animals. Is there a word for this?
The clipping of shrubs and trees in the shapes of animals is called ‘topiary’. The ‘top’
rhymes with the words ‘hope’, ‘soap’, and ‘dope’. The ‘i’ is like the ‘y’ in ‘yes’, ‘yet’, and ‘you’,
and the following ‘a’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The final ‘y’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, bit’ and
‘fit’. The word is pronounced ‘TOPE-ye-ri with the stress on the first syllable. This is one way of
pronouncing the word. ‘Topiary’ comes from the Latin ‘topiarius’, meaning ‘ornamental
gardener’.
Trees and hedges are sometimes cut in the shape of animals. Is there a word for
this?
The clipping of shrubs and trees in the shapes of animals is called ‘topiary’. The ‘top’
rhymes with the words ‘hope’, ‘soap’, and ‘dope’. The ‘i’ is like the ‘y’ in ‘yes’, ‘yet’, and ‘you’,
and the following ‘a’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The final ‘y’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, bit’ and
‘fit’. The word is pronounced ‘TOPE-ye-ri with the stress on the first syllable. This is one way of
pronouncing the word. ‘Topiary’ comes from the Latin ‘topiarius’, meaning ‘ornamental
gardener’.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘ad nauseam’?
Let’s begin by dealing with the pronunciation of this Latin expression. The first word is
pronounced like the word ‘add’. The ‘au’ in ‘nauseam’ is like the ‘au’ in ‘caught’, ‘taught’, and
‘naught’, and the following ‘se’ is like the ‘zi’ in ‘zip’ and ‘zinc’. The final syllable is
pronounced like the word ‘am’. The expression is pronounced ‘add NAU-zi-am’ with the main
stress on the first syllable of ‘nauseam’. When someone talks about something ‘ad nauseam’, he
talks about it so much that it becomes extremely boring for the listeners.
*The Minister talked ad nauseam about his achievements.
What is the meaning of ‘get to the bottom of something’?

When you try to get to the bottom of something, you do everything you can to find the
truth about it. Very often, you choose to spend a lot of time exploring the problem in order to
have a thorough understanding of it. It is only after this that you discover the truth about
something.
*The investigators need to get to the bottom of this fraud.
What is the difference between ‘avoiding taxes’ and ‘evading taxes’?
Most people try to avoid taxes, not evade them. When you evade paying taxes, you are
doing something illegal. You are deliberately choosing not to pay taxes; you are failing to fulfil
your duty as a citizen of this country. Evasion suggests dishonesty. Our politicians are often
accused of evading taxes. When you succeed in avoiding paying taxes, you make use of the rules
and regulations that are in place to your advantage: you find legal ways of paying less taxes or
not paying anything at all. In this case, you are not doing anything illegal.
******
“An intelligence test sometimes shows a man how smart he would have been not to have
taken it.” — Laurence J. Peter
How is the word ‘besiege’ pronounced?
The ‘e’ in the first syllable sounds like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘sit’, and the following ‘ie’
sounds like the ‘ee’ in ‘fees’, and ‘cheese’. The final ‘ge’ is like the ‘j’ in ‘jam’, and ‘jump’. The
word is pronounced ‘bi-SEEJ’ with the stress on the second syllable.
The word has several meanings. When soldiers, for example, besiege a town, they
surround it. They prevent people and supplies from entering or leaving the town. When a person
is besieged, he is surrounded by other people.
The moment he walked out of the stadium, he was besieged by reporters.
The word can also be used to mean, ‘to make many requests or complaints about
something.’
The radio station was besieged with telephone calls from angry women.
Is it okay to say, ‘He was sworn in President’?
No, it is not. You can either say, ‘He was sworn in’ or ‘He was sworn in as President.’
You cannot say, ‘He was sworn in President’.
Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.
My friend will be sworn in tomorrow evening.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘fly off the handle’?
This expression of American origin is normally used in relation to a person. When you
say that someone flew off the handle, you mean he lost his temper. He became extremely angry
about something you said or did, and started shouting.
Another informal expression which has the same meaning is, ‘to go ballistic’.
Our coach flies off the handle every time someone makes a mistake.
The CEO flew off the handle when he heard that the workers were going on strike.
During the old days, axes were made by hand; sometimes, the axe head and the wooden
handle were crudely fitted together. When people were cutting trees, it was quite common for the
axe head to come loose and fly off its handle. The flying axe head used to cause a great deal of
commotion among those working nearby. They let off steam by shouting at the person using the
axe, or by cursing the implement itself.
What is the meaning of ‘neophyte’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of this word. The ‘ne’ is pronounced like the word
‘knee’, and the following ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘so’, ‘go’, and ‘no’. The final syllable is
pronounced is like the word ‘fight’. The word is pronounced ‘KNEE-o-fight’ with the stress on
the first syllable. This is just one way of pronouncing the word. Neophyte comes from ‘neo’
meaning ‘new’ and ‘phytos’ meaning ‘planted’.
A beginner or someone who is new to something is usually referred to as a neophyte. The
word can also be used to refer to a newly ordained priest or someone who has recently converted.
Sahana has been taking sitar lessons for over five years. She’s not a neophyte.
I need someone with experience. Radha is a neophyte at politics.
***
“If you die in an elevator, be sure to push the Up button.” — Sam Levenson
July 2009
•What is the meaning of `pastiche'? (20090728)

•What is the meaning of `grossed out'? (20090728)
•Does the expression `hand-me-up' exist? (20090728)
•What is the difference between `man of promise' and `man of promises'? (20090728)
•What is the difference between `take part' and `partake'? (20090721)
•What is the meaning of às good as it gets'? (20090721)
•How is the expression `nolens volens' pronounced? (20090721)
•Which is correct: `close proximity' or `closed proximity'? (20090721)
•What is the meaning of `noisome'? (20090721)
•What is the difference between `histrionics' and `hysterics'? (20090714)
•What is the meaning of `walking a thin line'? (20090714)
•How is the word `pulchritude' pronounced? (20090714)
•Is the word `police' followed by a singular or a plural verb? (20090714)
•Is it okay to say, `The father was extremely jealous about his daughter's popularity'? (20090714)
•What is the meaning and origin of `saved by the bell'? (20090707)
•How is the word `debacle' pronounced? (20090707)
•What is the difference between àrrested' and `detained'? (20090707)
•What is the meaning of `chairdrobe'? (20090707)
What is the meaning of ‘pastiche’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of this word of French origin. The ‘a’ is like the
‘a’ in ‘ant’, and ‘stamp’; the following ‘i’ is like the ‘ee’ in ‘seed’, and ‘deed’. The final ‘che’
sounds like the ‘sh’ in ‘ship’, and ‘shoe’. The word is pronounced ‘pas-TEESH’ with the stress
on the second syllable.
The word has different meanings. One meaning is to imitate. When a writer or a musician
deliberately chooses to imitate the style of a particular author/musician, it is called a pastiche. In
this case, the artist is borrowing elements from another source; sometimes, the borrowing may be
from several different sources.
*The play was a witty pastiche of Shakespeare’s Othello. The audience loved it.
What is the meaning of ‘grossed out’?
When you say that something is ‘gross’, what you mean is that it is disgusting: it could be
the smell, the looks, the taste, etc. The medicine that my mother gave me was gross. The
expression ‘gross out’ is mostly used in American English to mean ‘to fill someone with
disgust’. It is considered to be slang, and therefore should be avoided in formal contexts.
*The murder scenes in the movie were very graphic. They grossed me out.
The ‘o’ in ‘gross’ is pronounced like the ‘o’ in ‘so’, ‘no’, and ‘go’. The main stress is on
the word ‘out’.
Does the expression ‘hand-me-up’ exist?
Believe it or not, it does. People who have older brothers or sisters will certainly know
what ‘hand-me-downs’ are. They are usually clothes which the older child has outgrown, and
which the parents give to the next in line. If the clothes are still in good condition, they get
handed down to the unfortunate third child. Sometimes, a child grows up wearing
hand-me-downs! A ‘hand-me-up’ is the opposite of ‘hand-me-down’. In this case, it is the
younger generation which passes things on to the older generation: parents, grandparents, etc.
Young people today are very fond of gadgets: computers, IPods, and cell phones are some of the
things they must have. They cannot survive without them. Once a particular model becomes
outdated, some people immediately go to the market and buy the latest version. What do the
youngsters do with the old gadget? Many choose to hand it over to their less tech savvy parents
or grandparents. This handing over of used gadgets to the older generation is called
‘hand-me-up’.
*I got this laptop from my daughter. It’s a hand-me-up.
What is the difference between ‘man of promise’ and ‘man of promises’?
A politician is a man of promises; he’s not to be believed or trusted. Before an election,

he promises you a lot of things. You know from experience that it’s all talk; he’s not going to
fulfil any of them. In fact, once he gets elected, he’s going to forget all about them.
*Why do you waste your time with him? He’s a man of promises.
A man of promise is someone with the potential of becoming good at something; he’s a
person with a bright future.
*Keep an eye on Raman. He’s a young man of promise.
******
“Telling lies is a fault in a boy, an art in a lover, an accomplishment in a bachelor, and
second-nature in a married man.” — Helen Rowland
What is the difference between ‘take part’ and ‘partake’?
The word ‘partake’ which comes from the Middle English ‘part taking’ has several
different meanings; one of them is ‘take part in’. When you ‘partake in’ something, you are
taking part in it. You are participating in some activity along with others. The word ‘partake’ is
not frequently heard in everyday conversation as it is considered to be rather formal. Some
people say that it is old fashioned. The word is pronounced ‘par-TAKE’ with the stress on the
second syllable.
*Sujatha and Ramesh refused to partake in the games we had planned.
When people ‘partake of’ something, they share their food or drink with their friends or
guests.
*We were invited to partake of their simple meal.
What is the meaning of ‘as good as it gets’?

When you tell a person that something is ‘as good as it gets’, what you mean is that his
present situation is the best that he can hope for. His situation is not going to improve in any
way, and therefore he shouldn’t hope that things will change for the better in future. If he
continues to keep his fingers crossed, he is going to be very disappointed.
*There is no point in shouting and getting upset. This is as good as it gets.
The expression can also be used to mean ‘the best’.
*Some people say that when it comes to vacation, Goa is as good as it gets.
How is the expression ‘nolens volens’ pronounced?
The ‘o’ in the two words is like the ‘o’ in ‘no’, and ‘go’; the ‘e’ is like the ‘e’ in ‘set’, and
‘get’. The final ‘s’ sounds like the ‘z’ in ‘zip’, and ‘zoo’. The word is pronounced ‘no-lenz
VO-lenz’ with the stress on ‘vo’. This Latin expression means ‘whether unwilling or willing’.
One is compelled to do something whether one wishes to or not.
*When the market crashed, the CEO was compelled nolens volens to quit his job.
Which is correct: ‘close proximity’ or ‘closed proximity’?
The first is preferable to the second. You don’t say ‘closed proximity’. It is always ‘close
proximity’, ‘close lipped’, and ‘close minded’. We often hear people using the expression ‘close
proximity’. Careful users of the language, however, frown upon this: as far as they are
concerned, both ‘close proximity’ and ‘closed proximity’ are wrong. They feel that the word
‘close’ in ‘close proximity’ is redundant: after all, the word proximity means ‘near’. Another
common error we all make is ‘herewith enclosed’. ‘Enclosed’ will do; you don’t need ‘herewith’.
What is the meaning of ‘noisome’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of the word. The ‘oi’ in the first syllable is like the
‘oy’ in ‘toy’, ‘boy’, and ‘coy’. The ‘o’ in the second syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the
final ‘e’ is silent. The word is pronounced ‘NOY-sem’ with the stress on the first syllable. When
you refer to something as being ‘noisome’, what you mean is that it is very disgusting or
offensive.
*The noisome odour made quite a few guests throw up.
The word can also be used to mean ‘harmful’ or ‘dangerous’.
*The scientists did everything they could to stop the spread of the noisome fumes.
******
“It is better for civilization to be going down the drain than to be coming up it.” —
Henry Allen
What is the difference between `histrionics' and `hysterics'?
(V. Prakash, Mysore)

During elections, we sometimes have politicians telling the world that they will be
seeking the blessings of their parents before they `file their nomination papers'. Instead of
making this a private affair, they invite a lot of people from the press to witness the event. As the
photographers start to click their cameras, the politician falls at his mother's feet, and when he
gets up, he begins to weep uncontrollably.
The parents break down as well, and the next day we see a picture of the three in a tight
embrace. We know that the politician is putting on a show; the overly dramatic behaviour is for
the sake of the cameras. This deliberate display of insincere and rather exaggerated emotion is
called `histrionics'. The word comes from the Latin `histrio' meaning àctor', and it is usually
used to show disapproval.
Cut out the histrionics, will you? We know that you are not as crazy as you pretend to be.
When you are in `hysterics', you laugh or weep uncontrollably. Unlike in the case of
`histrionics', the emotions you display are spontaneous, not planned. The word comes from the
Latin `hystera' meaning `womb'. In the old days, it was thought such uncontrollable fits of crying
or laughter were common only among women: people believed that women had hysterics
because of specific female health problems.
The new man gave a brilliant performance. He has us in hysterics.
What is the meaning of `walking a thin line'?
When you walk a thin line between something, what you are doing is performing a
balancing act. You are caught between two individuals or groups who have radically different
views about something. You do your job by treading carefully: you try your best not to annoy or
anger the two individuals/ groups. The expression `to walk a fine line' has the same meaning. I
understand that both these expressions come from the world of tightrope walking.
The Minister knew that he had to walk a fine line between the striking workers and the
Management.
How is the word `pulchritude' pronounced?
The first syllable `pul' rhymes with `skull', and `null'. The `ch' is like the `k' in `kill' and
`kiss', and the following ì' sounds like the ì' in ìt', and `fit'. The final syllable is like the `tude'
in àttitude' and àptitude'. The word is pronounced `PUL-kri-tyud' with the stress on the first
syllable. Pulchritude is mostly used in formal contexts. It means `great physical beauty', and in
most cases the word is used to refer to the attractiveness of a woman.
The speaker said that it was not actress' pulchritude that fascinated him.
Is the word `police' followed by a singular or a plural verb?
The dictionaries list the word `police' as a plural noun. The word, therefore, has to be
followed by a plural verb. It does not have a singular form.
The police were unable to stop the murder from taking place.
Is it okay to say, `The father was extremely jealous about his daughter's
popularity'?
No, it isn't. You are not `jealous about' something, you are usually `jealous of' something
or someone.
The Manager was jealous of his colleague's achievements.

***
"If your wife wants to learn how to drive, don't stand in her way." - Stan Levenson
What is the meaning and origin of ‘saved by the bell’?
When you are in a rather sticky situation, what is it that you pray for? You hope that
something will happen in the last minute which will help you get out of the rather difficult
situation. When you are saved by the bell, a difficult situation suddenly comes to an end: before
you have to say or do anything.
*The principal wanted to know who had broken the window. Before we could answer, his
cell phone rang. We were saved by the bell.
*Luckily the guests arrived before I could say anything. Saved by the bell.
The idiom comes from the sport of boxing. Every round in a boxing match lasts for three
minutes, and each round begins and ends with the ringing of a bell. At the beginning of a round,
when the bell rings, the two opponents step out and start fighting. At the end of the round when
the bell rings again, each is expected to immediately stop fighting and return to his respective
corner. There may be times during a particular round when a fighter may be doing badly: he may
be getting pummelled by his opponent. During such times the fighter hopes that before he gets
knocked out, the bell signalling the end of the round rings. If it does, he has been literally ‘saved
by the bell’. He can go back to his corner, take some rest and return to fight another round.
How is the word ‘debacle’ pronounced?

The first syllable ‘de’ is pronounced like the word ‘day’. The following ‘a’ is like the ‘a’
in ‘bath’, ‘path’, and ‘ask’, and the final ‘cle’ is like the ‘ckle’ in ‘tackle’, ‘buckle’ and ‘pickle’.
The word is pronounced ‘dayBAAkl’ with the stress on the second syllable. This is one way of
pronouncing the word. When you say that something was a debacle, what you mean is that it was
a total disaster. It was a fiasco. This is just one of the meanings of the word.
*Keshav’s first performance as a stand-up comedian was a debacle: the audience kept
booing him.
What is the difference between ‘arrested’ and ‘detained’?
When a policeman arrests someone, he is levelling a charge against the individual. The
officer is accusing the individual of having committed a crime. In order to arrest someone, a
policeman usually requires a warrant. When the police ‘detains’ someone, they are merely
forcing him to stay. In this case, the individual hasn’t been charged with a crime: he hasn’t been
arrested as yet. If the policeman feels that the person has information regarding a crime, he may
choose to ‘detain’ him. It doesn’t mean he thinks that the person is guilty of a crime. Both the
guilty and the innocent can be detained.
*The minister was detained for questioning.
What is the meaning of ‘chairdrobe’?
‘Chairdrobe’ is a combination of two words: ‘chair’ and ‘wardrobe’. There are people
who are too lazy to put away their clothes in their cupboard. They prefer to leave their washed
and unwashed clothes on a chair, instead. The piled up clothes on the chair is called ‘chairdrobe’.
*Go through my chairdrobe. You’ll find the shirt you’re looking for.
******
I take a very practical view of raising children. I put a sign in each of their rooms:
‘Checkout Time is 18 years.’ — Erma Bombeck
June 2009
•What is the difference between a `hotel' and a `motel'? (20090630)

•How is the word `shibboleth' pronounced? (20090630)
•Is it okay to begin a letter with `hi' when you are writing to someone you don't know?
(20090630)
•Does the word `missent' exist? (20090630)
•How do you answer the question, `What time of day do you like to go swimming?' (20090623)
•What is the meaning of `designated texter'? (20090623)
•How is the word `spaghetti' pronounced? (20090623)
•What is the meaning of àdd insult to injury'? (20090623)
•What is the meaning of `duh'? (20090623)
•What is the meaning of pencil in ? (20090616)
•How is the word gaseous pronounced? (20090616)
•What do you call someone who goes to someone s party without being invited? (20090616)
•What is the difference between call for and call upon ? (20090616)
•Is it okay to say complete novice ? (20090616)
•What is the meaning of the expression elephant in the room ? (20090616)
•Know Your English (20090609)
•How is the word paean pronounced? (20090602)
•What is the difference between apoplexy and apocalypse ? (20090602)
•What is the meaning of straw in the wind ? (20090602)
•What is the meaning of medical tourism ? (20090602)
What is the difference between a ‘hotel’ and a ‘motel’?
The word ‘motel’ is a combination of two words: ‘motor’ and ‘hotel’. In the old days,
motels were invariably located on highways; they were mostly used by people who were
travelling by car. Unlike a hotel, the rooms of a motel are not located inside a building. In the
past, a motel usually consisted of a single row of connected rooms built on a parking lot.
Nowadays, we have motels in the heart of cities, and they sometimes contain more than one
floor. A motel is usually much cheaper than a hotel; the services it offers are rather limited: it
usually doesn’t have a restaurant, and as a result doesn’t provide room service. The word
‘motel’, like the word ‘hotel’ has the stress on the second syllable.
How is the word ‘shibboleth’ pronounced?
The ‘sh’ is like the ‘sh’ in ‘sheep’, ‘ship’, and ‘sheet’. The first syllable ‘shibb’ rhymes
with the words ‘nib’, ‘bib’, and ‘lib’; the following ‘o’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The final ‘e’
sounds like the ‘e’ in ‘set’ and ‘bet’. The word is pronounced ‘SHI-be-leth’. Some people drop
the ‘o’ in the second syllable and pronounce the word ‘SHIB-leth’. ‘Shibboleth’ comes from the
Hebrew ‘sibbolet’ meaning ‘water’ or ‘ear of corn’. The Gileadites and the Ephraimites were two
tribes that were at war with each other. When the Ephraimites invaded their neighbour, they were
soundly thrashed. To prevent the enemy from escaping, the Gileadites set up blockades at
various points. Whenever a soldier was caught, the Gileadites made him say the word
‘shibboleth’. The Ephraimites had a problem pronouncing this word because the sound ‘sh’ did
not exist in their language. They said ‘sibboleth’ instead of ‘shibboleth’. When a person
pronounced the word ‘sibboleth’, the Gileadites knew that he wasn’t one of them. They quickly
proceeded to kill him. A shibboleth is a word, phrase, or custom which one can use to prove that
he/she is a true member of a group. The word has several other meanings as well.
Is it okay to begin a letter with ‘hi’ when you are writing to someone you don’t
know?
‘Hi’ is a greeting which is normally used in informal contexts with people you know. It is
a greeting which indicates familiarity with the individual you are talking/writing to. If you are
introduced to someone who looks about your age, you may be able to get away with a ‘hi’. If he
is older than you, then a ‘hello’ or ‘how do you do?’ is preferable. If you are writing to someone
you don’t know, it’s better to play safe. Have a formal beginning: ‘Dear Sir’.
Does the word ‘missent’ exist?
Yes, it does. Just ask the South African MP who wanted to send a message to his
girlfriend. The poor man did something wrong, and he ended up sending the passionate message
to his wife of 30 years! Result? The man became front page news: ‘Missent text ends MP’s
marriage.’ When something is ‘missent’, it is usually sent to the wrong destination; it is sent to
the wrong person/address. The word is normally used with mail (both email and snail) and text
messages. It can be used with other things as well.
******
“University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.”
— Henry Kissinger
How do you answer the question, ‘What time of day do you like to go swimming?’
When a person asks you this question, he is not interested in knowing whether you like to
go swimming during weekends or weekdays. He is more interested in the time that you like to go
swimming. He wants to know whether you like to go swimming in the mornings, afternoons or
evenings. So when someone asks you ‘What time of day do you like to go swimming?’ your
reply could be, ‘In the mornings/evenings.’
What is the meaning of ‘designated texter’?
People nowadays may be able to live without food, water, friends, etc. They may
however have problems living without their cell phone! An individual’s life revolves around this
wretched instrument. We are so conditioned, that no matter what we are doing — talking to
someone, driving, watching a play in a theatre — the moment the cell phone rings, we feel
compelled to answer it. These days people don’t just use the cell phone to talk to others, they use
it to send and receive messages. In our country, it is not uncommon to see people texting while
driving a car or a motorcycle. A ‘designated texter’ is someone who sits next to the driver and
reads aloud all the messages that the driver gets on his cell phone during the journey. He also
sends messages that the driver wants him to. He makes sure that the driver doesn’t take his eyes
off his road.
For some strange reason Abhay is always made the designated texter.
How is the word ‘spaghetti’ pronounced?
The ‘a’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the following ‘ghett’ is
pronounced like the word ‘get’. The final ‘i’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘kit’, and the stress is
on the second syllable. The word is pronounced ‘spe-GET-i’. It comes from the Italian ‘spago’
meaning ‘thin string’ or ‘twine’. I guess eating twine or little strings is better than eating ‘little
worms’: which is what vermicelli means!
What is the meaning of ‘add insult to injury’?
There are times when things don’t go according to the way we had planned. We feel bad
about it, and in order to snap out of the terrible mood we are in, we pay a visit to our friends
hoping that they will cheer us up. Sometimes, instead of helping us overcome our depression,
they succeed in getting us even more upset. The idiom ‘add insult to injury’ means to make a
situation that is already bad, worse.
First of all, he was driving on the wrong side of the road, and then to add insult to injury,
he proceeded to abuse me for driving slowly!
What is the meaning of ‘duh’?

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of this word. The ‘u’ is like the ‘u’ in ‘cut’ and
‘but’ and the final ‘h’ is silent. When someone says something, and you respond by saying ‘duh’,
you are telling the person that what he has just said is obvious. You are being sarcastic. It’s your
way of saying, ‘tell me something I don’t know’. The word, which is considered slang, is
frequently used in informal contexts in American English.
Do you know that Ramesh and Sujatha are planning to get married?
Duh!
“Never accept a drink from a urologist.” — Erma Bombeck
What is the meaning of ‘pencil in’?
When we write with a pencil, we know it is something that can be erased; it is not
permanent. If you ‘pencil in’ an appointment for someone, you are making a temporary
appointment for that individual. It is not definite; the appointment can be changed to a later date.
*The dentist said he would pencil me in for next Thursday.
How is the word ‘gaseous’ pronounced?
There are different ways of pronouncing this word. Some people pronounce the ‘a’ like
the ‘ay’ in ‘may’, ‘bay’, and ‘gay’. Others pronounce it like the ‘a’ in ‘ant’, ‘pants’, and ‘apple’.
The ‘e’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘kit’, and the final ‘ou’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. No matter
how you pronounce the ‘a’, the stress is on the first syllable. The word, meaning ‘consisting of
gas or gases’, can be pronounced GAY-si-es or GA-si-es’.
*The teacher told us that steam is water in its gaseous form.
What do you call someone who goes to someone’s party without being invited?
Are you planning on doing this anytime soon? When you walk into someone’s party or
any event without being invited, you become a ‘gatecrasher’. Such people are said to ‘crash’ the
party.
*We ran out of food because there were too many gatecrashers.
What is the difference between ‘call for’ and ‘call upon’?
When you ‘call on’ or ‘call upon’ someone, you pay a visit to the person. Unlike ‘drop in
on’, when you ‘call on’ someone, you usually make an appointment. You let the person know in
advance that you are coming. Of the two, ‘call upon’ is considered to be formal.
*While he was in Delhi, the former Prime Minister called upon the President.
*Is it okay if we call on your neighbours this evening?
When you ‘call for’ someone or something, you usually shout for the person or thing.
This is just one of the meanings of this phrasal verb.
*Maya stood in front of her house and kept calling for her dog.
Is it okay to say ‘complete novice’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘novice’. The ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘pot’,
and ‘got’, and the ‘i’ is like ‘i’ the ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘kit’. The final ‘ce’ sounds like the ‘s’ in ‘sit’,
‘sip’, and ‘sun’. The word is pronounced ‘NO-vis’ with the stress on the first syllable. When you
say that someone is a novice, you mean that the person is a beginner; he has no real experience.
It is common to hear native speakers of English referring to someone as being a ‘complete
novice’. Careful users of the language frown upon this.
*When it comes to tennis, Vijaya is a complete novice.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘elephant in the room’?
If an elephant were standing in your room, it would be impossible to ignore it. When you
say that a problem is an elephant in the room, you mean it is a very serious problem that
everyone is aware of, but chooses to ignore. People try not to talk about it. Another expression
which has the same meaning is ‘gorilla in the room’.
*Corruption. The elephant in the room that no politician is willing to talk about.
******
“A fool and her money are soon courted.” — Helen Rowland
Know Your English
“How was your trip to Hyderabad?”

“The Chief Minister seems to have brought in auto rickshaw drivers from Chennai.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Many of them are rude like the auto drivers here. And getting them to use the meter is
like pulling teeth.”
“What do you mean by pulling teeth?”
“When you say that something was like pulling teeth, you mean that it was very difficult
to do. Getting information from people who work in government offices is like pulling teeth.”
“Getting my cousin to clean his room is like pulling teeth. How does that sound?”
“That was a good example”.
“Do you think the auto rickshaw problem in Hyderabad will be solved?”
“You must be joking. Politicians in our country are interested in making money and
promoting their children. They are not interested in the problems of the common man.”
“You have a point there.”
“Tell me, how did your cousin do in last week’s tournament?”
“She did quite well, actually. Once again, she lost in the final.”
“Always a bridesmaid and never a bride, eh?”
“What are you talking about?”
“When you say that someone is always a bridesmaid and never a bride, you mean that the
person never fulfils her ambition.”
“She is probably always very close to achieving it, but never really succeeds.”
“Exactly! As a result, the person never becomes the centre of attention.”
“The person is never the winner; always the runner up.”
“My cousin is a wonderful actor. But unfortunately, she’s always a bridesmaid, and never
a bride.”
“I didn’t know your cousin was an actor. Which film...”
“That was just an example. By the way, my friends and I are planning to see a movie
tomorrow. Would you like to come along?”
“Not a bad idea. I haven’t been to the theatre in a month of Sundays.”
“A month of Sundays? Does it mean it’s been a month since you...”
“When you say you haven’t done something in a month of Sundays, it means you haven’t
done it in a long time.”
“I see. How about this example? I haven’t seen my cousin in a month of Sundays.”
“Sounds good”.
“I haven’t talked to my friend Vijay in a month of Sundays.”
“That’s strange.”
“Why is it strange?”
“Because a couple of years ago, the two of you were joined at the hip.”
“Joined at the hip? What are you talking about?”
“When two people are joined at the hip, they are inseparable.”
“Vijay and I were always together. Is that what you mean?”
“Exactly! Ramesh and Karthik have been joined at the hip since college.”
“The expression can also be used with things. The two companies have been joined at the
hip ever since the first multinational company entered the market.”
“I’d better go. An uncle of mine is coming over for lunch. I haven’t seen him in a month
of Sundays.”
“Have fun.”
******
“Many a man who falls in love with a dimple makes the mistake of marrying the whole
girl.” — Evan Esar
How is the word ‘paean’ pronounced?
The first syllable rhymes with the words ‘bee’, ‘see’, and ‘fee’. The ‘ea’ in the second
syllable sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced ‘PEE.en’ with the stress on the
first syllable.
A ‘paean’ was originally a song sung in honour of the Greek god Apollo. Nowadays, the
word is being used to refer to any work — film, song, piece of writing, etc — which praises
someone or something.
The song is a paean to love and commitment.
What is the difference between ‘apoplexy’ and ‘apocalypse’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘apoplexy’. The ‘a’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘cat’,
‘bat’, and ‘hat’, and the following ‘o’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. ‘Plex’ rhymes with ‘flex’, and the
final ‘y’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’ and ‘bit’. The word is pronounced ‘A-pe-plek-si’ with the stress on
the first syllable. When someone has a fit of apoplexy, he becomes extremely angry.
In a fit of apoplexy, the CEO threw the paperweight at the plasma TV.
The word can also be used to refer to a stroke caused by a brain haemorrhage.
‘Apoplexy’ comes from the Greek ‘apoplexia’ meaning ‘disable/cripple by a stroke’.
The ‘a’ in the first and third syllable of ‘apocalypse’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The
‘o’ is pronounced like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘got’, and ‘pot’; and the final ‘lypse’ sounds like the word
‘lips’. The word is pronounced ‘e-PO-ke-lips’ with the stress on the second syllable. When you
talk about ‘the Apocalypse’, you are talking about the total destruction of the world.
Some people became rather uncomfortable when the priest talked about the Apocalypse.
The word can also be used in everyday contexts to refer to an event which brings about
destruction and radical change.
The documentary was about what happens after a great nuclear apocalypse.
What is the meaning of ‘straw in the wind’?
What would happen if you were to leave a straw in the wind? It’ll probably get blown
away; but in the process, it will tell you something. It will give you information about the
direction in which the wind is blowing. When you say that something is a straw in the wind,
what you mean is that it is a sign of things to come; a small hint of what is likely to happen in the
future.
*There are straws in the wind which suggest that the two companies will go belly up.
*The constant bickering is a straw in the wind indicating future problems for the newly
married couple.
What is the meaning of ‘medical tourism’?
It is the practice of visiting other countries for medical reasons. Visiting a doctor has
become very expensive these days. People living in the so called ‘developed’ countries have a
similar problem: some just cannot afford healthcare. When such people are advised to undergo a
medical procedure, many choose to pack their bags and set off to a ‘developing’ country like
India where they can get the procedure done for a fraction of the cost. These people who visit
other countries for medical reasons are called ‘medical tourists’.
“Falling in love consists merely in uncorking the imagination and bottling the common
sense.” — Helen Rowland
May 2009
•How is the word `homage' pronounced? (20090526)

•Which is correct: None of you have/has answered the question correctly. (20090526)
•What is the meaning of the expression `beyond his ken'? (20090526)
•How do you refer to someone who in his 60s? (20090526)
•Is it okay to say, `He doesn't want to go to anywhere'? (20090526)
•What is the meaning of `greased lightning'? (20090526)
•How is the word `bonhomie' pronounced? (20090505)
•Is it okay to say, `Rahul Gandhi denied to speak to the waiting media persons'? (20090505)
•What is the difference between `complacent' and `complaisant'? (20090505)
•Does the word `yellular' exist? (20090505)
How is the word ‘homage’ pronounced?

The ‘o’ in the first syllable sounds like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘pot’, and ‘got’, while the ‘a’ is
like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and ‘sit’. The ‘g’ is pronounced like the ‘j’ in ‘just’, ‘jump’, and ‘juice’,
and the final ‘e’ is silent. The word is pronounced ‘HO-mij’ with the stress on the first syllable.
When you pay ‘homage’ to someone, you usually show respect to him and say nice things about
him. You have great admiration for the person, and as a result praise him for his achievements.
*We must pay homage to the man and his incredible achievements.
Which is correct: None of you have/has answered the question correctly.
Both are correct. The word ‘none’ is actually from ‘not one’. Based on this, people have
argued that when ‘none of’ precedes a plural noun, the verb that follows it must be singular.
Nowadays, it is okay to use either a singular or a plural verb with ‘none of’. In formal contexts,
the British prefer a singular verb. The Americans, on the other hand, mostly use a plural verb
after ‘none of’.
*None of my father’s articles have/has been published in that journal.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘beyond his ken’?
The word ‘ken’ is Scottish in origin, and it is means ‘to know someone or something’.
Therefore, when you say that something is ‘beyond your ken’, what you mean is that you do not
know anything about it. It is something that is beyond your understanding.
*Please don’t talk to me about grammar. It is just beyond my ken.
How do you refer to someone who in his 60s?

You must be thinking of the people in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. They are all pretty
old, aren’t they? A person who is in his 60s is usually referred to as a ‘sexagenarian’. The first
syllable is pronounced like the word ‘sex’, and the following ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘g’
is like the ‘j’ in ‘juice’ and ‘joke’, and the ‘e’ like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’, ‘bit’, and ‘pit’. The ‘a’ is like
the ‘ai’ in ‘fair’, ‘hair’, and ‘pair’. The word is pronounced ‘sex-a-ji-NAI-ri-en with the stress on
the fourth syllable.
*The teenager said she was in love with a sexagenarian.
Is it okay to say, ‘He doesn’t want to go to anywhere’?
No, it isn’t. The word ‘anywhere’, like ‘somewhere’, is not preceded by prepositions like
‘in’, ‘at’, and ‘to’. We cannot say, ‘The Registrar is going to somewhere/anywhere.’ It is also
important to remember that the words ‘there’, ‘here’, ‘upstairs’, and ‘downstairs’ are never
preceded by ‘to’ either.
*The children are too tired to go anywhere.
What is the meaning of ‘greased lightning’?
We know what ‘grease’ is. It’s a lubricant that we frequently apply to machinery so that it
runs smoothly. When a machine is greased, it runs much faster and smoother. So what would
happen if lightning were to be greased? It would move even faster. When you say that someone
moves like ‘greased lightning’, you mean he moves very fast. This expression, which originated
in the U.S., can also be used to mean ‘powerful’.
*Don’t let the dented body fool you. This little car is greased lightning.
******
“Nothing is often a good thing to say, often a clever thing to say.” — Will Durant
Know Your English
“Welcome back! How was your trip to Bombay?”

“Pretty good, actually. It was quite relaxing. No one went off the deep end.”
“What deep end? What are you talking about?”
“When someone goes off the deep end, he becomes angry or hysterical.”
“In other words, the person loses his cool.”
“That’s right! He loses his temper.” “My aunt went off the deep end when her daughter
came home well past midnight.”
“That’s a good enough reason to go off the deep end, I guess. My mother went off the
deep end when she saw the mess the painters had made.”
“Did your boss go off the deep end when you told him you needed more time to complete
the project?”
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“That’s understandable. Met our old friend Sujatha yesterday. Asked me to meet her at
the Taj. She said that dinner would be on her.”
“That was nice of her. Did you go to the...”
“But how can dinner be ’on’ someone? You can have dinner ’with’ someone. How can
you have it ’on’ someone?”
“When you have dinner with someone, you are...”
“You are eating along with that person. I know that!”
“When you inform someone that dinner is on you, you are telling him that you are
treating him. You are going to...”
“In other words, you’ll be paying for the meal. It’s your treat.”
“Exactly! Why don’t you come around one o’clock tomorrow? Lunch will be on me."
Sounds tempting, but I can’t. Have to go to the station tomorrow. Why don’t you take your
colleague, Arjun?”
“No way! He’ll end up telling me about the niteflix he had the previous...”
“Niteflix? Never came across that word before. What does it mean?”
“Some people, as you know, have very long and complex dreams...”
“I know quite a few people, actually. Some of the dreams that my friend has are as long
as a feature film.”
“And that’s what a ’niteflix’ is. A long, complex dream.”
“I see. Do you have niteflix?”
“No, I don’t. My father says he has niteflix every time he goes to sleep.”
“That’s interesting. I wonder if some of our well-known film directors have niteflix?”
“Why don’t you write to them and find out. Anyway, what did Sujatha have to say about
her new job?”
“Nothing much, actually. Just said that her new boss doesn’t like her at all.”
“When he hired her, he probably thought she would become his echo chamber. But you
know how...”
“Echo chamber? What does it mean?”
“An echo chamber is someone who agrees with everything another person says.”
“The person probably does this because he/she wants to please the other person.”
“Exactly! I’m told Shankar is his wife’s echo chamber.”
“ Why are you going to the station tomorrow?”
“Have to pick up Veeru’s father. You remember Veeru, don’t you? My neighbour who
died as a very rich man.”
“One doesn’t die as something. One simply dies. Veeru died a rich man.”
“My uncle too died a very rich man.”
“Too bad you didn’t get any of the money!”
***
“The New England Journal of Medicine reports that 9 out of 10 doctors agree that 1 out
of 10 doctors is an idiot.” — Jay Leno
How is the word `bonhomie' pronounced?
There are several ways of pronouncing this word. I will deal with just two of them. One
way is to pronounce the first ò' like the ò' in `pot', `got', and `hot', and the second ò' like the à'
in `china'. The final ìe' sounds like the ì' in `bit', `kit', and `sit'. The word, in this case, is
pronounced `BO-ne-mi' with the stress on the first syllable. Some people pronounce the first ò'
like the à' in `bath', `path', and àsk', and the second like the à' in `china'. They pronounce the
final ìe' like the èe' in `feel', `peel', and `heel'. The word is pronounced `baa-ne-MEE' with the
stress on the final syllable. Either way, the `h' remains silent. This word of French origin literally
means `good (bon) man (homme)'. The word is mostly used in formal contexts to mean `happy,
good natured friendliness.'
* The cheerful bonhomie displayed by the rival candidates surprised everyone.
***
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
Is it okay to say, `Rahul Gandhi denied to speak to the waiting media persons'?
No, it isn't. The word the author probably has in mind is `declined' and not `denied'. If
you `decline to speak to someone', you refuse to speak to them. In this case, Rahul Gandhi
refused to talk to the people from the media. Also, it is not correct to say `denied to speak': the
word `deny' is seldom followed by `to'. One can `deny speaking to someone', not `deny to
speaking to someone'. When you `deny speaking to someone', you are saying that you didn't
speak to the individual.
* Meera declined our invitation to make a presentation.
***
What is the difference between `complacent' and `complaisant'?
Let's deal with the pronunciation of the two words first. The ò' in the first syllable is like
the à' in `china'. The same is true of the è' and à' in the final syllable of both words. The second
syllable in `complacent' is like the word `place', while the second syllable in `complaisant' is
pronounced like the word `plays'.
The two words are pronounced `kem-PLAY-sent' and `kem-PLAY-zent'. The stress, in
both cases, is on the second syllable.
Complacent means `self satisfied'; when you become complacent about something, you
are so pleased with yourself and your abilities that you don't feel the need to put in the extra
effort required to make something a success. The word is used to show disapproval.
* After winning two tournaments in a row, he became complacent.
Someone who is `complaisant' is ready to oblige people. His main aim is to please
people, and is willing to do whatever they want him to.
* If you are looking for a secretary who will be complaisant, hire Hema.
***
Does the word `yellular' exist?

You won't find this word listed in any standard dictionary, but it is being used. It is a
combination of `yell' and `cellular'. When someone gets a call on his cell phone, and the
connection is bad, what does the person do? In order to be heard, he usually shouts: as if the
yelling will make the connection any better! This act of shouting in the hope that you will be
audible is called `yellullar'.
* Some idiot on the train went yellular at three in the morning.
***
April 2009
•What is the meaning of `gobsmacked'? (20090414)

•What is the meaning and origin of `get the pink slip'? (20090414)
•How is the word `litterateur' pronounced? (20090414)
•What is the difference between `callous' and `callus'? (20090414)
•How is the word statute pronounced? (20090407)
•What is the meaning of pet peeve ? (20090407)
•Is it okay to say disabuse something ? (20090407)
•What is the meaning of profundity ? (20090407)
•What is the difference between harbour someone and house someone ? (20090407)
•Is it okay to say, He returned back home ? (20090407)
What is the meaning of ‘gobsmacked’?
This is a word which is mostly used in informal contexts in British English. It is a

combination of two words: ‘gob’ and ‘smacked’. The word ‘gob’ is often used in informal
contexts to refer to the mouth. The word ‘smacked’, as we know, means to hit someone rather
hard. If someone were to hit you hard on the mouth, how would you react? Your automatic
reaction would be to cup your hand over the mouth. You would render yourself speechless for a
few seconds. The word ‘gobsmacked’ is used to mean ‘utterly astonished, astounded’; you are
left totally speechless.
*When the CEO was arrested, we were, like everyone else, gobsmacked.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘get the pink slip’?
Not the ideal thing to be writing about when people are scared of losing their jobs. This is
an expression that was coined in the United States. A pink slip is the unwanted letter or
document which you receive from your employer informing you that your services are no longer
required. To put it more bluntly, it’s your boss’ way of telling you that you’ve been fired!
*More than 20 workers were given the pink slip today.
The word can be used as a verb as well.

*They pink slipped nearly 200 people yesterday.
The story goes that in the late 1800s, workers sometimes received, along with their pay
cheque, a letter written on pink stationery. The letter usually informed the receiver that his
services were no longer required. This letter written on pink paper began to be referred to as the
‘pink slip’. In Germany, when a person gets fired, he doesn’t ‘get the pink slip’, but ‘the blue
letter’. The French, on the other hand, refer to such a letter as ‘yellow paper’.
How is the word ‘litterateur’ pronounced?
The ‘i’ in the first syllable is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’ and ‘bit’; the vowels in the following two
syllables are pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘eu’ in the final syllable sounds like the ‘ir’
in ‘shirt’, ‘dirt’, and ‘birth’. One way of pronouncing the word is ‘lit-e-re-TIR’ with the stress on
the final syllable. It comes from the Latin ‘litterator’ meaning ‘critic’. A ‘litterateur’ is a literary
person; someone who is devoted to the study or writing of literature. He is usually a man of
letters: a professional writer.
*The university is planning to honour some of the well known litterateurs.
What is the difference between ‘callous’ and ‘callus’?

Although spelt differently, the two words are pronounced the same way. The ‘a’ in the
first syllable is pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘act’, ‘pact’, and ‘fact’. The ‘ou’ and ‘u’ in the second
syllable sound like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. Both words are pronounced ‘KA-les’. If someone accuses
you of being ‘callous’, what he means is that you are rather cruel; you have no sympathy for
other people.
*It may sound callous. But I don’t’ think you should lend her the money.
If you play a lot of cricket, tennis or shuttle, you will notice that your hands become
rather rough. The skin around the area where your fingers meet the palm becomes extremely
hard. These areas of thickened skin are called ‘calluses’.
*Ramu’s hands and feet were covered with calluses.
******
“It is better for civilization to be going down the drain than to be coming up it.” —
Henry Allen
How is the word ‘statute’ pronounced?
The ‘a’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘cat’, ‘bat’, and ‘rat’, and the ‘t’ that follows
sounds like the ‘ch’ in ‘chat’, ‘chop’, and ‘chips’. The ‘u’ is pronounced like the ‘oo’ in ‘cool’
and ‘pool’, and the final ‘te’ is like the ‘t’ in ‘tip’, ‘tap’, and ‘tin’. The word is pronounced
‘STA-choot’ with the stress on the first syllable. This is one way of pronouncing the word. A
‘statute’ is a law which has been formally approved and written down by a law-making body.
The rules that govern educational institutions are usually referred to as ‘statutes’.
What is the meaning of ‘pet peeve’?

‘Peeve’ rhymes with ‘leave’ and ‘weave’, and it means ‘to annoy’. When you refer to
some activity or behaviour as being your ‘pet peeve’, what you mean is that you don’t like the
activity or behaviour at all. You, in fact, hate it. It is something that you complain about quite
frequently. It is also possible to say, ‘pet hate’.
*Students coming late to class. It’s Meera’s pet peeve.
Is it okay to say ‘disabuse something’?
No, it isn’t. The expression you have in mind is ‘disabuse someone of something’. When
you attempt to ‘disabuse someone of something’, you try to tell the person that the thing he
believes in is not true. You are trying to persuade him that he is mistaken.
*My new boss thinks he’s doing a great job. I’m planning to disabuse him of that notion.
What is the meaning of ‘profundity’?
Before dealing with the meaning, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The ‘o’ and the ‘i’ are
like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The second syllable sounds like the word ‘fund’, and the final ‘y’ is like
the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘pit’, and ‘sit’. The word is pronounced ‘pre-FUN-de-ti’ with the stress on the
second syllable.
When you talk about the profundity of a statement, you are implying that the meaning of
the statement runs deep; the person who has made the remark has a clear and deep understanding
the problem.
What is the difference between ‘harbour someone’ and ‘house someone’?

The two nouns, ‘house’ and ‘harbour’ can be used as verbs as well. When you ‘house’
someone or something, you are providing shelter to the person or thing.
*It’s not possible to house all your relatives in this small flat of ours.
Unlike ‘house’, the word ‘harbour’ when used as a verb has a negative connotation.
When you harbour someone, you are performing an illegal act. You are providing shelter to
someone who is wanted by the law. Fugitives and criminals are harboured.
*Harish didn’t know that he was harbouring a terrorist.
Is it okay to say, ‘He returned back home’?
In India, it is common to hear people say, ‘He returned back the book to the library’ and
‘She returned back from Mumbai yesterday.’ The word ‘return’ means to ‘go/come back’.
Therefore, there is no need for you to say ‘return back’: the word ‘back’ is redundant in this case.
It is okay to say ‘come back’, ‘turn back’, and ‘get back’, but not ‘return back’.
*Please return the book to the library by this evening.
***
“Society, my dear, is like salt water, good to swim in but hard to swallow.” —
Arthur Stringer
March 2009
•What is the difference between ìnvite' and ìnvitation'? (20090317)

•How is the word `zeitgeist' pronounced? (20090317)
•What is the meaning of `cast-iron guarantee'? (20090317)
•Is it okay to say, `He's been depromoted'? (20090317)
•What is the meaning of ìt's your funeral'? (20090317)
•What is the past tense of `slay'? (20090317)
What is the difference between ‘invite’ and ‘invitation’?

Most of us tend to use invite as a verb and invitation as a noun. Pawan made sure that I
wasn’t invited to the wedding. He tore up the invitation that was being sent to me. When used as
a verb, ‘invite’ has the stress on the second syllable: in-VITE. Nowadays, there is a tendency
among native speakers of English to use ‘invite’ as a noun. When used in this manner, it has the
same meaning as ‘invitation’. The stress, however, in this case is on the first syllable: IN-vite.
*Harish was disappointed because he didn’t get an invite to the party.
The use of ‘invite’ as a noun is becoming fairly common in informal contexts. Careful
users of the language, however, frown upon this. They prefer the use of ‘invitation’.
How is the word ‘zeitgeist’ pronounced?
There are several ways of pronouncing this word of German origin. The ‘z’ is like the ‘ts’
in ‘cuts’, ‘huts’, and ‘puts’. A simpler way is to pronounce it like the ‘z’ like the ‘z’ in ‘zip’ and
‘zoo’. The ‘ei’ in the first and second syllable are like the ‘i’ in ‘fight’, ‘might’, and ‘tight’. The
word is pronounced ‘ZAIT-gaist’ or ‘TSAIT-gaist’ with the stress on the first syllable.
‘Zeit’ in German means ‘time’ and ‘geist’ means ‘spirit’. The word literally means ‘spirit
of the time’; the term is normally used to refer to the spirit of the age. Zeitgeist has been defined
as ‘the general set of ideas, beliefs, feelings, etc. which is typical of a particular period in
history.’
What is the meaning of ‘cast-iron guarantee’?
A cast iron is a kind of hard metal which does not bend easily. When you give someone a
cast-iron guarantee about a product, you are telling the person that it can be trusted completely;
there is no way that the product will fail.
*I need a cast-iron guarantee that you won’t exceed the budget.
The word ‘guarantee’ has the stress on the final syllable, and not the first.
Is it okay to say, ‘He’s been depromoted’?

No, it isn’t. Although ‘depromoted’ is a possible word, it does not exist; no dictionary
lists it. The word that you have in mind is ‘demoted’. When you ‘demote’ someone, you lower
his rank or position.
*After the trial, my cousin was demoted from colonel to captain.
What is the meaning of ‘it’s your funeral’?
This is an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts. When you tell someone
that it’s his funeral, what you mean is that the thing he intends to do is rather stupid. In other
words, it’s your way of warning the person that he has made a wrong decision, and he is the one
who is going to suffer the consequences.
*You want to go for a walk at this time of the night? It’s your funeral.
What is the past tense of ‘slay’?
This is a word which is frequently found in newspapers. When you slay someone, you
kill them in a violent manner. ‘Slayed’ and ‘slew’ are often used as the past tense of ‘slay’.
*The villain slayed the villagers and laughed.
The word has another totally different meaning. Slay can also be used to mean to ‘delight
or amuse immensely.’
The stand-up comedian’s jokes slayed the audience.
***
“We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.” — Aesop
February 2009
•Does the word breakfasted exist? (20090224)

•What is the meaning of handsome is as handsome does ? (20090224)
•How is the word askance pronounced? (20090224)
•What is the difference between crisis and crises ? (20090224)
•What is the opposite of comedian ? (20090224)
•How is the word guerdon pronounced? (20090217)
•What is the difference between infiltrator and intruder ? (20090217)
•What is the meaning of play to the gallery ? (20090217)
•How is the word adieu pronounced? (20090217)
•What is the difference between annex and annexe ? (20090203)
•How is the word burgeon pronounced? (20090203)
•What is the meaning of the expression the end justifies the means ? (20090203)
•Is it okay to say I met her yesterday night ? (20090203)
•What does reckon mean? (20090203)
Does the word ‘breakfasted’ exist?
Yes, it does. The word ‘breakfast’ can be used as a verb, and when used in this manner, it
means ‘to eat breakfast’. For example, Ananya prefers to breakfast alone. The children
breakfasted on idlis and puris. The words ‘lunch’ and ‘snack’ can also be used as verbs. My wife
lunched with her clients in a five star hotel. While watching the movie, I snacked on potato
chips. Strangely enough, the word ‘dinner’ is not used as a verb. We don’t hear people saying
they ‘dinnered’ with their friends.
What is the meaning of ‘handsome is as handsome does’?
This is an expression that has been around for several hundred years, and it has the same
meaning as ‘pretty is as pretty does’. Not very helpful, is it? What the expression literally means
is that it is not the looks of the individual that are important, but the good deeds that he performs:
in other words, good behaviour and chivalrous deeds are much more important than good looks.
*Venu may not be much to look at, but he is always helping those who are in need.
Handsome is as handsome does.
According to some scholars, the expression was first recorded by the English poet,
Geoffrey Chaucer. In the movie ‘Forrest Gump’, the main character comes up with his own
version of the proverb: ‘stupid is as stupid does.’
How is the word ‘askance’ pronounced?
The ‘a’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the ‘a’ in the second sounds like
the ‘a’ in ‘ant’, ‘pants’, and ‘hat’. The word is pronounced ‘es-CANS’ with the stress on the
second syllable. It is also possible to pronounce the second ‘a’ like the ‘a’ in ‘park’, ‘dark’, and
‘stars’.
The word is normally used to talk about the kind of look that you give an individual.
When you ‘look askance at someone’, you usually look at him with disapproval or distrust. In
most cases, you don’t look at the person directly; you choose to glance at him sideways. The
word can be used with things as well.
*Raju looked askance at her with his big eyes.
What is the difference between ‘crisis’ and ‘crises’?
‘Crises’ is the plural form of ‘crisis’. There is a difference in the way the two words are
pronounced. The final ‘is’ in ‘crisis’ is like the ‘is’ in ‘fist’, ‘mist’, and ‘gist’. The word is
pronounced ‘CRY-sis’ with the stress on the first syllable. The ‘es’ in ‘crises’ rhymes with ‘eeze’
in words like ‘breeze’, and ‘freeze’, and ‘sneeze’. The word is pronounced ‘CRY-seez’; the
stress remains on the first syllable.
What is the opposite of ‘comedian’?

A person who performs tragic roles on stage is usually referred to as a ‘tragedian’. The
first ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the following ‘e’ is like the ‘ee’ in ‘fees’, ‘bees’, and ‘sees’.
The word is pronounced ‘tre-JEE-dien’ with the stress on the second syllable. Dilip Kumar,
Sivaji Ganesan, and Sanjeev Kumar are some of our well-known tragedians. The two words
‘comedian’ and ‘tragedian’ are usually used to refer to male actors. An actress who specialises in
comic/tragic roles is sometimes called ‘comedienne’/‘tragedienne’. In the case of these two
words, the main stress is on the final syllable ‘enne’. The words are pronounced ‘ke-mee-di-EN’
and ‘tre-jee-di-EN’ respectively.
******
“A poet who reads his verse in public may have other nasty habits.” — Robert Heinlein
How is the word ‘guerdon’ pronounced?
The ‘uer’ in the first syllable sounds like the ‘ir’ in ‘birth’, ‘shirt’, and ‘bird’; the
following ‘o’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced ‘GER-din’ with the stress on the
first syllable. This rather old fashioned word can be used as a noun and a verb.
When used as a noun, it means a reward; a guerdon is something that is given to someone
‘in return for a service or an accomplishment.’ When used as a verb, it means ‘to reward’. In last
year’s National Spelling Bee contest held in the United States, Sameer Mishra was crowned the
champion when he succeeded in spelling the word ‘guerdon’ correctly. The headline in one of
the papers read: National Spelling Bee winner takes the guerdon!
What is the difference between ‘infiltrator’ and ‘intruder’?
When you enter someone’s property without his consent, you become an intruder. This
act may or may not be intentional. You may for example, walk into someone’s property without
being aware of it. Perhaps you failed to see the ‘Keep Out: Private Property’ sign.
The burglar who breaks into your house to steal is also an intruder: only in this case, the
intrusion is deliberate. Both intruders are performing an illegal act; they are both breaking the
law.
The intruders were caught by the students and handed over to the police.
An ‘infiltrator’ always makes use of stealth. He enters an organisation or a country
without others being aware of it. The word has a very negative connotation. An infiltrator is
usually very cunning and invariably plans everything in advance: one cannot become an
‘infiltrator’ by accident. In this case, you are breaking the law deliberately.
The infiltrators were shot while they were attempting to cross the border.
What is the meaning of ‘play to the gallery’?
Most political parties in India have been accused of doing this. When you say that
someone is playing to the gallery, you mean that instead of spending time doing things that are
important, he’s busy trying to win the approval of those around him. The person, instead of
doing his job, is keen on winning popularity.
If you want the new Director to play to the gallery, then Bala is a bad choice.
This idiom has been around for several hundred years. Originally, the word ‘gallery’
referred to the cheapest seats in a theatre. Since people who sat in the gallery were poor and not
very sophisticated, any artist or writer who tried to win their approval was seen as doing
something demeaning. He was trying to win approval by appealing to popular taste.
How is the word ‘adieu’ pronounced?
The ‘a’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the following ‘dieu’ sounds like
the word ‘due’. The word is pronounced ‘e-DUE’ with the stress on the second syllable, and it
means ‘good bye’. Remember the song ‘So long, farewell’ from the movie ‘Sound of Music’?
The word ‘adieu’ is used in it quite a few times.
*****
“What’s the difference between a boy friend and a husband? About 30 pounds!” —
Cindy Gardner
What is the difference between ‘annex’ and ‘annexe’?
In British English, the first is a verb and the second, a noun. There are several pairs like
this in English: envelope (noun) and envelop (verb) is one such pair. Some people pronounce the
‘a’ in ‘annex’ like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the following ‘nex’ like the word ‘necks’. In this case,
the word is pronounced ‘a-NEX’ with the stress on the second syllable. As a noun, the ‘a’ is
pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘ant’ and ‘apple’: the word is pronounced ‘A-nex’ with the stress on
the first syllable. Americans, however, don’t maintain this distinction in spelling. Both words are
usually spelt ‘annex’.
An extension or an addition to the main building is called an ‘annexe’. A section that is
added to an existing document can also be called an ‘annexe’. When you ‘annex’ someone’s
property, you take it away from him by force – usually without his permission. During times of
war, this is what countries do.
*My friend tells me that during World War II Germany annexed a part of
Czechoslovakia.
How is the word ‘burgeon’ pronounced?
The ‘ur’ sounds like the ‘ur’ in ‘fur’, ‘purr’, and ‘curd’. The ‘g’ is like the ‘j’ in ‘jam’,
‘juice’, and ‘jump’, and the final ‘eo’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced
‘BER-jen’ with the stress on the first syllable. When ‘burgeon’ is used in relation to plants, it
means ‘to put out leaves; sprout’. In everyday context, the word can be used to mean ‘to grow or
flourish’.
*After winning the first set, the champion’s confidence began to burgeon.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘the end justifies the means’?
There are times when in order to achieve something, we have to do certain things that are
not necessarily good. For example, builders cut down trees and destroy beautiful rock formations
in order to construct their buildings. Some would say that in this case, the end justifies the
means. That is, any method that we adopt is okay as long as the intent is good. It doesn’t really
matter if we resort to any wrong doing in order to achieve our aim.
If it means chopping down 200 trees in order to build this shopping complex, it doesn’t
matter. In my opinion, the end justifies the means.
Is it okay to say ‘I met her yesterday night’?
No, it isn’t. English allows you to say ‘yesterday morning’, ‘yesterday afternoon’, and
‘yesterday evening’, but not ‘yesterday night’. When it comes to ‘night’, it is always ‘last night’.
Why? Well, some scholars argue that we cannot say ‘yesterday night’ because ‘the night is also
part of today’!
What does ‘reckon’ mean?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation. ‘Reck’ rhymes with ‘peck’, ‘deck’, and ‘check’,
and the ‘o’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The stress is on the first syllable. In informal contexts, the
word can be used to mean ‘think or believe’.
*My friend reckons that we will have a surprise test tomorrow.
The word can also be used to mean ‘to consider’. For example, “Ashok is reckoned to be
one of the best teachers in the university.” The word has other meanings as well. We’ll deal with
them later.
******
“Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.” —
P. J. O’Rourke
January 2009
•What is the meaning of redress ? (20090127)
•What is the meaning of webinar ? (20090127)
•How is the word oust pronounced? (20090127)
•What is the difference between breeze away and breeze through ? (20090127)
•Is it okay to say His resignation has been be sanctioned ? (20090127)
•When you are writing a cheque, which of the following is correct Two hundred and fifty
five or Two hundred fifty five? (20090127)
•When do we say `Yours faithfully' and `Yours sincerely' in a letter? (20090120)
•How is the word `rotund' pronounced? (20090120)
•Is it okay to say, `happen upon someone'? (20090120)
•What's the difference between `gawk at' and `gaze at'? (20090120)
•What is the meaning of the expression `catch a few rays'? (20090120)
•What is the meaning and origin of `whale of a time'? (20090113)
•How is `nouveau riche' pronounced? (20090113)
•When `leave' is used to mean vacation, is it okay to say `number of leave/leaves taken'?
(20090113)
•Why is money referred to as `bucks'? (20090113)
•How is the word `manoeuvre' pronounced? (20090106)
•What is the meaning of `demarche'? (20090106)
•What is the difference between `talk to' and `talk with'? (20090106)
•What is the meaning and origin of `baker's dozen'? (20090106)
What is the meaning of ‘redress’?
The ‘e’ in the first syllable sounds like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘hit’, and the second
syllable is pronounced like the word ‘dress’. This formal word can be used as a noun and a verb,
and in both cases, the stress can be put on the second syllable. This is just one of the ways of
pronouncing the word. Sometimes, when we injure someone or treat someone badly, we are
forced to pay them some form of compensation. This money that we pay the individual is called
‘redress’. When used as a verb, the word means to ‘to make up for or compensate’. The word
comes from ‘re’ meaning ‘again’ and ‘drecier’ meaning ‘straighten’.
*The Chief Minister, as expected, refused to redress the grievances of teachers.
‘Redressal’, a word which is frequently employed in Indian English, does exist. It is not,
however, listed in all dictionaries.
What is the meaning of ‘webinar’?

The word is a combination of ‘web’ and ‘seminar’. A ‘webinar’ is a seminar that is
transmitted over the web; it involves a lot of interaction between the participants. The term can
be used to refer to a presentation, lecture or workshop that is broadcast over the web.
I’m afraid I won’t be able to come. I’m taking part in a webinar.
How is the word ‘oust’ pronounced?
The ‘ou’ is like the ‘ou’ in ‘out’, ‘shout’, and ‘bout’; the final ‘st’ is like the ‘st’ in ‘sting’,
‘step’, and ‘stump’. When you oust someone, you force the individual to leave a position of
power; you remove the person from the position he/she has occupied.
There’s no way we can oust him now. We must bid our time.
What is the difference between ‘breeze away’ and ‘breeze through’?
When you breeze through an assignment, you manage to do it quickly without too much
difficulty. You find the task rather easy.
I thought I’d be able to breeze through the test. I was sadly mistaken.
After breezing through her chores, my mother went out for a walk.
The expression can also be used to mean ‘to travel through a place rapidly’. In this case,
you don’t make a stop.
It was getting late. The candidate just breezed through several small towns
When you ‘breeze away’ from some place, you leave it quickly or abruptly. It has) more
or less the same meaning as ‘breeze off’.
Namratha breezed away without even thanking the hosts.
The CEO stopped in mid sentence and just breezed away.
Is it okay to say ‘His resignation has been be sanctioned’?
No, it isn’t. Sanction is not a word that one associates with resignation. One can sanction
someone’s leave, budget, project, etc. Resignations are either accepted or rejected.
When you are writing a cheque, which of the following is correct ‘Two hundred and
fifty five’ or ‘Two hundred fifty five?’
Both are correct. It depends on which side of the Atlantic you are from. If you are British,
then you would use ‘and’. Americans, I understand, tend to write the amount without the ‘and’.
Most Indians tend to follow the British.
***
“If it’s sent by ship, then it’s cargo; if it’s sent by road, it’s shipment.” — David Allen
When do we say ‘Yours faithfully’ and ‘Yours sincerely’ in a letter?
What do you normally do when you are writing a letter of complaint to a company and
don’t know the name of the person to whom the letter should be addressed? You invariably begin
the correspondence with the salutation ‘Dear Sir’. If you are not sure whether you are writing to
a man or a woman, you cover your bases by writing ‘Dear Sir/Madam’. When you begin a letter
in this fashion, the standard complimentary ending is ‘Yours faithfully’.
‘Yours sincerely’, like ‘Yours faithfully’, is mostly used in formal letters. If you know
the name of the person you are writing to, then the standard ending is ‘Yours sincerely’. If you
begin a letter in the following manner, ‘Dear Dr. Raman’ or ‘Dear Mr. Gupta’, the usual formal
ending is ‘Yours sincerely’. The standard ending in American English is ‘Sincerely yours’.
Sometimes, they shorten it to ‘Sincerely’.
How is the word ‘rotund’ pronounced?
The ‘ro’ rhymes with ‘so’, ‘no’, and ‘go’, and the following syllable sounds like the
words ‘fund’ and ‘stunned’. The word is pronounced ‘row-TUND’ with the stress on the second
syllable. This is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word. The word can be used to describe
both people and objects. When you describe someone as being rotund, you mean the person
is….you guessed it….round in shape. In other words, he is rather plump.
*They made an odd couple. She was tall and slim, and he was short and rotund.
Is it okay to say, ‘happen upon someone’?
Yes, it is. When you ‘happen upon/on someone’, you run into the person. You meet the
person accidentally; there is no planning involved in this case. It is also possible to say ‘happen
on something’.
*The millionaire happened on a house he liked. So he bought it.
What’s the difference between ‘gawk at’ and ‘gaze at’?
Both expressions mean to look at someone or something; the difference lies in the way
you look at the object. When you gaze at someone, you look at the person for a long time with an
intense expression on your face: the expression can be one of admiration or surprise. One can
also gaze at someone or something in an absent minded sort of way.
*The students gazed at the ageing actor with admiration.
A ‘gawk’ is a lout. He is someone who is rather stupid and clumsy; he often behaves
rather rudely. When you gawk at someone, you look at the person with a stupid or rude
expression on your face.
*Don’t just stand there gawking. Lend me a hand, will you?
What is the meaning of the expression ‘catch a few rays’?
The expression is mostly used in informal contexts. The word ‘rays’ refers to sun rays; so
when you say that you would like to catch a few rays, you are saying that you wish lie down or
sit outside in the sun. It is also possible to say ‘catch some rays’. People who live in cold places
like to catch some rays every now and then.
*He spent the early morning on the beach catching some rays.
*I think I’ll read the paper outside and catch a few rays.
***
ÜEuphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne.” — Quentin Crisp
What is the meaning and origin of ‘whale of a time’?
When you say that you had a ‘whale of a time’ somewhere, what you mean is that you
had a wonderful or a great time. It is an informal way of saying that you had a blast.
*The children had a whale of a time at the party on Friday.
The whale, as everyone knows, is the largest mammal on this planet. The blue whale can
sometimes grow to over a hundred feet long. Therefore when you say ‘a whale of something’,
what you mean is ‘a large or big amount of something’.
*If we put in another Rs. 20000, it will make a whale of a difference.
In this context, what you are trying to say is that the money will make a big difference.
How is ‘nouveau riche’ pronounced?

The ‘ou’ sounds like the ‘oo’ in ‘pool’, ‘fool’, and ‘cool’, and the following ‘eau’ is like
the ‘o’ in ‘so’, ‘no’, and ‘go’. The ‘i’ in ‘riche’ is like the ‘ee’ in ‘need’, ‘seed’, and ‘feed’; the
final ‘che’ is pronounced like the ‘sh’ in ‘ship’, ‘sheet’, and ‘sheep’. The word is pronounced
‘nuu-voe RIISH’ with the stress on the second word. ‘Nouveau riche’ is of French origin, and it
literally means ‘new rich’. The expression is mostly used to refer to people who have come into
money recently, and who like to display their new-found wealth in a crass manner. They lack the
sophistication of those who were born wealthy and have been wealthy over generations. The
expression is mostly used to show disapproval.
*According to my wife, the new club is extremely popular with the city’s nouveau riche.
When ‘leave’ is used to mean vacation, is it okay to say ‘number of leave/leaves

taken’?
No, it isn’t. When ‘leave’ is used to mean ‘vacation’, it is used as an uncountable noun;
you cannot say ‘leaves’. The expression ‘a number of’ is always followed by a countable noun.
For example, “A number of students were present at the meeting”, and “A number of children
took ill after eating the ice cream.” You cannot say, “a number of leaves/leave”. If you wish to
use “number of” with “leave”, then you’ll have to say, “Number of days taken as leave”.
*I plan to be on leave all of next week.
Why is money referred to as ‘bucks’?
There was a time when the term bucks was only used to refer to the American dollar.
Nowadays, the word is used to refer to money in general. Even the Indian rupee, in informal
contexts, is being called a buck.
*Who is making the big bucks in your family?
The invention of paper money is a recent phenomenon. In the old days, when people
wanted to buy something, they usually traded or bartered what they had. When a hunter wanted
grain from a farmer, he usually traded animal skin or dried meat for it. The term ‘buck’ is
actually the short form of ‘buckskin’. A buck, as you know is a male deer; ‘buckskin’, therefore,
is the skin of this deer. Hunters, when they did business made use of ‘buckskins’. Later on, with
the passage of time, the word ‘buckskin’ in everyday conversation was shortened to ‘buck’.
When paper money was introduced much later, people began to call it ‘buck’.
***
“Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell, the name will
carry.” — Bill Cosby
How is the word `manoeuvre' pronounced?
The à' in the first syllable and the `re' in the final syllable are like the à' in `china'. The
òeu' sounds like the òo' in `cool', `pool', and `fool'. The word is pronounced `me- NOO-ve' with
the stress on the second syllable. It can be used both as a noun and a verb. A manoeuvre is a
movement or a set of movements needing a certain amount of skill to be carried out.
These are the manoeuvres you have to do to be part of this dancing troupe. When used as
a verb, the word means to manipulate a situation in order to achieve a particular goal. In other
words, you cleverly plan everything so that you get what you want. The word at times has a
negative connotation.
The students manoeuvred the Vice Chancellor into dropping the charges.
What is the meaning of `demarche'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of the word. The first syllable `de' is pronounced
like the word `day'. The following àr' is like the à' in `path', àsk', and `bath'; the final `che'
sounds like the `sh' in `ship', `sheet', and `shin'.
The word is pronounced `DAY-maash' with the stress on the first syllable. Some people
put the stress on the second. In the world of diplomacy, the word is used to mean a formal appeal
or protest by a diplomat. A demarche is a formal diplomatic representation which one country
makes to another. In this representation, a country states its official position on a particular
subject. The word can also be used to refer to the written statements or protests presented to the
public officials by private citizens.
What is the difference between `talk to' and `talk with'?
The expression `talk to' has several different meanings. When you talk to someone, you
speak to him. You may spend a short time or a long time speaking to the in dividual.
I'll talk to my wife and let you know what she thinks. The expression can also be used to
mean to scold or lecture someone. In this case, it's more of a monologue than a dialogue.
I think you should give your daughter a good talking to. She's hasn't been doing her
assignments. When you talk with someone, you discuss something with him. The amount of time
that you spend with the individual is usually long: in this case, there is a conversation.
Ananya spent an hour talking with her father about her new bat.
What is the meaning and origin of `baker's dozen'?
Number 13 is believed to be an unlucky number by a lot of people. Many hotels, in fact,

do not have a room which is numbered 13. In some high rise buildings, you may find the 13th
floor missing! When you say that you want a baker's dozen of something, it means you want 13
pieces of it. Baker's dozen means 13.
How many loaves do we need? I'd say a baker's dozen. This is an idiom which owes its
existence to a practice that was started during medieval England. In 1266, a law was passed in
Parliament which specified exactly how much each loaf of bread must weigh. When a baker sold
a loaf that was less than the specified amount, a heavy penalty was imposed on him. To prevent
this from happening, a baker always added an extra loaf. If you bought twelve loaves of bread,
the baker gave you 13: just to make sure that he wasn't penalised.
***
"Those who go to college and never get out are called professors." - George Givot
December 2008
•What is the meaning and origin of at the fall of a hat ? (20081230)

•How is the word vouchsafe pronounced? (20081230)
•What is the meaning of Hippopotomonstro- sesquippedaliophobia ? (20081230)
•Which is correct: sons in law or son in laws? (20081230)
•What is the difference between portent and portend ? (20081223)
•What is the meaning of tchotchke ? How is it pronounced? (20081223)
•What is the meaning and origin of the idiom take something with a grain of salt ?
(20081223)
•What is the meaning of academic bulimia ? (20081216)
•How is the word potpourri pronounced? (20081216)
•What is the difference between prescribe and proscribe ? (20081216)
•What is the meaning of be up with the larks ? (20081216)
•What is the meaning and origin of `pull out all the stops'? (20081209)
•How is the word àngst' pronounced? (20081209)
•Which is correct: `grumble about' or `grumble at'? (20081209)
•Is it ok to say, Ì was confident on hitting the shot'? (20081209)
•What is the meaning of `tease' in `tease something out of someone'? (20081209)
•What is the meaning and origin of the idiom roll out the red carpet ? (20081202)
•How is the word caveat pronounced? (20081202)
•What is the opposite of uxoricide ? (20081202)
•Which is correct: different from or different than ? (20081202)
•How is the word sepulchre pronounced? (20081202)
What is the meaning and origin of ‘at the fall of a hat’?
The expression is ‘at the drop of a hat’ and not ‘at the fall of a hat’. When you do
something at the drop of a hat, you do it suddenly, without any real preparation. Whatever you
do, you do at the spur of the moment.
*The Vice-Chancellor kept changing the rules at the drop of a hat.
The expression comes from the world of boxing and racing. Nowadays, the
commencement of a boxing bout is signalled by the ringing of a bell. The same is true of a horse
race. In the old days, people did not use a bell. Instead, they preferred to use a hat. Why a hat?
Because everyone wore one: it was fashionable for both men and women to wear hats. In order
to signal the beginning of a fight, the referee used to remove his hat from his head and then drop
it. Once the hat was dropped, the boxers came out swinging.
How is the word ‘vouchsafe’ pronounced?

The first syllable ‘vouch’ rhymes with ‘couch’, ‘pouch’, and ‘ouch’, and the final syllable
is pronounced like the word ‘safe’. The word which is mostly used in formal contexts is
pronounced ‘vouch-SAFE’ with the stress on the second syllable. When you vouchsafe
something to someone, you grant the person something in a rather condescending manner. The
word literally means ‘vouch as safe’.
*The eccentric billionaire vouchsafed his driver three bars of gold.
What is the meaning of ‘Hippopotomonstro- sesquippedaliophobia’?
Pretty long word, isn’t it? Let me tell you it is not the fear of the hippopotamus. We all
know what ‘phobia’ means: it is the fear of something. ‘Hippopoto’ comes from ‘hippopotamus’,
and ‘monstro’ comes from of ‘monstrum’ meaning ‘monster’. ‘Sesquippedalio’ comes from
‘sesquipedalian’ meaning someone who loves to use extremely long words.
‘Sesquipedalophobia’ means the fear of long words. And that’s what the 15 syllable word
hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia means: the fear of long words. The ‘hippopoto’ and
‘monstro’ have been merely added to make the word longer! The word can be spelt in different
ways.
*I’m not like you. I suffer from a mild form of hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia.
Which is correct: sons in law or son in laws?
There was a time when only ‘sons in law’ was considered correct. Nowadays, there is a
tendency to add the plural form to ‘law’: hence we have ‘son in laws’, ‘mother in laws’, ‘sister in
laws’, etc. Although both ‘son in laws’ and ‘sons in law’ are correct, careful users of the
language still prefer the latter.
***
“Politics is just show business for ugly people.”
— Jay Leno
What is the difference between ‘portent’ and ‘portend’?
One is a noun and the other is a verb; the two words are pronounced differently.
‘POR-tent’, which is a noun, has the stress on the first syllable; while ‘por-TEND’, which is a
verb, has the stress on the second. A ‘portent’ is an omen; it is a sign that something bad is likely
to happen in the future.
*The CEO believes that the last minute cancellation is a portent of the disasters to come.
The verb ‘portend’ means to serve as a warning.
*If you ask me, Yogesh’s unusual silence portends trouble.
What is the meaning of ‘tchotchke’? How is it pronounced?
p>
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of this Yiddish word. The word can be spelt in
different ways and also pronounced differently. The ‘tch’ at the beginning and end of the first
syllable is pronounced like the ‘ch’ in ‘cheese’, ‘cheat’, and ‘cheap’. The ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in
‘hot’, ‘got’, and ‘pot’, and the final ‘e’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced
‘CHOCH-ke’ with the stress on the first syllable.
The word is mostly used in American English to show disapproval. ‘Tchotchke’ refers to
the inexpensive toys or trinkets which are sold on the roadside or in small shops. These items are
of cheap quality and are of little value. Nowadays, the word is being used to refer to the
souvenirs or promotional items which companies hand out at trade shows. These items usually
have the company’s name or logo on them.
What is the meaning and origin of the idiom ‘take something with a grain of salt’?
This is an idiom which has been part of the English language since the mid-17th century.
When someone tells you something, and you take it with a grain or pinch of salt, you do not
believe everything he has said: you are sceptical about some of the information that has been
given to you. You have certain reservations.
*Politicians exaggerate. You must take whatever they say with a grain/pinch of salt.
The idiom is a translation of the Latin ‘cum grano salis’. According to some scholars,
Pliny the Elder, in his book Naturalis Historia, wrote that Pompey (Julius Caesar’s son-in-law)
had discovered that his enemy, Mathridates, had found the perfect antidote to poison. Pliny said
that for this antidote to work effectively, it had to be taken with a pinch of salt! Readers however
thought that the reference to salt was a tongue-in-cheek remark: something that was not to be
taken seriously. Another theory which has been put forward is that the idiom comes from the
world of dining: a sprinkling of salt can make something insipid a little more palatable.
What is the meaning of ‘academic bulimia’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘bulimia’. The ‘u’ in the first syllable is like the
‘u’ in ‘full’, ‘pull’, and ‘bull’. Some people pronounce the first ‘i’ like the ‘ea’ in ‘feat’, ‘meat’
and ‘seat’; others pronounce it like the ‘i’ in ‘it’ and ‘bit’. Whether you pronounce the word
‘bu-LIM-ia’ or ‘bu-LEEM-ia’, the stress is on the second syllable. These are just two of the ways
of pronouncing the word.
Bulimia is a disorder. Some people have a craving for food, and when they eat, they
proceed to stuff themselves. Once they have finished eating, they usually rush to the bathroom
and force themselves to vomit. This act of eating enormous amounts of food and then proceeding
to vomit everything is called ‘bulimia’.
Academic bulimia is something that we Indians specialise in. What is it that we do during
the time of exams? We usually mug up the answers to all possible questions, and the following
day we reproduce everything we have memorised; most of the time, with little or no
understanding. This ability that we have to ‘disgorge’ answers is called ‘academic bulimia’.
Don’t be fooled by his marks. He doesn’t know a thing. What you see on paper is
academic bulimia.
How is the word ‘potpourri’ pronounced?

The ‘t’ is silent; the ‘po’ in the first syllable rhymes with ‘so’ and ‘no’. The ‘ou’ sounds
like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the final ‘i’ is like the ‘ee’ in ‘bees’, ‘fees’ and ‘sees’. The word is
pronounced ‘po-pe-REE’ with the main stress on the final syllable. This is just one of the ways
of pronouncing the word. A bowl of potpourri usually consists of an assortment of dry petals and
leaves from different plants and flowers. It is usually placed in a room to give the place a
pleasant smell. The word has acquired a general meaning as well. It can be used to mean
‘medley’ or ‘mixed bag’: a collection, consisting of unrelated things is also called ‘potpourri’.
My favourite author’s latest book is a potpourri of essays and short stories.
What is the difference between ‘prescribe’ and ’proscribe’?
When you ‘prescribe’, you are advising someone as to what he must do. The word can
also mean ‘order the use of’. You are laying down rules as to what it is that needs to be done.
When a doctor prescribes medicine, he is telling us how it should be taken. The word ‘prescribe’
is related to ‘prescription’.
My nephew believes that the doctor may prescribe a course of injections.
When the government ‘proscribes’ someone from doing something, it is forbidding or
banning the individual from doing it. ‘Proscribe’ is mostly used in formal contexts.
Some of the prescribed books are written so badly, they should be proscribed.
What is the meaning of ‘be up with the larks’?
A lark is a bird which starts singing quite early in the morning. Therefore, when you say
that you were up with the larks, what you mean is that you got up very early in the morning.
Australians say ‘be up with the crows’.
I’m feeling rather sleepy. I was up with the larks this morning.
“Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.” — Claud Cockburn
What is the meaning and origin of `pull out all the stops'?
This is an idiom which has been part of the English language for several centuries. When
you pull out all the stops, you do everything possible to make something a success.
*The local police pulled out all the stops to find the terrorists.
The expression comes from the world of music. The pipe organ, an instrument which is
usually played in church, has small knobs which are referred to as stops. These knobs or `stops',
control the amount of air flowing through the pipes of the organ. When a stop is pulled out, the
volume increases. The more stops you pull out, the louder the organ gets.
How is the word àngst' pronounced?
The àn' in the first syllable is like the àn' in `sang', `bang', and `pang'. The `g' is like the
`k' in `kiss' and `kid', and the final `st' is pronounced like the `st' in `stop', `step', and `stink'. The
word consists of only one syllable and is pronounced ànkst'. In German, it means `fear' or
ànxiety'. In English, the word is mostly used to refer to the feeling of unhappiness or insecurity
that we get from time to time.
*Don't worry about it too much. I'm sure it's just teenage angst.
Which is correct: `grumble about' or `grumble at'?
Both are correct. One can `grumble about' someone or something, but one can only
`grumble at' someone. When you grumble about someone or something, you are complaining to
a person about someone or something in a bad-tempered way. You are making it obvious to the
listener that you are rather unhappy about someone or something.
*Janaki is constantly grumbling about something or the other.
When you `grumble at' someone, you are complaining to the individual.
*I'm sick of listening to your complaints. Go grumble at someone else.
Is it ok to say, Ì was confident on hitting the shot'?
We Indians are very fond of the word òn'. We often hear people say that they are àngry
on' someone and `confident on' doing something. The word `confident' is not followed by òn';
one is seldom `confident on' doing something. One is always confident òf' doing something.
*Girija was confident of defeating her inexperienced opponent.
What is the meaning of `tease' in `tease something out of someone'?
The word `tease' has several different meanings. When you `tease someone', you make
fun of the person. When you attempt to `tease something out of someone', you try to extract
information from that person - you usually succeed in getting what you want.
*Ask Rohini to talk to him. I'm sure she'll be able to tease the information out of him.
The expression can also be used to mean `to lure something out of something by teasing
or tempting'.
*Usha managed to tease the puppy out from under the bed with a slice of bed.
The act of running your fingers or comb through your hair in order to remove the tangled
knots is also called `teasing'.
*Gayathri spent a couple of hours teasing out the knots in her daughter's hair.
***
"Today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is
some evidence they can't read them either." -Gore Vidal
What is the meaning and origin of the idiom ‘roll out the red carpet’?
This is something that people do when they wish to welcome or entertain someone whom
they consider to be special. When you roll out the red carpet for someone, you are giving him a
very special welcome. When you give someone the ’red carpet treatment’, you treat the person
like royalty.
*When he arrived in Mumbai, the actor was given the red carpet treatment.
In the old days whenever the king and the queen stepped out of the palace, a red carpet
was spread out for them to walk on. Nowadays it is rolled out for everyone: heads of state,
actors, sportsmen, etc. There was a time when people thought that walking on the red carpet was
“fit only for the feet of gods.”
How is the word ‘caveat’ pronounced?
The ‘ca’ in the first syllable is like the ‘ca’ in ‘cat’ and ‘cab’; the ‘at’ in the final syllable
is pronounced like the word ‘at’. The ‘e’ sounds like the ‘i’ in ‘it’ and ‘bit’. The word is
pronounced ‘ka-vi-at’ with the stress on the first syllable. Some people pronounce the ‘a’ in the
first syllable like the ‘ay’ in ‘say’ and ‘may’. A ‘caveat’ is a warning or a caution. The word
comes from the Latin ‘cavere’ meaning ‘let him beware’. ‘Caveat’ is frequently used in the
context of law to mean ‘a formal notice to suspend action until the party that filed the action can
be heard’.
*I think we can go ahead with the plan, but with certain caveats.
What is the opposite of ‘uxoricide’?
When a man kills his wife, it is called ‘uxoricide’. The word ‘uxor’ in Latin means ‘wife’
and ‘cide’ means ‘to kill or cut’. The opposite of ‘uxoricide’ is ‘mariticide’; it is derived from the
word ‘maritus’ meaning ‘married’. ‘Mariticide’ is actually the killing of one’s married partner; it
could be the husband or the wife. Nowadays, however, the word is being used to refer to the
murder of the husband by the wife.
*The police have taken the wife into custody. They say it’s a case of mariticide.
Which is correct: ‘different from’ or ‘different than’?
Both are correct. It just depends on which side of the Atlantic you are from. Something
can be very ‘different from’ or ‘different than’ something else. ‘Different from’ is used in both
British and American English, while ‘different than’ is restricted to American English.
*The life that these villagers lead is so different from/than ours.
*My daughter’s new school is very different from/than the old one.
‘Different to’ is used in British English, and it has the more or less the same meaning as
‘different from’.
******
“Everywhere I go I’m asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that
they don’t stifle enough of them.” — Flannery O’Connor.
How is the word ‘sepulchre’ pronounced?
The ‘e’ in the first syllable is like the ‘e’ in ‘set’ and ‘pet’; the ‘u’ and the final ‘re’ sound
like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘ch’ is like the ‘k’ in ‘king’ and ‘kid’. The word is pronounced
‘se-pel-ke’ with the stress on the first syllable. In American English, the word is spelt
‘sepulcher’. The word ‘sepulchre’ is considered literary, and is used to refer to a tomb or a burial
chamber.
November 2008
•What is the difference between averse and adverse ? (20081125)

•What is the meaning of pigeonhole someone ? (20081125)
•Is it okay to say that something was frightfully good ? (20081125)
•What is the difference between license and licence ? (20081125)
•How is the word scintillating pronounced? (20081118)
•What is the difference between autopsy and post mortem ? (20081118)
•What is the meaning of the expression grow on someone ? (20081118)
•What is the meaning of putsch ? (20081111)
•How is the word bourgeois pronounced? (20081111)
•What is the meaning of the expression in the thick of things ? (20081111)
•What is the difference in meaning between continually and continuously ? (20081111)
•What is the difference between however and how ever ? (20081111)
•How is the word `malaise' pronounced? (20081104)
•What is the difference between `prevaricate' and `procrastinate'? (20081104)
•Which is correct: `Half of my friends are in America' or `Half my friends are in America'?
(20081104)
•What is the meaning of `blow away the cobwebs'? (20081104)
What is the difference between ‘averse’ and ‘adverse’?
If you are ‘averse’ to something, you are strongly opposed to it. You disapprove of it, and
are therefore reluctant or disinclined to do it. The word is usually followed by ‘to’. In British
English, ‘averse’ has the stress on the second syllable.
My friend Kalpana is averse to any form of exercise.
Like most politicians, he is not averse to publicity.
‘Adverse’, on the other hand, means ‘having negative or harmful effect on something’.
When something adverse happens, something ‘unfavourable’ takes place. The word is normally
used to refer to external circumstances.
They decided to call off the match due to adverse weather conditions.
The British put the stress on the first syllable, and the Americans put it on the second.
What is the meaning of ‘pigeonhole someone’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘pigeon’. The ‘g’ sounds like the ‘j’ in ‘jam’
and ‘juice’; and the final ‘eon’ is pronounced like the word ‘in’.
The word is pronounced ‘pij-in’ with the stress on the first syllable. When you
‘pigeonhole someone’ or ‘put someone in a pigeonhole’, you put him in a particular category
without really considering all his qualities. The opinion you have of the individual remains fixed,
and there’s nothing that the person can do to get you to change your mind. Pigeonholing often
results in classifying someone in a rather rigid manner. This expression, mostly used to show
disapproval, can be used with both people and things.
Kunthala’s grandson has been unfortunately pigeonholed as a problem child.
Is it okay to say that something was ‘frightfully good’?
Yes, it is. ‘Frightfully’ does not mean ‘frightening’. When you say that something is
‘frightfully good’, you mean that it is ‘extremely good’ or ‘very good’. This use of the word
‘frightfully’ is mostly heard in British English; it is, however, considered rather old fashioned.
Tapas, you must see the movie. It is frightfully good.
We are frightfully sorry about the commotion we caused last night.
What is the difference between ‘license’ and ‘licence’?
There are several pairs like this in English – for instance, advice, advise; practice,
practise; licence, license. The British make a distinction between such pairs. The words ‘advice’,
‘practice’, and ‘licence’ are usually used as nouns. ‘Practise’, ‘advise’, and ‘license’, on the other
hand, are always used as verbs. A ‘licence’ is what you need to drive a car.
The well known spy, James Bond, has licence to kill. When you grant license to
someone, you give them permission. Many hotels in India are not licensed to sell liquor. People
in the army are licensed to carry guns.
When it comes to spelling, Americans don’t make a distinction between such pairs. Both
the noun and the verb are usually spelt with an ‘s’: practise, advise, and license.
“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to
make it worth your effort.” — Herm Albright
How is the word ‘scintillating’ pronounced?
Many people pronounce the first syllable like the word ‘skin’. This, however, is wrong.
The ‘c’ is silent; therefore, the first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘sin’. The ‘i’ in the
second syllable is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘kit’, and the ‘lat’ is pronounced like the word
‘late’. The word is pronounced ‘sin-ti-late-ing’ with the stress is on the first syllable.
A conversation that is ‘scintillating’ is witty, interesting and clever. The word comes
from the Latin ‘scintillare’ meaning ‘to sparkle’.
*The conversation during the meal was anything but scintillating.
What is the difference between ‘autopsy’ and ‘post mortem’?
According to most dictionaries, the two words mean the same thing. When a doctor does
a ‘post mortem’ or an ‘autopsy’, he examines the body of a dead person. The body is usually cut
open in order to determine the cause of death. Autopsy seems to be the preferred term in the case
of a homicide.
*We don’t know the cause of death. We’ll have to do an autopsy/a post mortem.
The word autopsy literally means ‘seeing with one’s own eyes’. ‘Post mortem’, meaning
‘after death’, is actually a shortening of ‘post mortem examination’. Unlike the word ‘autopsy’,
‘post mortem’ can be used in general contexts as well. When you conduct a post mortem of an
event, you review it; you usually examine it to determine why the event failed.
*After every match, the coach spends half an hour doing a post mortem.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘grow on someone’?
When we meet someone for the first time, we may not like the person. As we interact
with him more and more, we slowly begin to like him. This is what we mean by the expression
‘grow on someone’. We begin to like someone whom we weren’t favourably disposed to in the
beginning. The expression can be used with things as well.
*The first time I heard the song, I didn’t like it. Now it’s beginning to grow on me.
***
“The saying, ‘Getting there is half the fun’ became obsolete with the advent of
commercial airlines.” — Henry J. Tillman
What is the meaning of ‘putsch’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The ‘u’ is like the ‘u’ in ‘put’, ‘full’, and ‘pull’;
the final ‘tsch’ sounds like the ‘ch’ in ‘child’, ‘cheap’, and ‘chips’. The word is pronounced
‘puch’. A ‘putsch’ is a sudden attempt by a group of people to overthrow a government through
forceful means. The word is German in origin, and it means ‘a sudden blow, push’.
*The dictator has brought in many changes since the failed putsch.
How is the word ‘bourgeois’ pronounced?
The ‘our’ in the first syllable sounds like the ‘aw’ in ‘claw’ and ‘flaw’. The ‘g’ is like the
‘s’ in ‘measure’ and ‘treasure’; this is followed by the sound ‘w’ – as in ‘wet’, ‘week’, and
‘west’. The ‘eois’ in the final syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘ask’, ‘task’, and ‘mask’. The word is
pronounced ‘baw-zhwaa’ with the stress on the first syllable. This is one way of pronouncing the
word.
‘Bourgeois’ is a word of French origin and it is mostly used to show disapproval. If you
describe someone’s attitude as being ‘bourgeois’, what you mean is that it is rather conventional;
it is very middle class.
*Very soon there is going to be a backlash against the current bourgeois materialism.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘in the thick of things’?

This is an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts. When you say that
someone is in the thick of things, what you mean is that he is deeply involved in something; in
other words, he is taking an active part in it.
*There was a fierce battle going on, and Suresh found himself in the thick of it.
What is the difference in meaning between ‘continually’ and ‘continuously’?
If you work ‘continuously’ for four hours, you work non-stop for four hours. You don’t
take a break in between; you work without any interruption.
*Standing on top of the dune, all she saw was a continuous stretch of sand.
If you say you have been working continually for several hours, it implies you’ve spent
most of your time working. In this case, you didn’t work non-stop; you worked with
interruptions. Maybe you took a five-minute break after every hour of work you put in. These
breaks may have been either voluntary or involuntary. The word ‘continually’ is used to refer to
repeated action.
*Our neighbour’s new dog continually barked all night.
According to some commentators, this subtle distinction between the two words is no
longer being maintained by many speakers of English.
What is the difference between ‘however’ and ‘how ever’?
‘However’, as one word, is normally used to introduce a statement which contrasts with
something you had said earlier.
*Hema is usually very reserved. At the party, however, she let her hair down.
The word can also be used in sentences to mean ‘to whatever degree’.
*However hard you try, you won’t be able to defeat him.
‘How ever’ is normally used to show surprise. According to the Oxford Advanced
Learner’s Dictionary, “When ‘ever’ is used to emphasise ‘how’, meaning in what way or
manner, it is written as two separate words."
*How ever did Maya manage to get here so quickly?
******
“Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level.” — Quentin Crisp
How is the word `malaise' pronounced?
The à' in the first syllable is like the à' in `cat', `bat' and `sat'. The second syllable `laise'
rhymes with the words `daze', `gaze', and `maze'. The word is pronounced `ma-laze' with the
stress on the second syllable. This is a word of French origin and it is mostly used in formal
contexts. `Mal' means `bad' and àise' means èase'; the word literally means ìll at ease'. Malaise
is normally used to refer to the general feeling of uneasiness that we sometimes have. Very often
we are unable to explain the cause of this mental or physical discomfort. This is just one of the
meanings of the word.
What is the difference between `prevaricate' and `procrastinate'?
Sometimes, we are asked to do things we don't want to. What do we normally do under
such circumstances? We postpone doing them! When you procrastinate, you delay doing
something that you ought to be doing. This Latin word literally means `to put off until
tomorrow'.
Stop procrastinating. I need an answer right now. When politicians are asked questions
by reporters, what is it that they do? They try their best to avoid answering them. They do
everything possible to avoid giving a direct and truthful answer.
When a person prevaricates, he avoids telling the truth. The word comes from Latin and
literally means 'walking crookedly'. The à' in the second syllable of both words is pronounced
like the à' in `cat' and `bat'.
The press accused the Prime Minister of prevaricating.
`Procrastinate' and `prevaricate' are mostly used in formal contexts. Both words have the
stress on the second syllable.
Which is correct: `Half of my friends are in America' or `Half my friends are in
America'?
Both sentences are correct. You can use `half' or `half of' before a `noun with a
determiner (article, possessive or demonstrative)'. For example, you can say, Ì finished half of
my work by 6:00 pm'. You can also say, Ì finished half my work by 6:00 pm.'
Half (of) her adult life has been spent in jail.
Before pronouns, however, we use only `half of' and not `half'. For example, `These
chocolates are really good. I've already eaten half of them.' We cannot say, Ì've already eaten
half them'. When we talk about measurements or quantity, then we use `half' and not `half of'.
There's only half a bottle of shampoo left.
What is the meaning of `blow away the cobwebs'?
This is an idiom which is mostly used in British and Australian English. Sometimes when
we have stayed indoors for a long time, we feel tired or bored. To overcome these feelings, what
is it that we do? Most of the time, we decide to step outside and get some fresh air. We may go
for a walk, or play some cricket, tennis, etc. This outdoor activity which we take part in to clear
our head is called `blow away the cobwebs'.
A nice little walk on the beach should blow away the cobwebs.
***
"The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable." - John
Kenneth Galbraith
Correction: Answer to the first question that appeared in this column on October 21: the
word should have been ùncharted' and not ùnchartered'. The error is regretted.
October 2008
•What is the meaning of unchartered waters ? (20081021)

•How is the word bade pronounced? (20081021)
•Is it okay to say, He was appointed as Principal ? (20081021)
•What is the difference between allude and elude ? (20081021)
•What is the difference in meaning between I married her and I was married to her ?
(20081021)
•What is the meaning and origin of `beat around the bush'? (20081007)
•I have heard people say, Ì usually visit my friends at weekends'. Shouldn't it be òn weekends'?
(20081007)
•What is the difference between `bail' and `parole'? (20081007)
What is the meaning of ‘unchartered waters’?
When you say that a place is ‘unchartered’, what you mean is that the area has not been
explored. As it has not been surveyed, you will not find it plotted on any map. It is something
that is new and has never been described.
*We don’t know anything about the island. It is uncharted.
When you refer to a situation or an experience as being ‘unchartered waters’ or
‘unchartered territory’, you mean it is new or unfamiliar. The two expressions are used to mean
‘unknown’.
Being in the final of a Grand Slam tournament is unchartered waters for Andy.
How is the word ‘bade’ pronounced?
There are two ways of pronouncing this word. One way is to pronounce it like the word
‘bad’, and the other is to make it rhyme with the words ‘made’, ‘fade’ and ‘jade’. ‘Bade’ is the
past tense of ‘bid’. When you ‘bade’ someone goodbye, for example, you are bidding him
goodbye.
*Geetha bade Govind goodbye and walked into the airport.
Is it okay to say, ‘He was appointed as Principal’?
There is nothing wrong with the sentence; the use of ‘as’ after ‘appointed’ is optional.
There was a time, of course, when ‘appointed as’ was considered unacceptable. Nowadays, even
native speakers of English have begun to use ‘as’ after ‘appointed’. This should make us Indians
happy because we’ve been saying ‘appointed as’ for a long time. Careful users of the language,
however, still frown on this.
*Satish’s wife has been appointed (as) Deputy Director of Communications.
What is the difference between ‘allude’ and ‘elude’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of the two words. The ‘a’ in ‘allude’ is like the ‘a’
in ‘china’, and the following syllable rhymes with ‘rude’, ‘crude’, and ‘Jude’. The word is
pronounced ‘a-luude’. The ‘e’ in ‘elude’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’ and ‘bit’, and the following syllable
sounds like the ‘lude’ in ‘allude’. The word is pronounced ‘i-luude’. In both cases, the stress is
When you ‘allude’ to someone or something, you refer to the person or thing in a rather
indirect way. The word is mostly used in formal contexts.
*In his presentation, the speaker alluded to several problems that might result.
When you ‘elude’ someone, you are clever enough to avoid them or escape from them.
*The fugitive succeeded in eluding the police for several weeks.
The word can be used with things as well. When something ‘eludes’ you, you fail to
understand it or remember it.
I met her at last year’s conference. Her name, however, eludes me.
What is the difference in meaning between ‘I married her’ and ‘I was married to
her’?
Both sentences are grammatically acceptable. The second sentence suggests that you
were married to the girl sometime ago; currently, you are not married to her. In the case of the
first sentence, the meaning is not entirely clear. One is not very sure if the girl continues to be
your wife or not. You may be married to her, you may not be.
******
“If I only had a little humility, I’d be perfect.” — Ted Turner
Know Your English
"What a surprise! You're actually listening to old Hindi songs. What..."

"The songs on this CD are very slow. They make me feel depressed."
"Here, let me play you something peppy."
"Peppy? What are you talking about? What does it mean?"
"What do you think it means?"
"I said the songs were pretty depressing, and you said that you would play something
peppy. Does `peppy' mean `lively'?"
"Wonderful! That's exactly what it means. When you describe a song as being peppy,
what you mean is that it has a lively beat. It makes you feel energetic."
"I see. Can the word be used with people as well?"
"It certainly can. A person who is `peppy' is lively and full of energy. For example, this
year we should invite someone who is peppy."
"The word peppy, by the way, is mostly used in informal contexts. Now then, do you
want to listen to some peppy Hindi songs?"
"Later. Right now, I'd like you to tell me..."
"Maybe I should use some strong-arm tactics to get you to listen."
"Strong-arm tactics?"
"When you resort to strong arm-tactics, you force someone into doing something."
"How? Do you threaten the person?"
"That's one way of doing it."
"Listen, if you want to reclaim your property, you'll have to resort to strong-arm tactics."
"According to this article, the Chief Minister has been resorting to strong-arm methods."
"That's to be expected, isn't it? Now then, how about..."
"Now then, do I have to use strong-arm methods to get you to listen to some peppy
songs?"
"I'm in no mood to listen to old songs right now. Later perhaps. Tell me how is
`m..i..n..g..y' pronounced?"
"The ì' and the `y' are like the ì' in ìt' and `bit', and the `g' sounds like the `j' in `jam' and
`juice'."
"The stress is probably on the first syllable."
"Very good! Do you know what the word means?"
"Haven't a clue."
"It is an informal word which is a combination of `mean' and `stingy'. When you say..."
"When you say that someone is `mingy', what you mean is that he is mean and stingy."
"Exactly! You want to know why your friend didn't lend you the money? It's because he's
mingy."
"How about this example? There's no point in asking him. He's mingy."
"You can't be mingy. The money is going to be used for the upkeep of the old building."
"Upkeep? Does it mean maintenance?"
"That's right! Here's another example. The old man has left a lot of money in his will for
the upkeep of his estate."
"Who is responsible for the upkeep of the local parks?"
"I have no idea. The government is probably being mingy with their funds. It explains
why the parks are in such poor condition." "You have a point there. Now then, how about
playing some peppy songs?" "Thought you'd never ask."
***
"I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you
realize that what you heard is not what I meant." - Robert McCloskey
What is the meaning and origin of `beat around the bush'?
(C.S. Shivaram, Tenali) Sometimes when someone asks us a question, we try and avoid
answering it. It's not because we don't know the answer; the answer is rather embarrassing.
Therefore, instead of giving the person a direct answer, we go about answering his question in a
roundabout way. This indirect way of answering questions is called `beating about/around the
bush'. Very often, people beat about the bush in order to conceal their real intention.
*For god's sake, stop beating about/around the bush. How much is it going to cost?
*Will you please stop beating around/about the bush? Just answer my question.
The expression comes from the rather cruel sport of `batfowling'. In this sport, people
(`batfowlers') entered the forest during the night and proceeded to kill `fowls' (birds) with the
`bats' or clubs they were carrying. The batfowlers and the servants that they took with them used
to scare birds by beating around the bush in which they were sleeping. The sleepy birds, dazed
and confused by the sudden commotion, would then fly directly to the bright lights that the men
were carrying. Here they were beaten to death. The men who were beating about the bush were
not really interested in the bush; they were interested in the birds that were sleeping there.
Therefore, when someone beats around the bush, he is concealing the thing that he is interested
in; he doesn't come to the point directly.
I have heard people say, Ì usually visit my friends at weekends'. Shouldn't it be òn
weekends'?
(N. Raghavan, Secunderabad) Both òn weekends' and àt weekends' are correct. I
understand àt weekends' is much more common in British English. Òn weekends', on the other
hand, is frequently used in American English.
*My friend Gopa usually gets up late on/at weekends.
What is the difference between `bail' and `parole'?
(J. Bharath, Thanjavur) Bail is the amount of money that an individual who has been
accused of a crime pays the court in order to be released till his trial begins. It is given to people
who have been arrested, but whose case hasn't come to court as yet. The individual asking for
bail is usually made to pay a hefty sum by the judge; this amount is put forward as a guarantee
that the accused will be present at his trial. Not everyone who asks for bail gets it; it is the judge
who determines whether someone should be `released' or `remanded' on bail.
*The judge, as expected, refused to grant bail to the Minister.
Prisoners are sometimes released on parole. In this case, unlike the person making `bail',
the person has stood trial, has been found guilty, and has been sentenced by the judge. When a
prisoner is released on parole, he is set free before he has completed his sentence. Once released,
he must behave well and must not get into trouble. If he does get into trouble, he may be sent
back to prison. In the case of parole, the individual doesn't pay the court any money.
*The government has been accused of releasing murderers and rapists on parole.
***
"Television is a device that permits people who haven't anything to do to watch people
who can't do anything." - Fred Allen
September 2008
•What is the meaning and origin of one swallow does not make a summer ?
(20080930)
•What is the meaning of thumb lashing ? (20080930)
•What is the difference between peruse and browse ? (20080930)
•What is the meaning and origin of èyewash'? (20080923)
•What is the meaning of `rap on the knuckles'? (20080923)
•Is it okay to say, `He turns to 60 years next week'? (20080923)
•What is the difference between `reputed' and `reputable'? (20080923)
•What does `sotto voce' mean? (20080923)
•What is the meaning of PowerPoint singalong ? (20080916)
•How is the word flummox pronounced? (20080916)
•What is the meaning of risqué ? How is the word pronounced? (20080916)
•What is the meaning of percolate ? (20080916)
•What is a female mouse called? (20080909)
•Why is the word I always capitalised? (20080909)
•What is the meaning and origin of chink in the armour ? (20080909)
•What is the meaning of statuesque ? (20080909)
•In 8 A.M, what does A.M stand for? (20080909)
•Know your English (20080902)
What is the meaning and origin of ‘one swallow does not make a summer’?
This is an expression that is normally used to caution someone. When you say that one
swallow does not make a summer, what you mean is that just because something good has
happened, it doesn’t mean good things will continue to happen. Chances are things may go bad,
instead of improving. You are requesting the individual to err on the side of caution, and not to
get carried away.
Just because you’ve won the first round doesn’t mean you’re going to win the
championship. Remember, one swallow does not make a summer.
The expression comes from the world of Aesop’s Fairy Tales. In the story, a young man
sees a swallow on a warm winter day. As you know, a swallow is a bird which usually appears
during spring. Thinking that the winter season is over, the young man sells off his woollen coat,
and with the money he has made, he goes to the bar and drinks. Unfortunately, in the days that
follow, the temperature drops. The young man, shivering in the cold, realises that one swallow
does not make a summer.
What is the meaning of ‘thumb lashing’?

We all know what ‘tongue lashing’ means. It is when someone scolds or criticises us for
something we have done or not done. We have all been subjected to a tongue lashing from our
parents and friends. Tongue lashing has been going on for ages. ‘Thumb lashing’, on the other
hand, is something new. Nowadays, thanks to the mobile phone, we are available to people 24/7.
If a person is angry with you, he doesn’t have to actually see you or talk to you to give you a
piece of his mind. He can send an angry SMS; this angry message that you get on the cell phone
is called ‘thumb lashing’. All that the person makes use of to send you the message is his thumb!
*I got a thumb lashing from my friend for forgetting his birthday.
The introduction of the cell phone has resulted in the coining of new words and
expressions. One of them happens to be ‘thumb me’. When you ask someone to thumb you, you
are requesting him/her to send you an SMS. You don’t want the person to ‘call’ you, but ‘thumb’
you!
*If you manage to get the tickets, thumb me.
What is the difference between ‘peruse’ and ‘browse’?
‘Browsing’ is something that we normally do when we are in a bookshop. Before we

decide what to buy, we invariably take a look at the books and magazines available. Sometimes
we read the blurbs, at other times, we sample a paragraph or two in order to decide whether the
book is worth buying. When you browse through a book or magazine, you look at it in a very
casual way; you do not read it carefully.
*He was browsing through the sports section when the phone rang.
*Could you browse through the first draft and give us some feedback?
‘Perusing’, unlike ‘browsing’, suggests very careful reading. When you peruse a
document, you go through it very carefully. You examine the document in detail; you read each
and every word.
*The CEO perused the ten page document before signing it.
******
“Calamities are of two kinds: misfortunes to ourselves, and good fortune to others.” —
Ambrose Bierce
What is the meaning and origin of èyewash'?

This is an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts. An èyewash', as you
know, is a liquid that is used to clean the eyes. Figuratively, however, this expression of
American origin is frequently used to mean `nonsense' or `deception'. You may think that what
I'm telling you is all eyewash. Bu it's the truth. The conclusion arrived at by the so called fact
finding committee was just eyewash.
What is the meaning of `rap on the knuckles'?
The word `rap' means to hit sharply, and `knuckles' refer to the joints in one's hands and
fingers. Therefore, when you rap someone on his knuckles, what you are doing is hitting the
person sharply on the back of his hand. Many teachers in our country rap the students on their
knuckles. The idiom means to speak to someone angrily because he has done something wrong
or has failed to do something. The punishment that is given is not very severe; it is usually given
to an individual to serve as a warning.
I got a sharp rap on the knuckles for not finishing the project on time.
The coach rapped the players on the knuckles for turning up late for practice.
Is it okay to say, `He turns to 60 years next week'?
No, it isn't. You usually `turn to someone'. For example, `Chandrika turned to Roy for
help.' As far as age in concerned, you `turn 60' and not `turn to 60 '. In the sentence that you've
given, you'll be better off saying, `He turns 60 next week.'
What is the difference between `reputed' and `reputable'?

We Indians don't really make a distinction between these two words. We tend to use the
word `reputed' when what we mean is `reputable'. Many people mistakenly refer to all the top
companies in the country as `reputed firms' - when what they mean is `reputable firms'. When
you say that a firm is `reputable', what you mean is that it has a good reputation, and therefore
can be trusted. It is a dependable firm, one that is capable of providing excellent service. In this
case, you are sure of the facts. It is not based on hearsay.
Hema is looking for a job with a reputable firm. When you say that a firm is `reputed',
what you mean is that you have heard other people saying that it is a good firm. You yourself are
not very sure if it is a good company or not. In this case, there is an element of doubt as to
whether it is or not.
The company hired him because of his reputed skill as a trouble shooter.
What does `sotto voce' mean?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The first ò' in `sotto' sounds like the ò' in `hot',
`pot', and `got'. The second ò' and the ò' in `voce' sound like the ò' in `go', `no', and `so'; the `c'
is like the `ch' in `chick', `chips', and `chin'. The è' is like the ì' in `bit', `kit', and `sit', and the
main stress is on the first syllable of `voce'. The Italian expression is pronounced `so-toe voechi'.
`Sotto' means ùnder' and `voce' means `voice'; when you say something `sotto voce', you say it
under your breath or as an aside.
***
"I was always taught to respect my elders, and I've now reached the age when I don't
have anyone to respect." George Burns
What is the meaning of ‘PowerPoint singalong’?
Nowadays, whenever someone gives a talk or makes a presentation, it is usually

accompanied by PowerPoint slides. It is something that the audience expects; a presentation is
incomplete without one. These slides which the speaker shows often contain the main points that
he is trying to make.
There are occasions, however, when the speaker includes in his slides everything that he
is going to say. As a result, during the presentation, all he does is merely read from the slides; he
doesn’t add anything new.
Such a presentation where the speaker reads verbatim from the slides without providing
any comment is called ‘PowerPoint singalong’.
The presentation was nothing more than a PowerPoint singalong.
How is the word ‘flummox’ pronounced?
The first syllable rhymes with the words ‘plum’, ‘glum’, and ‘slum’; the ‘o’ in the second
syllable sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The final ‘x’ is like the ‘cks’ in ‘sucks’, ‘bucks’, and
‘ducks’. The word is pronounced ‘flumex” with the stress on the first syllable.
This is a word that is mostly used in informal contexts. When you are flummoxed by
something, you are bewildered or confused by it. In fact, you are so confused you don’t know
what to do.
As expected, the Minister was flummoxed by the questions posed by the reporters.
What is the meaning of ‘risqué’? How is the word pronounced?
There are different ways of pronouncing this word of French origin. Some people
pronounce the ‘i’ in the first syllable like the ‘ea’ in ‘seat’, ‘beat’, and ‘meat’, and the ‘que’ in
the second like the name ‘Kay’. They pronounce the word ‘rees-kay’ with the stress on the first
syllable. Americans, I understand, tend to pronounce the ‘i’ in the first syllable like the ‘i’ in
‘hit’, ‘bit’, and ‘kit. They pronounce the word ‘ris-kay’, with the stress on the second syllable.
When you refer to a joke or a story as being ‘risqué’, what you mean is that it is slightly
off colour, and therefore, indecent. It is bordering on impropriety. The word comes from the
French ‘risqué’ meaning ‘risk’.
Raju, please remember this. No risqué jokes at the party.
The new director wanted his young actress to wear risqué clothes.
What is the meaning of ‘percolate’?
This is a word which is normally associated with coffee in India! When a liquid
percolates, it passes slowly through a substance. In the case of coffee, boiling water percolates
through ground coffee beans.
The word has a figurative meaning as well. When something like an idea or a rumour
percolates, it begins to grow or spread slowly.
Rumours of their romance have begun to percolate through the office.
Light percolates through those windows early in the morning.
The ‘o’ in the second syllable sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced
‘per-ke-late’ with the stress on the first syllable.
***
“He’s turned his life around. He used to be depressed and miserable. Now he is
miserable and depressed.” David Frost
What is a female mouse called?
Do you remember the opening lines of the song ‘Doe a deer’ from the movie ‘Sound of
Music’? It goes ‘Doe a deer, a female deer’. Believe it or not, you can also sing the song by
replacing the word ‘deer’ with ‘mouse’, and you would not be wrong: ‘Doe a mouse, a female
mouse.’
A female mouse, I understand, is called a ‘doe’ and the male is called a ‘buck’. A baby
mouse can be called a ‘kitten’ (sounds odd, doesn’t it?), ‘pinkie’ or ‘pup’!
Why is the word ‘I’ always capitalised?
I understand that English is the only language where the pronoun ‘I’ is always written in
the upper case; in most other languages spoken in Europe, it is written in the lower case. I guess
this goes to show that the English have a big ego! Just kidding! The only explanation that
scholars have for this is that when the Old English ‘ich’, meaning ‘I’, was reduced to ‘i’, it was
thought to be too small to be considered a real word. Also, printers and scribes were worried that
‘i’, when written separately, would get attached to the word before or after it. Since they didn’t
want this to happen, they began to capitalise the word.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘chink in the armour’?
This is an expression that has been part of the English language for over 600 years. When
you say that someone has a chink in his armour, what you mean is that the person has a minor
fault which is likely to cause him problems. In other words, the person has a flaw which can be
taken advantage of by other people. The expression can be used with things as well.
*The up and coming star spent hours looking for a chink in the champion’s armour.
The word ‘chink’ has nothing to do with a ‘Chinaman’. This ‘chink’ is a rather obscure
word meaning ‘slit’ or ‘narrow opening’. In the old days, as a form of protection, soldiers used to
wear armour. If the armour had a slit, then it became a weak spot, which enemies took advantage
of.
What is the meaning of ‘statuesque’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of the word. The ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘cat’ and
‘bat’, while the following ‘t’ is like the ‘ch’ in ‘chat’ and ‘chap’. The ‘u’ sounds like the ‘u’ in
‘put’ and ‘pull’, and the final ‘esque’ is like the ‘esk’ in ‘desk’. The word is pronounced
‘sta-chu-esk’ with the stress on the final syllable ‘esk’.
This is a word which is generally used to show approval. When you say that something is
statuesque, what you mean is that it is well proportioned like a statue.
The word is also used to refer to women. When you refer to a woman as being
‘statuesque’, what you mean is that she is attractively tall, graceful, and dignified.
*At the press conference, the statuesque actress said she was planning on quitting films.
In 8 A.M, what does ‘A.M’ stand for?
It stands for ‘ante meridiem’ meaning ‘before noon’. Please note that it is ‘ante’ and not
‘anti’. ‘P.M’, on the other hand, stands for ‘post meridiem’, meaning ‘post noon’. This explains
why midnight is written as 12 A.M.
******
“Good advice is something that a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example.” —
Francois de la Rochefoucauld
Know your English
“You’re late again! What’s the excuse this time?”

“I’m sorry, but I got ...”
“You could have at least given me a buzz. I’ve been waiting for...”
“Given you a buzz? What are you talking about?”
“When you give someone a buzz, you give them a call. A telephone call.”
“I see. I buzzed you several times yesterday.”
“Yes, but why didn’t you buzz me today to let me know you’d be late?”
“The reason I didn’t buzz you is because I got a buzz from Sujatha. She and Ramesh had
another one of their fights.”
“Are you sure? I was told that they smoked the peace pipe a couple of ...”
“Smoked? Peace pipe? What are you talking about? You know that Sujatha doesn’t
smoke.”
“I know that! When two people who don’t see eye to eye about something, smoke a
peace pipe, they decide to put their differences aside. They decide to stop fighting.”
“I see. So when you smoke the peace pipe, you are calling for peace. You want to put a
stop to all the fighting.”
“I guess you could say that. Bharath is refusing to smoke the peace pipe with that
arrogant cousin of his.”
“How about this example? We don’t wish to smoke the peace pipe with the
management.”
“Sounds good. Tell me, how did...”
“You tell me. Where does the expression come from?”
“I understand it is mostly used in American English. When American Indians wanted
to...”
“You mean Native Americans, don’t you?”
“That’s right! American Indians, or ‘Native Americans’ as they are called now, used to
settle their dispute by burying their weapons: their axes and knives. Once this was done, the two
warring parties used to sit together and smoke from a long decorated pipe.”
“I suppose this was the peace pipe.”
“That’s right! Why were Ramesh and Sujatha fighting?”
“I’m not really sure. Have the feeling that Sujatha thinks that Ramesh is trying to imitate
his brother. You know, he always...”
“Is Ramesh trying to imitate or emulate his brother?”
“Is there a difference between the two words?”
“There most certainly is. When you try to emulate someone, you try to be as successful as
him. You are copying the individual because you admire him.”
“I see. In other words, emulate is always used in a positive sense.”
“Exactly! You wish to be as good, if not better than the person you are trying to copy. For
example, some of the kids I know wish to emulate Roger Federer.”
“What does imitate mean?”
“When you imitate someone, you are merely copying what he/she does. You are merely
aping the individual. Very often you do this in order to have fun.”
“I see. So, when you imitate someone, you don’t necessarily do it because you admire the
individual.”
“That’s right. Very often students imitate their teachers or principal.”
“And some of them do an excellent job. Do you think there’s someone out there who is
trying to emulate you?”
“You never know. There are a lot of crazy people around!”
***
“The simple truth is balding African-American men look cool when they shave their
heads, whereas balding white men look like giant thumbs.” — Dave Barry
August 2008
•What is the difference between impasse and deadlock ? (20080826)

•How is the word sleuth pronounced? Why are detectives called sleuths ? (20080826)
•What is the meaning of tryst ? (20080826)
•Is it OK to say, The school has received a great deal of complaints ? (20080826)
•What is the meaning and origin of let your hair down ? (20080826)
•What is the meaning of Adidas ? Where does the word come from? (20080819)
•What is the meaning and origin of hitting below the belt ? (20080819)
•What is the difference between deadly and deathly ? (20080819)
•What is the meaning of invidious ? (20080819)
What is the difference between ‘impasse’ and ‘deadlock’?
First, let us deal with the pronunciation of the French word ‘impasse’. The British tend to
pronounce the ‘i’ in the first syllable like the ‘a’ in ‘ant’, ‘pants’, and ‘apple’, and the ‘a’ in the
second like the ‘a’ in ‘ask’, ‘answer’, and ‘car’. They pronounce the word ‘ampaas’. This is just
one of the ways that the English pronounce the word. Americans, on the other hand, pronounce
the ‘im’ like the ‘im’ in ‘him’, ‘Tim’ and ‘Kim’, and the following ‘a’ like the ‘a’ in ‘cat’ and
‘bat’. They pronounce the word ‘impass’. In both cases, the final ‘e’ is silent, and the stress is on
the first syllable.
As far as the meaning is concerned, the two can be used interchangeably in most
contexts. When two parties reach an impasse or deadlock, they reach a dead-end. They are in a
difficult position and are unable to reach an agreement about something; they are unable to move
forward in their discussions.
*Peace talks between the two countries ended in deadlock.
How is the word ‘sleuth’ pronounced? Why are detectives called ‘sleuths’?
Sleuth rhymes with ‘truth’, ‘booth’ and ‘Ruth’. The word comes from the compound
‘sleuthhound’; it was a dog like a bloodhound which was mainly used for tracking people and
animals. With the passage of time, the word was reduced to ‘sleuth’, and like many other words,
it acquired a figurative meaning. It meant to track or pursue someone or something. Since this is
what detectives do, pursue or track people, it is not surprising that the word began to be used to
refer to them. Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes are some of the well-known sleuths in fiction.
The word is considered to be rather old fashioned.
What is the meaning of ‘tryst’?

The ‘y’ in the word is pronounced like the ‘i’ in ‘fist’, ‘mist’, and ‘list’. ‘Tryst’ is
considered to be a literary word which is mostly used in British English. The meeting of two
lovers in a quiet and secluded place is called a tryst. The word nowadays is being used to mean
‘appointment’. Tryst comes from ‘tristre’ meaning ‘appointed station in hunting’.
*According to some people, India has a tryst with destiny.
Is it OK to say, ‘The school has received a great deal of complaints’?
No, it isn’t. The expression ‘a great deal of’ is usually followed by uncountable nouns,
not countable ones. It is okay to say, ‘His father left him a great deal of money’, or, ‘Her children
spent a great deal of time with the little puppy.’ With countable nouns, people generally use
‘large number of’ or ‘great many’.
*The Vice Chancellor received a large number of complaints.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘let your hair down’?
When you tell someone to let his hair down, you are telling him to relax and have a good
time. You are asking him to be himself and not worry about what others will think of him.
*Somebody needs to tell the new boss to let his hair down once in a while.
The expression comes from the world of fashion. Centuries ago, women, when they were
in public, had to wear their hair up. The only time when they could literally let their hair down,
and be themselves, was when they were in the privacy of their ‘bed chamber’.
“Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does, the
better.” — Andre Gide
What is the meaning of ‘Adidas’? Where does the word come from?
The word doesn’t really mean anything. There was time when people believed that
‘Adidas’ was an acronym for ‘All Day I Dream About Sport’. Of course, some people thought
that the ‘s’ stood for something else! Neither story is based on fact. The founder of Adidas was a
German named Adolf Dassler; he was nicknamed ‘Adi’ by his friends. When Dassler started his
company in 1924, he decided to name it after himself. He combined his nickname ‘Adi’ with the
first half of his surname ‘Dassler’ and got ‘Adidas’! Starting a shoe company seems to have run
in the family. Adolph Dassler’s brother, Rudolph, was the founder of the Puma shoe company.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘hitting below the belt’?
When you hit someone below the belt, you are being rather cruel or unfair; you are not
playing by the rules of the game. You are using unfair means to get what you want, and in the
process you deliberately hurt the other person.
*Making fun of the poor woman’s dead husband was definitely hitting below the belt.
The expression comes from the world of boxing. According to the Marquis of
Queensbury Rules, a boxer is allowed to hit his opponent only on the upper body or the head. He
is not allowed to hit below the waist belt.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘hitting below the belt’?
When you hit someone below the belt, you are being rather cruel or unfair; you are not
playing by the rules of the game. You are using unfair means to get what you want, and in the
process you deliberately hurt the other person.
*Making fun of the poor woman’s dead husband was definitely hitting below the belt.
The expression comes from the world of boxing. According to the Marquis of
Queensbury Rules, a boxer is allowed to hit his opponent only on the upper body or the head. He
is not allowed to hit below the waist belt.
What is the difference between ‘deadly’ and ‘deathly’?

The word ‘deadly’ is normally used to suggest that something is ‘fatal’. It is something
that is likely to cause the death of someone or something.
*According to this report, the terrorists were carrying deadly weapons.
“Deadly” can also be used to mean “extremely” or “very”.
*The temperature has dropped. It’s become deadly cold.
The word “deathly”, on the other hand, is mostly used figuratively to mean “suggestive of
death” or “like death”. For example, if you say that someone is “deathly pale”, what you mean is
that he is extremely pale; as pale as someone who is dead.
*After being hit by the car, the poor dog lay deathly still.
When you want to say that something is ‘very dull’, the word that you are looking for is
‘deadly’ and not ‘deathly’.
*You need to have tons of patience to listen to him. The man is a deadly bore.
What is the meaning of ‘invidious’?
This is a word that is mostly used in formal contexts. It comes from the Latin ‘invidia’
meaning ‘envy’ or ‘malice’. When you refer to a task as being ‘invidious’, what you mean is that
it is likely to be rather unpleasant; one that could cause resentment or a lot of unhappiness.
*He was given the invidious task of commenting on his boss’ work.
The word can also mean ‘offensively unfair’ or ‘discriminating’. An ‘invidious
comparison’ is one where you are made to compare two things which are very different. The
comparison can sometimes be made difficult because the two objects are either equally good or
equally bad.
*As a mother, she resented the invidious comparison between the two children.
******
“Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.”
— Dave Barry
Know Your English

"Come in! Come in! How does it feel to be a star?"
"So, what did you think of our play? Did you like it?"
"I quite enjoyed it, actually. It was much better than expected."
"Thank you! You're not lying, are you?"
"Of course not! I really enjoyed the play. And so did a lot of other people. The guy sitting
next to me let out a couple of belly laughs. I'm sure you heard it."
"What's a belly laugh?" "A loud, hearty laugh is usually called a belly laugh. You laugh
so loudly that sometimes even your belly shakes!"
"I see. My father laughs like that sometimes. Last week, when I told my famous joke, all
I got from my friend was a giggle. What I wanted was a belly laugh."
"You don't always get belly laughs for jokes. Here's another example. I've seldom heard
Uma laugh like that. It was a real belly laugh."
"Did you bring anyone with you to watch the play?" "I certainly did. Ganesh." "Ganesh!
He must have been stepping out every five minutes for a smoke." "He's kicked the habit."
"Kicked the habit? You can kick a person or thing. How can you kick a habit?"
"When you say that someone has `kicked the habit', what you mean is that he has given
something up. He's quit doing something that he used to. He's given it up voluntarily."
"I see. So, what you are saying is that Ganesh has given up smoking." "Precisely. `Kick
the habit' is mostly used in relation to drugs and smoking. But it can..."
"My uncle smokes like a chimney. He's tried to kick the habit several times. But he has
never succeeded."
"A lot of people say it's difficult to kick the habit. Ganesh was lucky. It took him over
three years to kick the habit."
"Good for him. Did he enjoy the play as well?"
"Yes, he did. There were no belly laughs from him, though.
"Tell me, what can we do to improve? I mean how do we..." "There were several people
who fluffed their lines. Maybe you could..."
"They what?"
"F..l..u..f..f. Rhymes with `stuff' and `puff'. When you fluff something, you make an error
or do it incorrectly or badly. So...."
"So what you're saying is that some of the actors kept making mistakes."
"Exactly! During the recording Anuradha fluffed her lines several times."
"At least I didn't fluff my lines."
"True. Sujatha did very well in the written exam, but she fluffed the interview."
"She told me that interviews make her nervous."
"They make a lot of people nervous. In informal contexts, the word fluff can also be used
to mean `nonsense' or ìrrelevant stuff'. The proposal submitted by the Manager is a lot of fluff."
"How about this example? Whenever my Principal gives a talk, there is always a lot of
fluff."
"Sounds good. This will make a good essay if you cut out all the fluff in the first two
paragraphs."
"Talking about writing essays, there are a couple that I have to submit the day after
tomorrow."
"In that case, you'd better start on them immediately." "I think I will."
******
"It takes hundreds of nuts to hold a car together, but it takes only one of them to scatter it
all over the highway." - Evan Esar
Know your English
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be rehearsing for tomorrow's play?"
"That's what we were doing. But unfortunately the CD player stopped working."
"Did you inform the Principal?"
"We went to his office, but he wasn't in his desk."
"A person is usually àt' his desk, not ìn' it."
"I see. How about this example? Hari was not at his desk."
"Sounds good. Our Accounts Officer is usually at his desk between 10 and 1:00."
"Is it 10 A.M or P.M?"
"Take a wild guess! Now that the rehearsal has been called off, are you..."
"It hasn't been called off. All we need is a CD player. Could we borrow yours for a day?"
"Mine? It's brand new. I don't..."
"It's only for today. I promise I'll take good care of it."
"Well, okay. I guess you can borrow it. But don't make a practice of it."
"What do you mean? We are staging the play tomorrow. We have to practice."
"That's not what I meant. When you tell someone `not to make a practice of something',
what you mean is that you don't want the individual to do it frequently."
"In other words, you are telling me not to borrow your CD player frequently. You're
telling me not to make a habit of it."
"Exactly! Seema makes a practice of giving ten percent of her salary to charity."
"You're probably talking about some other Seema. The Seema I know spends all her
money, and makes a practice of borrowing from her parents."
"That's a good example. Some teachers don't mind if their students come late to class. But
they don't want them to make a practice of it."
"Teachers should be grateful that students come to class at all. Many of my friends go to
college, but never attend classes. They make a practice of not attending classes."
"Good example, again. So, how's the play coming along? Did you manage to iron out the
wrinkles?"
"Iron out the wrinkles? Oh you mean the wrinkles in my costume? Yes, I did manage..."
"That's not what I meant at all. The last time we met, you mentioned the problem you had
with the lights in the auditorium. Have you solved the problem?"
"Is that what ìron out the wrinkles' means? To ease or solve a problem?"
"I guess you could say that."
"I see. The problem with the lights was minor. We managed to iron it out pretty quickly.
How does that sound?"
"Excellent. We need to iron out a few wrinkles before we sign the contract."
"I guess you'll be hiring a couple of lawyers to iron out the wrinkles."
"You're right! They're having lunch with my boss tomorrow. I was told that one of them
was a meatatarian."
"A what?"
"A meatatarian."
"What does it mean?"
"A meatatarian is someone who has a strong preference for meat. He must have meat
with every meal. He doesn't particularly care for fruit and vegetables."
"My friend Anand is a meatatarian."
"The chicken biriyani was so good that Sujatha had three helpings. She is not even a
meatatarian."
"Can this vegetarian borrow your CD player, please?"
******
"We journalists make it a point to know very little about an extremely wide variety of
topics; that is how we stay objective." - Dave Barry
July 2008
•What is the meaning of shoestring budget ? (20080729)

•How is the expression Mot juste pronounced? (20080729)
•What is the difference between lease and rent ? (20080729)
•What is the meaning and origin of the expression bolt from the blue ? (20080729)
•What is the meaning and origin of riding roughshod over someone ? (20080722)
•What is the meaning of fashionably late ? (20080722)
•Is it OK to say, She pleaded with her daughter to never go there ? (20080722)
•What is the meaning of qualm ? (20080722)
•What is the difference between squash and quash ? (20080722)
•What is the meaning of laissez-faire attitude ? (20080708)
•Does the word staycation exist? (20080708)
•What is the meaning and origin of the expression toe the line ? (20080708)
•Is it okay to introduce oneself in the following manner? My name is Prof. X . (20080708)
•What is the meaning of the word presently ? (20080708)
•What is the meaning and origin of pull the wool over someone s eyes ? (20080701)
•How is the word chutzpah pronounced? (20080701)
•What is the origin of the word soccer ? (20080701)
•What is the meaning of eponymous ? (20080701)
What is the meaning of ‘shoestring budget’?

What we call ‘shoelace’, the Americans call ‘shoestring’. As we all know, shoestrings are
pretty inexpensive; one doesn’t really have to spend too much money to buy a pair. Therefore,
when you say that something was done on a ‘shoestring budget’, what you mean is that it was
done using a very small amount of money; you had very little money to spend.
*My father says we’ll be making our next film on a shoestring budget.
How is the expression ‘Mot juste’ pronounced?
The ‘t’ in ‘mot’ is silent, and the ‘o’ sounds like the ‘o’ in ‘go’, ‘so’, and ‘no’. The ‘j’ in
‘juste’ is like the ‘j’ in ‘jam’ and ‘juice’, and the following ‘u’ is like the ‘oo’ in ‘cool’, ‘pool’,
and ‘fool’. The ‘st’ is like the ‘st’ in ‘stop’ and ‘step’, and the final ‘e’ is silent. The word is
pronounced ‘mow joost’ with the stress on ‘juste’. ‘Mot’ in French means ‘word’ and ‘juste’
means ‘right’; when you say that something is ‘mot juste’, what you mean is that the word that
you used is appropriate or exact.
What is the difference between ‘lease’ and ‘rent’?
When you lease something, it always involves a written contract — it is a legal

agreement. In the case of property, you draw up a contract which specifies the duration of the
stay and the amount of money you will pay the landlord each month as rent. During this period
of lease, the two parties are bound by the contract; unless both parties agree, the terms of
agreement cannot be changed. The landlord cannot suddenly increase the rent, and the tenant
cannot vacate the property as and when he likes. Should the tenant decide to leave before the
lease expires, he may have to pay the rent for the remaining period or find another individual to
take over his lease.
When you rent a property, it doesn’t always include a written contract. As a result, both
parties can change the terms of agreement: the landlord can increase the rent whenever he wants
to. He can ask the tenant to vacate the premises giving him a 30-day notice. The tenant too can
leave whenever he wants to.
What is the meaning and origin of the expression ‘bolt’ from the blue’?
When you say that something was a bolt from the blue, what you mean is that it was
totally unexpected; the result was something that surprised you very much.
*The fact that Rahul had failed the exam was a bolt from the blue.
The word ‘bolt’ refers to the thunderbolt that we often hear during heavy rain, and the
‘blue’ refers to the blue sky. On a beautiful day, when there are no clouds, and the sky is blue,
we generally don’t expect to hear the sound of thunder. If we do hear one, it comes as a total
surprise.
******
“We don’t bother much about dress and manners in England, because as a nation, we
don’t dress well, and we’ve no manners.” — G. B. Shaw
What is the meaning and origin of ‘riding roughshod over someone’?
When you ‘ride roughshod over someone’, you dominate the person quite ruthlessly. You
just walk all over him. You do what you want to, and you don’t really care what the other person
thinks. If the circumstances demand it, you use brutal force to get the desired results.
The new boss is a bully and rides roughshod over everyone.
The term ‘roughshod’ refers to the type of shoe that was often mounted on a horse’s hoof.
The word ‘shod’, as you probably know, is related to the word ‘shoe’; in order to ensure that the
horse didn’t slip, the shoes were often kept rough. To make sure that the animal had good
traction, what the blacksmith did was to leave the nailheads projecting from the shoes. During
times of war, horses were armed with these projecting nails on their hooves; the nails provided
better grip on slippery ground, and they enabled the horse to injure or kill fallen enemy soldiers.
It was during the 18th century that the idiom began to mean ‘to bully someone’.
What is the meaning of ‘fashionably late’?
When you arrive at a party ‘fashionably late’, what you are doing is making an
appearance a few minutes after the scheduled time. You don’t turn up an hour or two after the
event has begun, you are late only by a few minutes. This is your way of telling others that you
are a busy or popular person. Most actors and politicians are fashionably late for events in order
to create the impression that they were busy elsewhere.
As expected, the children arrived fashionably late for the party.
Is it OK to say, ‘She pleaded with her daughter to never go there’?
No, it isn’t. In such constructions, careful users of the language would place the words
‘never’ and ‘not’ before the infinitive ‘to’ — not after it.
It is very dangerous. I promise never/not to do it again.
What is the meaning of ‘qualm’?
The word rhymes with ‘calm’ and ‘arm’; the ‘qu’ is like the ‘qu’ in ‘quit’ and ‘quick’ and
the ‘l’ is silent. It is pronounced ‘kwaam’. This is one way of pronouncing the word. When you
have qualms about something, you have misgivings about it; you have this feeling of doubt as to
whether you are doing the right thing or not.
The man had no qualms about stealing from his own parents.
What is the difference between ‘squash’ and ‘quash’?
‘Quash’ is a term which is used quite frequently in legal contexts to mean ‘to set aside’ or
‘annul’. When a judge, for example, ‘quashes’ a conviction, what he is doing is stating officially
that the earlier decision taken is no longer acceptable or valid.
As expected, the minister’s conviction was quashed.
When you ‘quash’ something, you forcibly suppress it.
The dictator sent his army to quash the rebellion.
When you ‘squash’ something, you apply so much pressure on it that you make it lose its
shape.
The children had fun squashing all the clay models.
Like the word ‘quash’, ‘squash’ can also mean to forcibly suppress something.
“If you owe the bank $100, that’s your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that’s
the bank’s problem.” — J. P. Getty
Know your English
"Hi, come on in! Is something wrong? Please don't tell me you're going to cry."
"Cry? Why would I do that?"
"I haven't the faintest idea. If you're not going to cry, then why the sad face?"
"Haven't you heard? The Left has withdrawn its support, and there are..."
"It was expected, wasn't it? Would you say that this decision of the Left came out of left
field?"
"Left's decision came out of left field! What are you talking about?"
"When you say that something `came out of left field', what you mean is that it came as a
total surprise. You were not really prepared for it."
"I see. So, when something comes out of left field, it is totally unexpected."
"Exactly! Here's an example. The hailstorm, which lasted more than an hour, came out of
left field." "The two slaps that Surabhi gave Rahul really came out of left field."
"That's a good example. The Principal's decision to start new courses without consulting
his teachers came out of left field."
"My friend Deepa thinks..." "Please, I don't want to talk about her. She is a nut case."
"No, she isn't."
"If you ask me, she's way out in left field."
"What's with you and the word `left' today? Way out in left field? What does it mean?
Wait, wait. Let me guess. My friend Deepa is a nice person. But most people find her odd. Does
`way out in left field' mean odd or crazy?"
"Very good! That's exactly what it means. The word can be used with things as well. For
example, don't pay any attention to the Principal. Most of his ideas are way out in left field."
"You should meet some of my classmates. They are way out in left field."
"The Minister talked about how we could keep our population under check. The
recommendations he made were way out in left field."
"That's expected, isn't it? When was the last time a politician talked sense?"
"I can't remember. Tell me, why do you look so sad? It can't be because of the Left.
There must be some other reason. Come on, out with it." "You're right. It has nothing to do with
politics. You see, my friend and I have been working on a project. We have to make a
presentation next week. Yesterday my friend rang up and..."
"Let me guess. He wants you to make the presentation on your own. He doesn't want to
be involved."
"Exactly! He says he's going to be out of town and..." "He's left you holding the baby."
"Left me holding the baby? What baby? What are you talking about?"
"When someone leaves you holding the baby, they inconvenience or burden you with
additional responsibility." "The person who is supposed to help you, disappears."
"You are on your own. The other person doesn't want to deal with the problem. And you
end up being responsible for something that you..." "And if things go wrong, you are blamed."
"That's right! Here's an example. When the company went bankrupt, all the partners ran
away. My poor cousin was left holding the baby." "I want everything in writing. I certainly don't
wish to be left holding the baby.
***
"The whole point is guys aren't thinking much. They are what they just appear to be.
Tragically." - Dave Berry
What is the meaning of ‘laissez-faire attitude’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of this French expression. The ‘lai’ is pronounced
like the word ‘lay’, while the ‘sez’ in the second syllable is pronounced like the word ‘say’.
‘Faire’ sounds like the word ‘fare’. The word is pronounced ‘lay-say fare’ with the main stress
on ‘fare’.
A ‘laissez-faire’ policy is one based on the idea that the government should not interfere
in business and trade practices of individuals or companies. The expression means ‘let do’, and
in this context it means that the government should let people in trade and industry do as what
they want to. Nowadays, the expression has taken on a general meaning as well; it means
non-interference in the affairs of others.
*I’m afraid your laissez faire approach is likely to create more problems for the
university.
Does the word ‘staycation’ exist?
Yes, it does. The word was coined recently in the United States, and you don’t have to be
a rocket scientist to figure out that it is a combination of two words: ‘stay’ and ‘vacation’. A
‘staycation’ is a vacation you spend relaxing at home or a place very close to home.
*What some of our cricket players really want is a staycation.
What is the meaning and origin of the expression ‘toe the line’?
This is an expression that has been around for a very long time. When you toe the line,
you do what is expected of you. You follow the rules, and in general you behave in the way that
people in power expect you to. In other words, you conform. The expression ‘toe the mark’ has
more or less the same meaning.
*The VC has said that he’ll suspend all those who don’t toe the line.
There are many explanations as to the origin of this expression. According to some
scholars, the idiom comes from the world of athletics. The ‘line’ referred to in the idiom is the
starting line of a race. People taking part in a running race were expected to ‘toe the line’; in
other words, they were expected to keep their toes on the line or behind it. Rules required that
their toes were ‘on the mark’ (line), not over it. This is just one of the explanations.
Is it okay to introduce oneself in the following manner? ‘My name is Prof. X’.
Many teachers in India have the habit of introducing themselves in this manner. A native
speaker of English wouldn’t say, ‘My name is Prof. Smith.’ Remember, ‘professor’ is the
designation of a person; it is not a part of his name. If you would like people to know that you
are a professor, then you’ll be better off saying, ‘I’m Prof. X’, instead of, ‘My name is Prof. X’.
Does our P.M say, ‘My name is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’?
What is the meaning of the word ‘presently’?
The word has several different meanings depending on the context. When you say that
some event will take place ‘presently’, what you mean is that it will take place ‘shortly’ or
‘soon’.
*We were told that the Principal would be with us presently.
In American English, the word is frequently used to mean ‘right now’ or ‘currently’.
******
“Politics is skilled use of blunt objects.” — Lester B. Pearson
What is the meaning and origin of ‘pull the wool over someone’s eyes’?
This is an idiom which has been around for many centuries, and it is mostly used in
informal contexts. When someone pulls the wool over your eyes, he/she succeeds in deceiving
you. The person does this to ensure that you don’t figure out what he’s up to.
Raju pulled the wool over the old couple’s eyes, and ran away with their savings.
Before buying a car, please read this article. Otherwise, the salesperson will pull the wool
over your eyes.
Several centuries ago, it was standard practice in Europe and America for both men and
women to wear wigs — irrespective of whether they were bald or not. These loosely fitting hair
pieces were usually made of wool. When thieves wanted to steal something that a wig wearer
was carrying, they sneaked up to the individual and literally pulled the wig (wool) over the
victim’s eyes. Temporarily blinded and confused, the victim didn’t know what was happening
around him. The thief used this opportunity to run away with what the victim was carrying.
How is the word ‘chutzpah’ pronounced?
The ‘ch’ in the first syllable is like the ‘h’ in ‘hut’, ‘hiss’, and ‘have’, the following ‘u’ is
like the ‘u’ in ‘put’, ‘pull’, and ‘full’. The ‘z’ sounds like the ‘s’ in ‘sit’ and ‘sat’, and the final
‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘h’ is silent, and the stress is on the first syllable ‘chut’. The
word is pronounced ‘hutspe’. Americans sometimes spell this word of Yiddish origin ‘chutzpa’.
When you say that someone has ‘chutzpah’, what you mean is that the person is not
afraid to say or do things which often embarrass or shock other people. You admire the person
because he has the audacity and the supreme self confidence to do what he wants to. The word is
always used to show approval.
Such was his chutzpah that he asked his new boss if he could take her daughter to a
movie.
What is the origin of the word ‘soccer’?
According to scholars, ‘soccer’ is a slang term coined by university students in England

to refer to Association Football. The word comes from the alteration of ‘assoc’: the short form of
‘association’. In the beginning, the word was spelt ‘socca’, later it became ‘soccer’.
What is the meaning of ‘eponymous’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of the word. The ‘e’ and the ‘y’ are pronounced
like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘hit’, while the ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘cot’, ‘hot’, and ‘dot’. The final
‘ou’ is like the ‘a’ in china. The word is pronounced ‘iponimes’ with the stress on the second
syllable ‘pon’.
‘Othello’, ‘King Lear’ and ‘Macbeth’ are some of the well-known tragedies written by
Shakespeare. The title is also the name of the lead character in the play. Similarly, we have
novels like ‘Winnie the Pooh’, ‘Robinson Crusoe’ and ‘Emma’; once again, the title is based on
the name of the hero or heroine in the novel. An eponymous character in a book or play is one
whose name also happens to be the title of the book or play.
“My uncle Sammy was an angry man. He printed on his tombstone: What are you
looking at?” — Margaret Smith
June 2008
•What is the meaning of final nail in the coffin ? (20080624)

•What is the plural of aircraft ? (20080624)
•What s the difference between nonetheless and nevertheless ? (20080624)
•What is the meaning of back answer ? (20080624)
•How is the word severed pronounced? (20080624)
•Some people are scared of the number 13. Is there a word for it? (20080624)
•What is the difference between damage and damages ? (20080610)
•How is the word tawdry pronounced? (20080610)
•What is the meaning and origin of lock horns with ? (20080610)
•Is it OK to say, Hardly had we entered the room, than the ..... ? (20080610)
•How is the word vignette pronounced? (20080603)
•What is the meaning and origin of sledging ? (20080603)
•What is the meaning of touché ? (20080603)
•Is it okay to say, He should avail of this opportunity to learn English ? (20080603)
What is the meaning of ‘final nail in the coffin’?
A coffin as you know is something that people are buried in. In the old days, the lid had
to be nailed in. The act of hammering in the final nail, signified that the body inside the coffin
was ready to be buried. Therefore, when you say that something was the final nail in the coffin,
what you mean is that it is the end of something. It could be an event that causes harm or helps
bring about the downfall of something or someone.
*The report in the newspaper is another nail in the coffin of the corrupt Minister.
What is the plural of ‘aircraft’?
‘Aircraft’ is an uncountable noun; the plural therefore is ‘aircraft’, not ‘aircrafts’. The
plural of aeroplane, on the other hand, is ‘aeroplanes’. In American English, this word is spelt
‘airplane’.
*The Minister said that the government was planning to buy three more aircraft.
*The company was planning to buy two more aeroplanes by the end of the week.
What’s the difference between ‘nonetheless’ and ‘nevertheless’?
This is a question that is frequently asked. In terms of meaning, there is no difference

between the two; both are generally used in formal contexts to mean ‘in spite of’.
*The children had been up all night. Nonetheless, they continued to work on the project.
What is the meaning of ‘back answer’?
I think the expression you have in mind is ‘answer back’ and not ‘back answer’. When
you answer back someone in authority, you reply rather rudely to them.
*The teacher was shocked when the student started answering him back.
*The father became extremely angry when his daughter answered him back.
We Indians tend to say ‘back answer’ instead of ‘answer back’; similarly, we say
‘timepass’ rather than ‘pass time’.
How is the word ‘severed’ pronounced?
‘Sever’ rhymes with the word ‘never’, and the final ‘ed’ is like the ‘d’ in ‘dip’, ‘dish’ and
‘dab’. The stress is on the first syllable ‘se’, and the word is pronounced ‘severd’. When you
sever something, you cut it off completely. The word is mostly used in formal contexts.
*The impact of the collision was such that the driver’s head was severed.
When you say that you have severed your relationship with someone, what you mean is
that you have ended your relationship with that individual. The ending is usually sudden. It is
also possible to sever relations with things as well.
*I think we should sever diplomatic relations with China.
Some people are scared of the number 13. Is there a word for it?
The word that you have in mind is ‘triskaidekaphobia’. In Greek, ‘tris’ means ‘three’,
‘kai’ means ‘and’, and ‘deka’, as you have probably guessed, means ‘ten’. There are several
ways of pronouncing this word. The ‘i’ in the first syllable is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’ and ‘bit’, and the
following ‘kai’ rhymes with ‘why’ and ‘bye’. The ‘dek’ is pronounced like the word ‘deck’,
while the ‘e’ that follows is like the ‘a’ in china. The word is pronounced ‘triskydeckephobia’.
******
“Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.”
— Evan Esar
Know your English
“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to play a practical joke on Sujatha?
“If I had told you, Sujatha would have figured out we were up to something. We all know
you can’t keep a straight face.”
“You mean to say that I have a crooked face?”
“No, that’s not what I mean. When you keep a straight face, you don’t allow your
emotions to show. You try your best not to laugh. Even though…”
“Even though the situation you are in may be funny.”
“That’s right! When my boss fell off his chair, I found it difficult to keep a straight face.”
“It was hard to keep a straight face when I was talking to Sujatha today.”
“That’s the reason we didn’t tell you about the practical joke.”
“I guess I understand. Did you manage to see your favourite hero’s latest movie
yesterday?”
“I certainly did. It was like watching grass grow.”
“Watching grass grow! What are you talking about?”
“Have you ever taken time off to watch grass grow?”
“You think I’m crazy? Why would I waste my time watching grass grow? It’ll be so
boring.”
“Exactly! When you say that some activity was like watching grass grow, what you mean
is that it was very boring. According to Sujatha, watching people play golf is like watching grass
grow.”
“I don’t agree with that. If you ask me, watching people fishing is like watching grass
grow.”
“It’s supposed to be relaxing. O.K, so you didn’t like the movie. But I understand it’s a
big hit.”
“It certainly is. All the theatres are just packing them in. I understand it…”
“Packing them in? Don’t think I’ve heard that expression before. What does it mean?”
“When you say that a theatre or a restaurant is packing them in, what you mean is that the
place is attracting a lot of people. For example…”
“Let me give it a try. The old Udipi restaurant still manages to pack them in.”
“Any restaurant that serves good food at a reasonable price is likely to pack them in.”
“I know. There was a time when the zoo used to pack them in. Nowadays, you hardly
find anyone there.”
“I think people prefer to watch animals on TV nowadays.”
“You have a point there. I see that you have managed to do some cleaning here.”
“Yes, I did do some cleaning. Gave the bookshelves a lick and a promise.”
“A lick and a promise? What are you talking about?”
“When you say that you gave something a lick and a promise, what you mean is that you
did the job very hurriedly. You didn’t….”
“Since you didn’t spend too much time on it, you probably didn’t do a good job of it.”
“Exactly! And what little you did, you did it without enthusiasm. You are hoping to come
back to it later, and complete it.”
“That’s what most people do, I guess.”
“That’s true.”
“How about this example? Every morning I put on my uniform, give my shoes a lick and
a promise and rush to school.”
“Sounds good! I’ll give the car a lick and a promise before going to the station.”
“Good luck!”
******
“When God sneezed, I didn’t know what to say.” — Henry Youngman
What is the difference between ‘damage’ and ‘damages’?
You are driving your friend’s new car and as luck would have it, you end up having an
accident. You get out of the car and notice that the headlights are broken and the fender has more
or less come off. You have damaged your friend’s car; in this case, you have spoilt the looks of
the vehicle. The word ‘damage’ is mostly used with things. You can harm, break or spoil
something.
*During the recent earthquake, thousands of buildings were badly damaged.
While cars, houses, and roads can be damaged, a person, on the other hand, cannot be.
You cannot say, ‘Roshni was damaged in the blast.’ The word, however, can be used with things
that are seen to be a part of the individual: organs, reputation, etc.
*This will certainly damage the reputation of the Chief Minister.
If your friend is angry with you and drags you to court, then ‘damages’ is what the judge
will order you to pay for having ruined the new car. In other words, it’s the money you will pay
your friend as compensation. This word is mostly used in legal contexts.
How is the word ‘tawdry’ pronounced?

The ‘aw’ in the first syllable is pronounced like the ‘aw’ in ‘law’, ‘claw’ and ‘flaw’,
while the final ‘y’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and ‘kit’. The word is pronounced ‘taw-dri’ with
the stress on the first syllable.
When you refer to someone’s clothes as being tawdry, what you mean is that they look
rather cheap and gaudy; in other words, they are rather ‘tacky’. It suggests that the individual has
little or no taste.
You can’t expect me to go around wearing this tawdry piece of jewellery.
The word can also be used with stories and events as well. When you say that something
was ‘tawdry’ what you mean is that it contained rather unpleasant details.
The lawyer wasn’t keen on listening to his client’s tawdry motives.
Tawdry actually comes from the name of St. Audrey, a queen who ran away from her
mean husband and started her own monastery. Although she had renounced everything, she had
one great weakness: she loved wearing beautiful scarves and necklaces. When the queen died
and was later canonised, the local villagers decided to have a festival in her honour. Beautiful
scarves were among the items sold during this festival. These scarves were called ‘St Audrey’s
lace’. With the passage of time, the name was reduced to ‘tawdry’s lace’. This was further
shortened to ‘tawdry’. Later, the meaning of the word changed as well; it no longer referred to
something beautiful, but something ‘cheap’.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘lock horns with’?

When you lock horns with someone, you argue or fight with that particular individual in a
very determined way. Deer, when they fight, invariably lock horns.
The two parties locked horns over the recent price hike in petrol.
Is it OK to say, ‘Hardly had we entered the room, than the .....’?
No, it isn’t. In such sentences, the word ‘hardly’ is invariably followed by ‘when’ and not
‘than’.
The children had hardly started playing when the power went off.
“Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone.” — Anthony
Burgess
How is the word ‘vignette’ pronounced?

The ‘g’ and the final ‘e’ are silent. The first syllable rhymes with the words ‘win’, ‘bin’
and ‘sin’, and the ‘ett’ in the second syllable is pronounced like the word ‘yet’. The word is
pronounced ‘vin-yet’, with the stress on the second syllable. ‘Vignette’ comes from the Old
French ‘vigne’ meaning ‘vine’. Originally the term was used to refer to the drawings of vines
that one found at the beginning of every chapter of a printed book. Nowadays, the word is used
to refer to anything: it can be a short piece of writing, a photograph or a drawing which captures
the typical characteristics of a person or thing.
*You certainly don’t expect a city-bred girl to write a vignette of small-town life.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘sledging’?
In those days, a player using foul language in the presence of a lady was said to have
been as ‘subtle as a sledgehammer’ – in other words, not subtle at all. Such a person was often
nicknamed ‘Sledge’ because Percy Sledge’s song, ‘When a man loves a woman’ was popular at
that time!
What is the meaning of ‘touché’?

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of this word. The ‘ou’ in the first syllable is like
‘oo’ in ‘cool’, ‘pool’, and ‘fool’, while the following ‘ch’ sounds like the ‘sh’ in ‘ship’ and
‘sheep’. The final ‘e’ is pronounced like the ‘ay’ in ‘say’ and ‘bay’. The word is pronounced
‘too-shay’ with the stress on the second syllable. This is one way of pronouncing the word.
‘Touché’ is a word of French origin, and it is mainly used in the sport of fencing. It
comes from the Old French ‘touchier’ meaning ‘to hit’. When two people are fencing (fighting
with swords), and one of them scores a hit, he immediately shouts ‘touché’, meaning that he has
scored a point.
Nowadays, the exclamation is used in everyday contexts as well. When you are arguing
with someone and the individual makes a good point against you, you can say ‘touché’; by doing
so, you are acknowledging that he has scored a point against you.
*You are saying that if he really loved me, he wouldn’t be asking for dowry. Touché!
Is it okay to say, ‘He should avail of this opportunity to learn English’?

No, it isn’t. An individual doesn’t ‘avail of something’; he/she ‘avails himself/herself of
something’. The sentence should read ‘He should avail himself of this opportunity to learn
English.’
“The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who hate me away from those
who are still undecided.” — Casey Stengel
May 2008

•How is the word schedule pronounced? (20080520)
•What is the meaning of po-faced ? (20080520)
•What is the meaning of epithet ? (20080520)
•Does the word ta-ta actually exist? (20080520)
•When do you say good evening and good night ? (20080520)
•What is the difference between lightning and lightening ? (20080520)
•How is the word alibi pronounced? (20080513)
•What is the meaning of rattle someone s cage ? (20080513)
•Which is correct? Make or take a decision? (20080513)
•What is the difference between fatal and fateful ? (20080513)
Know your English

“Did you watch the movie on TV last night?”
“Yes, I did. It was...”
“What did you think of it? Wasn’t it just great?”
“I wouldn’t say that. I thought it was fair to middling.”
“Fair to middling? What does it mean?”
“When you say something was ‘fair to middling’, what you mean is that it was neither
very good nor very bad. It’s an informal way of saying, it was so-so.”
“So if someone asks me how good my English is, can I say, it’s fair to middling?”
“That’s a very good example”.
“Tell me, what does ‘middling’ mean? I know what ‘fair’ means?”
“Well, believe it or not, when this expression began to be used, ‘middling’ meant ‘fair’.”
“So you’re basically saying, ‘from fair to fair’. It’s neither good nor bad. It’s somewhere
in the middle.”
“Very good! It’s just OK. Now then, how...”
“Hey, what happened to the dining table? Did you sell it?”
“It needed some polishing. So the carpenter has taken it to the terrace.”
“So, where do you eat?”
“In the kitchen! A bachelor breakfast is what...”
“I know you are a bachelor and you have breakfast. But what is ‘bachelor breakfast’?”
“It’s when you eat something standing in the kitchen, instead of sitting at the dining
table.”
“Is this expression only used in relation to someone’s breakfast? Can it be used with...”
“The expression ‘bachelor breakfast’ can be used with any meal. The important thing is
that the meal is eaten while you are standing.”
“I see. When we have a lot of guests at home, I prefer to have an early bachelor breakfast
and leave for college.”
“That’s a very good idea.”
“My cousin Sujatha doesn’t think so. According to Sujatha’s opinion, when one eats...”
“You cannot say, ‘according to Sujatha’s opinion’.”
“But you can say, ‘according to Sujatha’, right?”
“That’s right! But if you want to use ‘opinion’, then you have to say, ‘in Sujatha’s
opinion’. For example, in Ram’s opinion, more money should be spent on development.”
“Or I can say, according to Ram, more money should be spent on development.”
“Good! In my opinion, you need to get a haircut.”
“You sound like my mother! You’re supposed to have lunch with your boss today, aren’t
you?”
“Yes, in another hour or so. How do I look?”
“You’re wearing faded jeans and an old T-shirt. You can’t meet your boss wearing those
clothes!”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re not dressed to the occasion. That’s why not!”
“It’s ‘dressed for’ the occasion, and not ‘dressed to’.”
“I see. You’re not dressed for the occasion.”
“Do you know what ‘dressed for the occasion’ means?”
“Of course, I do. When someone is dressed for the occasion, he/she is suitably dressed.
The clothes the person is wearing are appropriate.”
“Exactly! My boss and I are having lunch in the old Udipi restaurant down the street.
We’re discussing the menu for next week’s annual party.”
“In that case, you are dressed for the occasion.”
“Thank you.”
“I wanted to take up music, so my father bought me a blunt instrument. He told me to
knock myself out.” — Jay London
How is the word ‘schedule’ pronounced?

The Americans and the English pronounce this word differently. The English pronounce
the first syllable like the word ‘shed’, and in the case of the second, they rhyme it with the words
‘fuel’, ‘duel’, and ‘mule’. The word is pronounced ‘shed-yule’ with the stress on the first
syllable. The Americans, on the other hand, pronounce the ‘sch’ in the first syllable like the ‘sk’
in ‘skill’, ‘skit’, and ‘skip’. They pronounce the word ‘skedule’.
What is the meaning of ‘po-faced’?

This is an informal expression mostly used in British and Australian English. The word
‘po’ rhymes with ‘no’, ‘so’, and ‘go’. When you say that someone is ‘po-faced’, what you mean
is that the individual looks very serious and rather unfriendly.
The po-faced principal didn’t allow the students to write the exam.
What is the meaning of ‘epithet’?
Originally, the term meant a word or phrase attached to the name of an individual. Take
for example, ‘Solomon the Wise’ and ‘Alexander the Great’. In both the examples, what comes
after the name is an epithet: ‘the Wise and ‘the Great’. Epithets referred to the most important
quality of an individual, and in the old days, they were invariably used after the names of saints.
Later, epithets began to be used as descriptive substitutes for the names or titles of individuals.
We Indians, for example, use the epithet ‘Father of the Nation’ to refer to Mahatma
Gandhi. Not all epithets, however, are complimentary; most, in fact, are derogatory. Nowadays
the term ‘epithet’ is used to mean ‘term of abuse’.
Harbhajan was accused of hurling racial epithets at Andrew Symonds.
Does the word ‘ta-ta’ actually exist?

Yes, it does. Like the word ‘cheerio’, it is used mostly in British English in informal
contexts to mean ‘goodbye’. ‘Ta-ta’ is mostly used by children. Americans do not use either
‘ta-ta’ or ‘cheerio’.
When do you say ‘good evening’ and ‘good night’?

‘Good evening’ is a way of saying ‘hello’ to someone in the evening. Some people start
using this expression at 5 pm, others wait till 6 pm; there seems to be no fixed time as to when
you start wishing someone, ‘Good evening’. When you run into someone at eleven o’clock in the
night, you can still wish him ‘Good evening’. The standard response to ‘Good evening’ is ‘Good
evening’. You normally wish someone ‘Good night’ when you are taking leave of someone in
the evening — not in the morning or afternoon! It’s another way of saying ‘goodbye’. People
also say ‘Good night’ before they hit the sack.
What is the difference between ‘lightning’ and ‘lightening’?

A heavy downpour is sometimes accompanied by thunder and lightning — it is the flash
of brilliant light that we see in the sky. One cannot hear it, one can only see it; what we hear is
‘thunder’. ‘Lightening’ comes from the word ‘lighten’. When you attempt to ‘lighten’
something, you are attempting to make it ‘lighter’; in other words, you are trying to reduce its
weight. This is just one of the meanings of the word.
“A telescope can magnify a star a thousand times; a good press agent can do even
better.” — Fred Allen
How is the word ‘alibi’ pronounced?

The ‘a’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘cat’, ‘bat’, and ‘sat’, while the ‘i’ in the
second is like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’ and ‘bit’. The final syllable is pronounced like the word ‘by’. The
word is pronounced ‘a-li-by’ with the stress on the first syllable. ‘Alibi’ is a word mostly used in
legal contexts. In many movies, when the villain is accused of murdering someone, his sleazy
lawyer tries to prove that his client couldn’t have possibly committed the crime as he was
elsewhere when the murder was committed. This evidence that people provide is called an alibi.
*The husband has a cast iron alibi. He was not in the country when the crime took place.
“Punctuality is the virtue of the bored.” — Evelyn Waugh
What is the meaning of ‘rattle someone’s cage’?

This is what children sometimes do at the zoo when they find the animal sound asleep
inside the cage. To wake up the animal and get its attention, the kids often pick up a stick and
keep hitting the cage with it. How does the sleeping animal react to this unwelcome rattling? It
usually gets annoyed or angry. When you rattle someone’s cage, you are deliberately trying to
get the person annoyed or angry. You are attempting to get the individual’s attention.
*Shyamala tried to rattle Harish’s cage by asking him questions about his former girl
friend.
Which is correct? ‘Make’ or ‘take’ a decision?

You can ‘take a decision’ or ‘make a decision’; both are correct. Which one you decide to
use depends on which side of the Atlantic you are from. ‘Make a decision’, I understand, is
mainly used by the Americans, while the English prefer ‘take a decision’. In terms of meaning,
in most contexts, there is little or no difference between the two.
What is the difference between ‘fatal’ and ‘fateful’?

The word ‘fatal’ is always associated with something negative; its use suggests death or
disaster. If you say that your neighbour had a fatal heart attack last week, it means that he died of
a heart attack last week. Similarly, when you say, ‘Ram struck the robber a fatal blow’, what you
mean is that Ram’s blow killed the robber. A sentence like, ‘Ganeshan took the fatal decision to
marry Rima’, suggests that Ganeshan’s decision had disastrous consequences.
Unlike the word ‘fatal’, ‘fateful’ need not always be associated with something bad.
‘Fateful’ means controlled by fate, and in this case, the result can be either good or bad. You
may make the fateful decision to join the police force: you may have some luck, and quickly
become a DIG, or you may end up getting killed in a shootout on your first day at work!
Know your English

“Hi! Come on in. Your mother tells me you’ve done really well in your exams. That’s
great.”
“I’ll know how well I’ve done when the results come out. Right now, I’m enjoying my
break. I’m not touching my books for another two months.”
“Really? Aren’t you preparing for any of the entrance exams that...”
“No, I’m not! My friend Parthiv is planning to write the IIT entrance exam, and he is...”
“Parthiv is trying to get into IIT? Somebody must tell him he’s chasing rainbows.”
“He is chasing rainbows? What do you mean by that?”
“When you say that someone is ‘chasing rainbows’, what you mean is that he is trying to
achieve something that is impossible.”
“In other words, he is trying to do something which he is not really capable of.”
“My uncle chased rainbows all his life. He never amounted to anything.”
“I guess that’s what happens when you chase rainbows. Can I use your computer for a
couple of minutes? I need to ...”
“Sorry. The computer bit the dust last night. I don’t know...”
“Bit the dust? Did it fall off the table or something?”
“No, it didn’t fall off the table. When you say that something ‘bit the dust’, what you
mean is that it has stopped working.”
“I see. How about this example? I want that old scooter my dad has to bite the dust really
soon. That way, I would...”
“You want to drive a new scooter, do you?”
“Yes, I certainly do. There are many things in my house that are ready to bite the dust.
So...”
“The expression ‘bite the dust’ can be used with people as well. When you say that
someone has bitten the dust, what you mean is that the person is dead.”
“I see. It has the same meaning as ‘to kick the bucket’?”
“That’s right! ‘Bite the dust’ is mostly used in informal contexts. Kunthala’s grandmother
was nearly 90 when she bit the dust.”
“The two brothers wanted to sell the property. They were hoping that their father would
bite the dust soon.”
“That’s a terrible example. Talking about property, how is your friend Yuvraj doing?”
“He’s doing great! Business is booming and he...”
“Did he marry the girl he was going out with? What was her name?”
“Padma. He asked her to marry him, but she got cold feet and...”
“Cold feet? What are you talking about?”
“When you get or have cold feet about something, you lose your courage. You end up not
doing what you had planned to do. Originally this idiom was used only in relation to marriage.”
“I see. Ganesh and Jyothi were planning to get married next month. But Ganesh got cold
feet and called off the wedding.”
“That’s a good example. The idiom is now being used in other contexts as well — not
just weddings. Avinash agreed to sing at the local club. But he got cold feet and cancelled the
event.”
“Last week I was asked to make a presentation. I thought I’d get cold feet, but I didn’t.”
“That’s good to know. I’ve got to make a presentation next week. Maybe, you can make
it on my behalf.”
“Talk about chasing rainbows!”
“Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer, but we wish we didn’t.”
— Erika Jong
April 2008

•What is the meaning of take up the cudgels for someone ? (20080422)
•Does the word nomophobia exist? What does it mean? (20080422)
•Is it OK to say, The students were baffled with the teacher s instructions ? (20080422)
•How is the word aplomb pronounced? (20080422)
•Is there a difference between I plan to re-cover the old sofa and I plan to recover the old
sofa ? (20080422)
•What is the difference between robber and thief ? (20080415)
•What is the meaning of paddle one s own canoe ? (20080415)
•What is the past tense of quit ? (20080415)
•How is the word succinct pronounced? (20080415)
•What is the meaning of flip out ? (20080415)
•How is the word awry pronounced? (20080408)
•What is the meaning of the expression to make sheep eyes at someone ? (20080408)
•What is the difference between perhaps and maybe ? (20080408)
•What is the meaning of the expression put past someone ? (20080408)
•Is the following sentence grammatically correct? He has a car, hasn t he? (20080408)
•What is the meaning and origin of Tinseltown ? (20080401)
•What is the difference between biannual and biennial ? (20080401)
•What is the meaning and origin of throw the hat into the ring ? (20080401)
•What is the meaning of vox populi? (20080401)
Know your English

“Hi! You don’t look too good. Is anything the matter?”
“Problems at the office, I’m afraid. The workers have been on strike for a week now.
They have been raising Cain and we...”
“Raising Cain? I have no idea what it means.”
“It means to protest angrily about something. The person who raises Cain usually
behaves in a disruptive manner. He creates problems for others.”
“Here’s an example. When the parents were informed that the children wouldn’t be
allowed to write the exam, they raised Cain.”
“That’s what many parents do. You should see what...”
“What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn’t you be at home swotting for your exams?”
“What should I be doing?”
“Swotting for your exams. The word is spelt s...w...o...t. The ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘lot’ and
‘pot’.”
“I see. Tell me, what does ‘swot’ mean?”
“It means to study very hard. The word is normally used in the context of exams.”
“That’s the only time when people like me study hard!”
“I know! It’s true of...”
“So when you ‘swot’, you attempt to learn as much as you can, as quickly as you can
about something. Is that right?”
“Well, you could say that. It’s a word that is mostly used in informal contexts in British
English. Let me give you an example.”
“Wait! Let me give it a try. Right now, Archana is sitting at home swotting for her Board
exams.”
“That’s a good example. It’s also possible to say ‘swot up on’. For example, Sekhar spent
several hours in the library swotting up on his chemistry.”
“The word ‘swot’ can also be used with people as well. When you call someone a ‘swot’,
what you mean is that he studies very hard. Other than this, he is not interested in anything else.”
“So by calling a person a ‘swot’, you are making it clear that you disapprove of him.”
“Exactly! Here’s an example. Whatever you do, please don’t invite that swot Dilip to the
party.”
“In school, I’m surrounded by swots.”
“I seriously doubt that. I wouldn’t call any of your friends, swots. Tell me, what are you
going to do once the exams get over?”
“I’m planning to go to Mumbai. What about you? Are you going anywhere?”
“I don’t know. I’m terribly busy negotiating with the workers right now. I hope to get
some downtime next week.”
“Downtime? I don’t think I’ve heard that expression before. What does it mean?”
“It’s a period of time when you don’t do anything. You just...”
“You sit back and relax. You basically chill out. Isn’t that the expression?”
“Very good! That’s exactly what you do. I’ve been working 15 hours a day for the past
month. I need some downtime.”
“Let’s borrow some DVDs and have some downtime at my place.”
“No chance of that happening. Your mother would raise Cain if she saw you watching
movies.”
“You’re right! I’d better go and start swotting for my exams.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
“I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.” — Fred
Allen
What is the meaning of ‘take up the cudgels for someone’?

The first syllable of ‘cudgels’ rhymes with ‘budge’, ‘nudge’, and ‘grudge’, and the
following ‘e’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced ‘kajelz’ with the stress on the first
syllable. A ‘cudgel’ is a club; it is a short heavy stick that is often used as a weapon. When you
take up the cudgels for someone, what you are doing is coming to the defence of an individual.
The expression can also mean to argue strongly in favour of someone or something. In British
and Australian English, it is also possible to say, ‘to take up the cudgels on behalf of someone’.
*The association should take up the cudgels for the two men who have been dismissed.
When you ‘take up the cudgels against someone’, you fight against him.
*It’s about time that we took up the cudgels against crooked politicians.
Does the word ‘nomophobia’ exist? What does it mean?

Yes, it certainly does. A lot of young people have this phobia. What is the thing that most
teenagers and people in their 20s are addicted to? What is the gadget that they love the most?
Something that they cannot do without? It’s the cell phone, of course! Many people are overly
dependent on this particular gadget. When they don’t receive a signal on it, or when they receive
a message saying that the battery is low or their credit is almost over, they have a panic attack.
This fear they have that they might be out of cell phone range or their cell phone may die on
them is called ‘nomophobia’. ‘Nomo’ is short for ‘no mobile’!
Is it OK to say, ‘The students were baffled with the teacher’s instructions’?

No, it isn’t. People are usually baffled ‘by’ something, not ‘with’ something. When you
are baffled by something, you find it very difficult to understand; it puzzles you.
*According to the reports, the police are baffled by the murder.
How is the word ‘aplomb’ pronounced?

The ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the following ‘o’ sounds like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘pot’,
and ‘cot’. The final ‘b’ is silent, and the main stress is on the second syllable. The word is
pronounced ‘aplom’. When you do something with aplomb, you do it in a relaxed manner and
with a great deal of confidence. The word is mostly used in formal contexts.
*The young couple handled the difficult situation with aplomb.
Is there a difference between ‘I plan to re-cover the old sofa’ and ‘I plan to recover
the old sofa’?
Yes, there is. Sometimes, the presence of a hyphen can bring about a change in the
meaning of a word. In the first sentence, ‘re-cover’ suggests that you are going to cover the sofa
again with something. The old sofa may already have a cover, but chances are you are not happy
with it. So, you intend to put some other cover on it, and make it look good.
The word ‘recover’, on the other hand, suggests that the old sofa is no longer with you.
Perhaps you have lost it or someone has stolen it! Whatever be the case, you are now planning to
find it and bring it home — the place where it belongs!
“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop
laughing.” — Michael Pritchard
What is the difference between ‘robber’ and ‘thief’?

Of the two, the thief is more subtle! When a thief takes something from you, you are not
usually aware of it. You don’t even notice his presence, and when he disappears with something
that belongs to you, he seldom leaves a trail behind him. He steals without attracting too much
attention to himself, and he is never violent.
*The thief entered the house and walked away with the laptop.
A robber, on the other hand, is someone who comes face to face with his victim and
forces him to part with his valuables. He threatens his victim with grievous injuries, if he doesn’t
do as he is told. Unlike a thief, a robber may resort to violence — he may kill or injure the
person being robbed.
*The robber tied the man to the tree and ran away with the suitcase.
What is the meaning of ‘paddle one’s own canoe’?

This is an expression that is mostly used in American English. A ‘canoe’ is a small boat
which Native Americans made use of. The ‘a’ in the word is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the final
‘oe’ is like the ‘oo’ in ‘cool’, ‘pool’, and ‘fool’ The word is pronounced ‘ke-noo’ with the stress
When you paddle your own canoe, what you are doing is steering your own boat. In other
words, you are charting your own course. The expression ‘paddle your own canoe’ is used to
mean self reliant or independent.
*Listen Naresh, you are 25 years old. It’s time you started to paddle your own canoe.
What is the past tense of ‘quit’?

When the verb is used to mean ‘to leave’, it has two past tense forms — quit and quitted.
For example, it is possible to say, ‘Jai quit/quitted his job last month.’ The word ‘quitted’ is
seldom used in American English, and in British English, it is limited to formal styles of writing.
Many people regard ‘quitted’ as old fashioned. When the verb is used to mean ‘to stop’, then
‘quit’ and not ‘quitted’ is used as the past tense form. We say, ‘Yogesh has quit playing tennis’,
not, ‘Yogesh has quitted playing tennis.’
How is the word ‘succinct’ pronounced?

The ‘u’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the first ‘c’ is like the ‘k’ in ‘kiss’
and ‘keep’. The following ‘cinc’ is pronounced like the word ‘sink’ and the final‘t’ is like the ‘t’
in ‘table’ and ‘tin’. The word is pronounced ‘sek-sinkt’ with the stress on the second syllable.
This is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word.
This is a word that is mostly used in formal contexts to indicate approval. When someone
is succinct, you mean he speaks clearly and concisely. He says what he wants to say without
wasting too many words; he is to the point.
*The reporters were rather unhappy with the Mayor’s succinct reply.
What is the meaning of ‘flip out’?
When someone ‘flips out’, he loses control of himself; he suddenly goes crazy. The
expression is mostly used in informal contexts.
*When Lina heard that she hadn’t been promoted, she flipped out.
Another expression which has the same meaning is ‘flip one’s wig’.
“America believes in education: the average professor earns more money in a year than
a professional athlete earns in a whole week!” — Evan Esar
How is the word ‘awry’ pronounced?

The first syllable ‘aw’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the ‘y’ in the second syllable is like
the ‘y’ in ‘my’ and ‘by’. The word is pronounced ‘erai’ with the stress on the second syllable.
The word has several different meanings. When things go awry, they don’t go the way that you
had intended them to. Nothing goes according to plan.
The plans went awry because the Chief Guest arrived two hours late.
When something is not in its normal or proper position, it is said to be awry. It is
somewhat crooked.
Abhai looked as if he had been in a fight. His shirt was torn, and his tie was twisted awry.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘to make sheep eyes at someone’?
This is an expression that is not heard very often nowadays; it is considered rather old
fashioned. When you make sheep eyes at someone, you make it rather obvious to the individual
that you are attracted to him/her. No one is really sure about the origin of the expression.
Some of the girls in class have been making sheep eyes at the new teacher.
What is the difference between ‘perhaps’ and ‘maybe’?

In terms of meaning, there is no difference between the two; both can be used to mean
‘something is possible’. Of the two, ‘maybe’ is considered to be informal. It is frequently heard
in speech, but is seldom used in formal styles of writing. ‘Maybe’ always comes at the beginning
of a clause; ‘perhaps’, on the other hand, can come in different positions.
Maybe you should tell them that you don’t really like the job.
Perhaps you should tell them that you don’t really like the job.
You should perhaps tell them that you don’t really like the job.
Make sure to maintain the distinction between ‘maybe’ and ‘may be’.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘put past someone’?
The expression is normally used to show disapproval. When you say that you wouldn’t
put something past someone, what you mean is that the individual in question is quite capable of
doing something wrong; at least, something which you don’t approve of.
I wouldn’t put it past Velu to deny all knowledge of the incident.
Is the following sentence grammatically correct? ‘He has a car, hasn’t he?’
No, it isn’t. It should be ‘He has a car, doesn’t he?’ Take a look at the following
sentences. She is beautiful, isn’t she? The students can go home, can’t they? They do want to
help, don’t they? He has walked three miles, hasn’t he? In all the examples, the question tag
makes use of a ‘be’ verb, or a helping verb like ‘can’, ‘do’, ‘has’, etc.
In the sentence that you have given, ‘has’ is the main verb; the sentence does not contain
a helping verb. When ‘has’ is the main verb, you cannot make use of it in the question tag; you
have to make use of some form of the verb ‘do’.
For example, you cannot say, ‘He has five children, hasn’t he?’ The question tag should
be ‘doesn’t he?’ ‘He has five children, doesn’t he?’
“The first time I sang in the church choir, two hundred people changed their religion.”—
Fred Allen
What is the meaning and origin of ‘Tinseltown’?
‘Tinseltown’ is an uncomplimentary term that has been used to refer to Hollywood for
quite some time now. Tinsel consists of long strips of shiny material which people use to
decorate Christmas trees. It is something that glitters, but is of no value. The word ‘tinsel’ has
been used in the English language for several centuries to describe something that is rather
showy and gaudy. When you refer to Hollywood as Tinseltown, what you mean is that although
the place glitters, like the people in it, it does not have any substance. On closer inspection, you
realise it is merely some cheap foil which falls apart at the seams.
What is the difference between ‘biannual’ and ‘biennial’?

Both words are derived from the same root: ‘bi’ meaning ‘two or twice’ and ‘annus’
meaning ‘year’. The two words, however, have very different meanings. An event that takes
place biannually happens twice a year; perhaps, every six months. A ‘biennial’ event, on the
other hand, takes place once in two years. The stress in both words is on the second syllable.
*The company will be publishing its biannual report next week.
*The editor is planning to bring out the new journal biennially
What is the meaning and origin of ‘throw the hat into the ring’?
When you ‘throw’ or ‘toss’ your hat into the ring, what you are doing is announcing to
the world that you are ready to compete with other people for something — it could be for the
post of the Vice Chancellor, a place in Cabinet, etc.
The expression nowadays is mostly used in relation to politics. When someone throws his
hat “in” or “into” the ring, he is informing everyone that he is contesting in the coming elections.
The expression comes from the sport of boxing. In the old days, when wearing a hat was
common practice, when a man threw his hat into the boxing ring, it implied that he was
challenging the boxer; he was willing to fight him.
What is the meaning of vox populi?

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of this Latin expression. ‘Vox’ rhymes with ‘pox’,
‘socks’, and ‘fox’, and the first syllable of ‘populi’ rhymes with ‘hop’ and ‘top’. The following
‘u’ sounds like the ‘u’ in ‘useful’ and ‘united’, while the final ‘i’ is like the ‘ee’ in ‘seed’, ‘feed’,
and ‘need’. It is also possible to pronounce the final ‘i’ like the ‘y’ in ‘by’ and ‘my’.
The word is pronounced ‘vox popyulee” with the main stress on the first syllable of
‘populi’. The expression means ‘voice of the people’, and it is often reduced to ‘vox pop’ or ‘vox
pops’.
The vox pop technique is normally used in radio and television broadcasting. Every day
on the various news channels, we see reporters interviewing people on the street. They ask the
common man to give their opinion about something. ‘What do you think of the budget’ or ‘Do
you like Dhoni’s new hairstyle?’ This method of recording the opinions of people talking
informally in public places is called vox populi or vox pop.
*To make the programme interesting you need vox pop.
“When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first thing to be bought and
sold are legislators.”
— P. J. Rourke
March 2008

•What is the meaning of serendipity ? (20080311)
•How is the word idiosyncrasy pronounced? (20080311)
•What s the difference between envelope and envelop ? (20080311)
Know your English

“Where were you? I’ve been ringing the bell for over five minutes. Were you taking a
bath?”
“Taking a bath so early in the evening? No way! I was in the arms of Morpheus.”
“You were in the arms of another man? When...”
“Relax, will you? When you tell someone that you were in the arms of Morpheus, what
you mean is that you were fast asleep.”
“I see. Who is this Morpheus?”
“He is the god of dreams in Roman and Greek mythology. So when you are in his arms,
you are in the land of dreams.”
“Do you want to return to the arms of Morpheus? I can always come back later.”
“Not really! I’ve been in his arms most of the afternoon. Do you know that it is from
Morpheus that we get the word morphine?”
“Guess that explains why people who are given morphine have the feeling they are in a
dream world. So, how was lunch with your boss?”
“O.K, I guess.”
“What do you mean, ‘O.K, I guess.’ Didn’t it turn out to be the dream lunch you’d hoped
for?”
“Not really. It turned into a nightmare the moment he asked me to pick up the tab.”
“Pick up the tab? What tab?”
“A tab is the bill. When somebody asks you to pick up the tab...”
“They want you to pay the bill.”
“Exactly! It’s an informal expression mostly used in American English. Usually, when
you go out with someone, it is the person who invites you who picks up the tab.”
“Even I know that! And that’s the reason, I don’t invite anyone. How about this example?
Since the accident took place in the office, the company was willing to pick up the tab.”
“Sounds good! Whenever I go out with my friend Govind, we take turns picking up the
tab. Sometimes, we go Dutch.”
“You and Govind go Dutch! Why don’t you go Indian?”
“Not very funny, I’m afraid. When you go Dutch with someone, you share the bill. You
pay for what you have eaten, and he pays for what...”
“For what he’s eaten. Understood. Whenever my friends and I go out, we invariably go
Dutch.”
“That’s what most students do. I thought my boss would pick up the tab for today’s
lunch. The least he could have done is...”
“Forget about your silly boss, will you? Did you hear about Harish and Mythili?”
“Yes, I believe they have called off their wedding. The news of the cancellation hit me
right between the eyes.”
“Hit you right between the eyes? What are you talking about?”
“When you say that something hit you right between the eyes, it means, it shocked you.
This week’s article on how corrupt our politicians are hit me right between the eyes.”
“Corruption and politicians go together. Why should the news hit you between the eyes?
How about this example? The filthy condition of the hospital hit them right between the eyes.”
“That’s a wonderful example. Are we going to the new ice cream parlour on M.G. Road
today?”
“Why don’t we go after dinner?”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“Will you be picking up the tab?”
“Nice try. Let’s go Dutch.”
“Women like silent men. They think they are listening.” — Marcel Archard
What is the meaning of ‘serendipity’?

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The ‘e’ in the first syllable sounds like the ‘e’ in
‘set’, ‘bet’, and ‘get’, while the ‘e’ in the second is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘i’ in the third and
fourth syllables and the final ‘y’ are pronounced like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’, ‘bit’, and ‘hit’. The word is
pronounced ‘serendipiti’, with the stress on the third syllable ‘di’.
Sometimes, we make rather fortunate discoveries by sheer accident. This lucky tendency
that some people have to find interesting or valuable things by chance is called ‘serendipity’. The
word is considered formal, and is mostly used in literary contexts.
*According to the artist, some of the best effects in his garden have been the result of
serendipity.
‘Serendip’ is the old Persian name for Sri Lanka. In the fairy tale, ‘The Three Princes of
Serendip’, the main characters make wonderful discoveries by chance. The American writer,
Horace Walpole, coined the word ‘serendipity’ in 1754 in a letter he wrote to his friend.
How is the word ‘idiosyncrasy’ pronounced?

The ‘i’ in the first and second syllables and the ‘y’ in the final syllable are like the ‘i’ in
‘pit’, ‘bit’, and ‘hit’. The ‘o’ in the second is like the ‘o’ in ‘so’, ‘no’, and ‘go’. The ‘syn’ is
pronounced like the word ‘sing’, and the ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced
‘idiosingkresi’ with the main stress on ‘syn’. There are other ways of pronouncing the word as
well.
‘Idiosyncrasy’ is normally used to refer to the strange or unusual habits or characteristics
of a person or thing. This is just one of the meanings of the word.
*He twirls his moustache whenever he gets nervous. This is one of his idiosyncrasies.
*One of the idiosyncrasies of this car is that when you turn on the lights, the AC stops
working.
The word comes from the Greek ‘idios’ meaning ‘peculiar’ or ‘one’s own’, and
‘synkrasia’ meaning ‘temperament’. When borrowed into English, the word was first used in the
medical profession to mean ‘physical constitution of an individual’.
What’s the difference between ‘envelope’ and ‘envelop’?

The first is a noun and the second a verb. An ‘envelope’ is something in which you send
a letter. Nowadays of course, not many people use ‘envelopes’ because they prefer email.
When used as a noun, the ‘en’ is pronounced ‘on’ and the following ‘e’ is like the ‘a’ in
‘china’. The ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘so’, ‘go’, and ‘no’, and the final ‘e’ is silent. The stress in this
case is on the first syllable. The word is pronounced ‘onvelope’.
When used as a verb, the word means to surround or cover something completely. The
‘en’ is pronounced like the word ‘in’, and the following ‘e’ sounds like the ‘e’ in ‘set’, ‘bet’, and
‘get’. The ‘o’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the main stress is on the second syllable. The word is
pronounced ‘invelep’.
*The fog had enveloped the airport. The pilot couldn’t see a thing.
*The plan seems to be enveloped in secrecy.
“He knows nothing; he thinks he knows everything: that clearly points to a political
career.” — G. B. Shaw
Know your English

“How can the Australian players behave so badly on the field? Cricket is supposed to be a
gentleman’s game.”
“If you ask me, people who believe that cricket is still a gentleman’s game are living in
la-la land.”
“La-la land? What does it mean?”
“When you say that someone is in la-la land, what you mean is that they are out of touch
with reality. The person has no clue what’s going on. For example, I have no idea what’s going
on with my cousin Ganesh. He seems to be in la-la land.”
“Tell me, where does the expression ‘la-la-land’ come from?”
“As you probably know, ‘LA’ is the short form of Los Angeles. People living in this city
are thought to be odd or eccentric. Hence the expression ‘la-la land’.”
“That’s interesting. So, you don’t think cricket is a gentleman’s game?”
“Look, you know I’m really not into cricket. So, ...”
“Just answer the question. Do you think that cricket...”
“Cricket is no longer a game. It’s become a business. Look at the people running it.”
“I don’t agree with you. I think cricket is a wonderful game. It’s still...”
“Look, the two of us can argue until the cows come home and we still won’t be...”
“Whose cows? What cows? What are you talking about?”
“The expression ‘until the cows come home’, means ‘for a very long time’.”
“Is it because the cowherd takes the cows out for grazing early in the morning, and brings
them back only in the evening? He’s out the whole day and ...”
“That’s right. When the expression was first used, it meant ‘entire day’. Now it’s used to
mean for a very long time.”
“I see. How about this example? You can keep asking till the cows come home, but there
is no way that you are going to get a new laptop.”
“That’s a very good example. You are waiting for my boss to come up with a reasonably
good idea? Then I’m afraid you’ll be waiting until the cows come home.”
“The two parties debated the issue till the cows came home, but for some strange reason
they just couldn’t reach an agreement.”
“It’s never easy to reach an agreement. Anyway, other than watching cricket players
insult each other, what else have you been up to?”
“I saw a film called ‘Taare zameen par’. It was pretty...”
“A couple of my friends saw it, and they said it knocked their socks off.”
“Knocked their socks off? Does it mean they enjoyed it?”
“When you say that something knocked your socks off, what you mean is that you found
it to be really exciting or good.”
“In other words, it pleased you very much.”
“You were extremely pleased or happy with it. You were just blown away by the
experience.”
“I see. You should see Narender’s new car. It’ll knock your socks off.”
“The new restaurant is a very small place. The decor isn’t great, but the food will simply
knock your socks off.”
“You must try this new brand of ice cream. It’ll knock your socks off.”
“It’s also possible to say ‘blow the socks off someone’. When the little girl began to sing,
she blew the socks off everyone.”
“One advantage of talking to yourself is that at least you know that somebody is
listening.” — Franklin P. Jones
February 2008
•What is the meaning of the expression òn the fly'? (20080226)

•How is the word ètiquette' pronounced? (20080226)
•What is the meaning of the expression `the proof of the pudding is in the eating'? (20080226)
•What's the difference between `work for someone' and `work with someone'? (20080226)
•What is the difference between àlumni', and àlumnae'? (20080226)
•How is the word aficionado pronounced? (20080219)
•What is the response to How do you do? (20080219)
•What is the difference between misogynist and misogamist ? (20080219)
•What is the meaning and origin of more sinned against than sinning ? (20080219)
•How is the word extempore pronounced? 2008021951111503.htm (20080212)
•What is the meaning of the expression to separate the sheep from the goats ? (20080212)
•What is the difference between sojourn and journey ? (20080212)
•How is the word kiosk pronounced? (20080212)
•Is it okay to introduce myself in the following manner? I am Mr. Thomas. (20080212)
•What is the meaning of modus vivendi ? (20080205)
•What is the origin of the word magazine ? (20080205)
•What is the difference between missive and letter ? (20080205)
•What is the meaning of the expression thanks but no thanks ? (20080205)
What is the meaning of the expression òn the fly'?
(G. Swaminathan, Coimbatore)
This is an informal expression that is mostly used in American English. When you do
something òn the fly', you do it very quickly, without spending too much time thinking about it.
This is a serious matter. I don't think you should be taking decisions on the fly. The
expression has another meaning as well. It means the ability to perform a task while you are on
the move.
Padma's new cell phone enables her to check her email on the fly.
How is the word ètiquette' pronounced?

The è' in the first syllable and the ùe' in the third are pronounced like the è' in `set',
`bet', and `pet'. The ì' is like the ì' in `kit', `hit', and `pit', and the following `q' is like the `k' in
`king', `kiss', and `kill'. The final è' is silent; the word is pronounced ètiket' with the stress on
the first syllable. This is one way of pronouncing the word.
Every society has its own rules and conventions which determine polite behaviour in a
given social situation. Etiquette refers to the formal rules which govern `socially acceptable
behaviour'. These are the rules we observe in our social and professional life.
There was a time when etiquette was considered important in our country.
What is the meaning of the expression `the proof of the pudding is in the eating'?
(S. Sowmya, Chennai)
This is an expression that has been around for several centuries. When you tell someone
that the `proof of the pudding is in the eating', what you mean is that in order to determine the
value of something, one needs to test or try it. You are telling the individual not to pass judgment
on something without examining the facts or evidence. You will come to know if the pudding is
good or bad, only after tasting it. The expression is often reduced to `the proof of the pudding',
and it has the same meaning as `don't judge a book by its cover'.
On paper, your suggestions look great. But you know what they say, the proof of the
pudding is in the eating.
What's the difference between `work for someone' and `work with someone'?
(Prashant Chaturvedi, Gwalior)
When you `work for' someone, you are his employee; you have been hired by him to do a
job. This doesn't necessarily mean that this individual knows you personally; and chances are
you may not be working along with him. Lots of people work for the Prime Minister; it doesn't
mean that Dr. Manmohan Singh knows everyone personally.
How would you like to work for Ambani? When you `work with' someone, you work
along with the person. He may or may not be your boss. In this case, since the two of you work
side by side, you see him on a regular basis and know him personally.
For my PhD, I would like to work with Prof. Nagalakshmi.
What is the difference between àlumni', and àlumnae'?
(G. Shanthi, Bangalore)
The àlumni' of a university are the students who have graduated from it; the word is used
to refer to both male and female students. Àlumnae' are the female graduates of a university or
college. The final àe' in àlumnae' is pronounced like the èe' in `fees', `bees', and `trees'.
"I think God invented rain to give dead people something to complain about." - David
Brenner
How is the word ‘aficionado’ pronounced?

The ‘a’ in the first syllable and the ‘o’ in the third are like the ‘a’ in ‘china’; the ‘i’ in the
second syllable sounds like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’, ‘pit’, and ‘hit’. The ‘c’ is like the ‘s’ in ‘sip’, ‘set’, and
‘sat’ and the ‘i’ is pronounced like the ‘y’ in ‘yes’ and ‘yell’. The ‘a’ in the fourth syllable is like
the ‘a’ in ‘bath’ and ‘path’, while the final ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘so’, ‘no’, and ‘go’. The word is
pronounced ‘afisyenaado’, with the stress on the fourth syllable ‘na’. This is one way of
pronouncing the word. When you say that someone is an aficionado of something, what you
mean is that the person is a great fan of it; he is very interested in a particular subject, and knows
a great deal about it.
*My boss says that his wife is an aficionado of Thai food.
What is the response to ‘How do you do?’

It depends on which side of the Atlantic you are from. In British English, the standard
response to ‘How do you do?’ is ‘How do you do?’ In India, when someone says ‘namaste’, we
respond by saying ‘namaste’. The same is the case with ‘How do you do?’ This is an expression
that is normally used when you are introduced to someone; once you have been introduced, you
never use the expression with that individual again. The British make a distinction between
‘How do you do?’ and ‘How are you?’ The Americans, on the other hand, do not always
maintain this distinction. It is common for Americans to say, ‘Fine, thank you’ in response to
‘How do you do?’ In India, you will be better off doing what the British do.
What is the difference between ‘misogynist’ and ‘misogamist’?

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The first syllable in both words is pronounced like
the word ‘miss’. The following ‘o’ sounds like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘pot’, and ‘got’, and the ‘g’ is like
the ‘j’ in ‘jam’ and ‘juice’. The ‘y’ in ‘misogynist’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘pit’ and ‘hit’, while the ‘a’ in
‘misogamist’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The final syllable in both words rhymes with ‘list’ and
‘gist’, and the main stress is on the second syllable ‘so’.
A misogynist is a man who hates women. This individual feels that men are superior to
women. A ‘misogamist’, on the other hand, is someone who hates marriage. This word is not
found in all dictionaries.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘more sinned against than sinning’?
This is an expression made popular by Shakespeare. In movies, we sometimes find the
hero taking the law into his own hands when the legal system fails him. The villain kills his
family members, but the police and the court fail to put the man behind bars. The hero then
decides to take matters into his own hands, and goes around killing all those close to the villain.
By doing this, he is committing a wrong, but he feels that he has the right to do what he is doing
because a greater wrong has been done to him. He feels that he is the victim. When you say that
someone is more sinned against than sinning, what you mean is that the individual is less guilty
than those who have wronged him.
It’s true she shot the politician in cold blood. But when you hear the entire story, you’ll
feel she was more sinned against than sinning.
“By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who
thinks he’s wrong.” — Charles Wadsworth
How is the word “extempore” pronounced?

The word consists of four syllables and not three. The first syllable ‘ex’ sounds like the
‘ex’ in ‘expect’, ‘excite’, and ‘expel’. The following ‘e’ is like the ‘e’ in ‘test’, ‘pest’, and ‘best’;
the ‘o’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The final ‘e’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘pit’, ‘bit’ and ‘sit’. The word is
pronounced ‘extemperi’ with the stress on the second syllable. When you give a speech
‘extempore’, you give it without really preparing for it. It’s an impromptu speech, and it’s
usually given without the help of any notes.
*You must be out of your mind if you think I’m going to speak extempore.
What is the meaning of the expression “to separate the sheep from the goats”?
This is an expression that comes from the Bible. When you say that you are going to
separate the sheep from the goats, what you mean is that you are going to separate the good from
the bad. It is also possible to say, “sort out the sheep from the goats”. These two expressions
have the same meaning as “to separate the wheat from the chaff”.
What is the difference between “sojourn” and “journey”?

When you take a journey, you travel from one place to another. The distance may be
covered in a matter of few hours, or it may take several days or months. A journey may or may
not involve a brief halt or stop somewhere along the way. The original meaning of ‘journey’ was
a day’s travel.
*The two drove like crazy and completed the journey in five hours.
As for the word ‘sojourn’, first, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The ‘o’ in the first
syllable is like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘got’, and ‘pot’. The ‘j’ that follows is like the ‘j’ in ‘jam’, ‘jack’,
and ‘job’; the final ‘ourn’ is like the ‘urn’ in ‘burn’ and ‘turn’. The stress is on the first syllable
‘so’. A ‘sojourn’ is a not a journey of any kind. When you sojourn somewhere, you stay in that
place for a short while; the stay is usually temporary.
*Dravid sojourned at his brother’s home on his way to Mumbai.
The word is mostly used in formal contexts.
How is the word ‘kiosk’ pronounced?

The ‘ki’ in the first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘key’, and the following ‘o’
sounds like the ‘o’ in ‘pot’, ‘hot’ and ‘got’. The final ‘sk’ is like the ‘sk’ in ‘skip’, ‘skit’, and
‘skid’; the stress is on the first syllable. This is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word.
A kiosk is usually a small structure where newspapers and light refreshments like
sandwiches and soda are sold; you usually buy these items through an open window. Thanks to
cell phones, telephone kiosks are slowly disappearing.
*Sarita usually buys sandwiches at the station kiosk.
Is it okay to introduce myself in the following manner? “I am Mr. Thomas.”

When James Bond introduces himself, he says, ‘My name is Bond. James Bond’. He
doesn’t say ‘My name is Mr. Bond. Mr. James Bond’. We often hear Indian men introduce
themselves as ‘Mr. Sharma’, ‘Mr. Rao’, etc. When you introduce yourself, there is no need for
you to include ‘Mr.’ before your name. Native speakers of English do not include the word ‘Mr.’
when they introduce themselves.
“The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on.” —
Robert Bloch
What is the meaning of ‘modus vivendi’?

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of this Latin expression. The ‘m..o..d’ rhymes with
‘load’, ‘showed’ and ‘toad’, and the ‘u’ that follows is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The first ‘i’ in
‘vivendi’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘kit’, ‘bit’ and ‘sit’, while the second is like the ‘ee’ in ‘see’, ‘bee’, and
‘fee’. The ‘e’ in ‘ven’ sounds like the ‘e’ in ‘set’, ‘bet’ and ‘pet’. The main stress is on the
second syllable of ‘vivendi’. This is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word.
A ‘modus vivendi’ is a practical arrangement which allows two people who have a
difference of opinion about something, to work or live together while waiting for their dispute to
be settled. This arrangement is usually temporary.
In order to complete the project on time, a modus vivendi was achieved between the two
countries.
What is the origin of the word ‘magazine’?

The word magazine has several different meanings. A publication containing articles,
ads, stories and photographs that comes out on a regular basis is called a magazine. The part of
the gun which contains the bullets is also called a magazine. How did this word acquire such
different meanings? According to scholars, the word ‘magazine’ comes from the Arabic
‘makhzan’ meaning ‘storehouse’. The original magazine was a place where grain and other
goods were stored. I guess this explains why the part of the gun which contains the bullets is
called a magazine – it is a storehouse for the ammunition. Did you know that before the 19th
century even ordinary books were called ‘magazines’? After all, books are a storehouse of
knowledge, aren’t they? It was only in the 19th century that the word ‘magazine’ began to refer
to periodicals.
What is the difference between ‘missive’ and ‘letter’?

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The first syllable of ‘miss’ is pronounced like the
word ‘miss’, while the second sounds like the ‘ive’ in ‘massive’ and ‘passive’. The stress is on
the first syllable. A missive is a longish letter, often official, sent by someone. It is usually sealed
and contains ‘private’ information. The word is considered rather old fashioned, and is mostly
used in literary contexts; in informal contexts, it is used humorously.
After the meeting, the Ambassador sat down and wrote a five page missive to the
President.
The word ‘missive’ comes from the Latin ‘missus’ meaning ‘to send’; missives are
usually sent to individuals. ‘Letter’, on the other hand, is a general term and it can be sent to
individuals, companies, organisations, etc. It may deal with business or private matters.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘thanks but no thanks’?

If someone offers you something, and you respond by saying ‘thanks, but no thanks’,
what you mean is ‘I appreciate the offer, but I decline.’ The expression is one way of refusing or
turning down an invitation; it is always used to convey a rejection.
When Rahul offered to help me with the project, I told him, ‘Thanks, but no thanks’.
“He was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher...., or as his wife would have it,
an idiot.” — Douglas Adams
January 2008

•What is the difference between flammable , inflammable and non flammable ?
(20080122)
•What is the meaning and origin of take a leaf out of someone s book ? (20080122)
•What is the meaning of yore ? (20080122)
•What is the difference between immoral and amoral ? (20080122)
•What is the meaning of jejune ? (20080108)
•What is the difference between collaborate and corroborate ? (20080108)
•Does the word w00t exist? (20080108)
•Some people are scared of taking injections. Is there a word for it? (20080108)
•Is it okay to say Write me ? (20080108)
Know Your English

“What’s the matter with you? Why do you look so sad?”
“My friend isn’t willing to listen to any of my suggestions.”
“You have suggestions? Is this regarding the surprise party you’ve planned for Aruna?”
“That’s right! I’ve some interesting...”
“Well, you know what they say. He who pays the piper calls the tune.”
“The piper? What are you talking about?”
“The idiom means that the person who provides the money for something has the right to
decide how things should be done. The man who pays can call the shots.”
“In other words, since my friend is hosting the party, and he is paying for everything, he
has the right to make all the decisions.”
“That’s right! Here’s an example. I don’t agree with Jai at all, but he’s funding the
project. He who pays the piper calls the tune.”
“How about this example? The owner has the right to decide who will play in the next
match. He who pays the piper calls the tune.”
“That’s a good example. So, what do you plan on...”
“Before we change the subject, tell me about the origin of this idiom.”
“I’d be happy to. In the old days, it was the job of the piper to provide music at the
various ceremonies. Normally, he...”
“He played whatever people wanted him to.”
“Not always. The kind of music depended on who was paying him.”
“I see. So, if I were paying him, he would play my kind of music.”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“That makes sense. Please the guy with the money.”
“Exactly! Now tell me, are you sad because...”
“I’m pretty upset because Federer lost in the semi finals of the Australian Open.”
“Oh come on! The rest of the country is happy because our cricket team is doing so well
in Australia. You, on the other hand, are...”
“You know I prefer tennis than cricket.”
“To cricket.”
“What?”
‘You prefer something ‘to’ something. Not ‘than’ something.”
“I see. How about this example? The children prefer ice cream to biscuits.”
“They always do, don’t they? The stress in ‘prefer’ is on the second syllable. Not the
first.”
“I see. So it’s pronounced ‘preFER’?”
“That’s right. My mother prefers music to books.”
“I prefer his old movies to his new ones.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“No one in particular. Tell me, how do you pronounce a..c..a..d..e..m..i..c?”
“The first ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘ants’, ‘pants’, and ‘hands’; the second is like the ‘a’ in
‘china’. The ‘e’ like the ‘e’ in ‘set’, ‘bet’, and ‘pet’, and the final ‘ic’ is like...”
“It’s probably like the ‘ick’ in ‘pick’, ‘click’, and ‘stick’.
“Exactly! The stress is on the third syllable ‘dem’. The word is pronounced
‘akeDEMik’.”
“Most people I know put the stress on the second syllable.”
“I know. Do you want to be an academic when you grow up?”
“You know I’m allergic to books. I’d prefer to be a tennis player.”
“It’s too late for that now.”
“I know.”
“I have opinions of my own – strong opinions – but I don’t always agree with them.” —
George Bush
What is the difference between ‘flammable’, ‘inflammable’ and ‘non flammable’?

There is no difference between ‘flammable’ and ‘inflammable’; inflammable is not the
opposite of ‘flammable’ as some people think. When you say that something is ‘flammable’ or
‘inflammable’, what you mean is that it is something that can easily catch fire.
*I understand that the chemicals stored in the factory are highly flammable/inflammable.
When you say that something is non flammable, what you mean is that it is something
which doesn’t catch fire easily. Another word which has more or less the same meaning is ‘non
inflammable’. One might say that these two words are the opposite of flammable and
inflammable.
*If you are planning to walk through fire, wear this. I understand it is non flammable.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘take a leaf out of someone’s book’?
When you take a leaf out of someone’s book, what you are doing is copying or imitating
the individual. You are using him as a model and are following his example hoping that you will
gain something by this.
*I took a leaf out of Surendran’s book and started submitting my assignments on time.
The word ‘leaf’ here refers to a page from a book. Therefore, when you take a leaf from
someone’s book, you are copying what the individual has written. The original meaning of this
idiom was therefore to ‘plagiarise’. Nowadays, the expression has lost its negative connotation
and is used only in a positive sense: to imitate someone.
What is the meaning of ‘yore’?

When it comes to pronunciation, ‘yore’ and ‘your’ are pronounced the same way. But
there the similarity ends. While ‘your’ is used in almost all contexts, ‘yore’ is considered to be
rather old fashioned and literary, and is therefore restricted in its use. It is mostly used in certain
fixed expressions like ‘of yore’. It means ‘long ago’.
*The old women spent their time talking about the days of yore.
*This huge building was used as a stable in days of yore.
What is the difference between ‘immoral’ and ‘amoral’?

When you say that someone is ‘immoral’ what you mean is that the person does a lot of
things that are not morally acceptable; he does things that are positively wrong. When the word
is used with people, it is always used to show disapproval. Perhaps the individual swindles
people, has extramarital affairs, etc.
*What you are doing would be considered to be immoral by most people.
A person who is ‘amoral’ does not know the difference between right and wrong, and he
doesn’t really care whether what he does is morally right or wrong. He is not concerned with
morals; he is outside the sphere of morality. Unlike the word ‘immoral’, ‘amoral’ is not always
used to show disapproval.
*According to the critic, the hero had an amoral attitude towards murder.
“Do you know the difference between a beautiful woman and a charming one? A beauty
is a woman you notice, a charmer is one who notices you.” — Adlai Stevenson
Know your English

“Hi! You look very happy. What’s the reason?”
“I have every reason to be happy. I finally managed to dispose my old bicycle.”
“Dispose of.”
“What?”
“You don’t ‘dispose something’. You ‘dispose of’ something.”
“I see. How about this example? My mother wants to dispose of the old furniture.”
“Sounds good! ”
“ When do you plan to dispose of your father’s old car?”
“Never! I love that car. I’m not going to dispose of it.”
“I don’t see why you like that car so much. Tell me, what did you do during the break?”
“Nothing much, actually. I spent most of it at home puttering around...”
“Puttering around? You mean you played golf at home?”
“No! No! The word ‘putter’ can be used as a verb as well. When you say that you
puttered around, what you mean is that you spent your time doing little things which weren’t
really important. But the thing...”
“In other words, you didn’t do anything useful.”
“I guess you could say that. When you putter around, you work in a leisurely fashion.
The important thing is, you really enjoy yourself.”
“I see. How about this example? I wanted to prepare for the exams during the holidays.
But I ended up puttering around the garden.”
“ It’s also possible to say ‘putter about’. For example, the children puttered about the
garden all day.”
“Do you think...”
“The expression ‘putter about’ is mostly used in American English. The British, on the
other hand, say ‘potter about’. They both mean the same thing.”
“I see. My grandmother gets up at 4 A.M, and potters about till 6:00. She has her bath
then.”
“How would you know whether she potters around or not? You usually get up at 7: 00!”
“That’s what I normally do. But last week, I got up early because of the test match. Some
of the umpiring decisions made me so angry that I nearly broke the TV.”
“The only thing that people talked about last week was cricket. There were lots of people
on TV baying for Buckner’s blood.”
“Baying for Buckner’s blood? What does it mean?”
“When you say that someone is baying for something, what you mean is that he is
screaming for or demanding for something angrily. He usually wants someone to be punished.”
“ The baying cricket fans in India wanted Buckner to be removed.”
“Yes, now that he has been removed, everyone is delighted.”
“Yes, everyone is crowing about it.”
“Crowing about it? Does it mean talking about it happily?”
“Not really. The expression is mostly used to show disapproval. When someone crows
about something, he talks very proudly about something that he has done. He is rather vain about
it, and you find it very annoying.”
“A politician is always crowing about his/her achievements.”
“It’s also possible to say ‘crow over’. For example, some of the Australian newspapers
didn’t crow over their team’s achievement.”
“When the media ask him (George W. Bush) a question, he answers, ‘Can I use a
lifeline’?” — Robin Williams
What is the meaning of ‘jejune’?

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The ‘e’ in the first syllable is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’,
‘fit’ and ‘kit’, and the following syllable is pronounced like the word ‘June’. The stress is on the
second syllable. The word is mostly used in formal contexts to show disapproval. When you say
that someone is ‘jejune’, what you mean is that the person is rather childish or unsophisticated.
When used with things, the word means uninteresting.
*I’ve been listening to jejune lectures all day.
The word comes from the Latin ‘jejunus’ meaning ‘fasting or hungry’. When it was first
used in English, ‘jejune’ meant ‘going without food’.
What is the difference between ‘collaborate’ and ‘corroborate’?

The word ‘collaborate’ comes from the Latin ‘collaborare’ meaning to ‘labour together’.
Therefore, when you ‘collaborate’ with someone, you work with that individual for a purpose –
for example, you could collaborate with someone on a project.
*We will be collaborating with an American company to develop the product.
When you ‘corroborate’ something, you provide proof or evidence that supports what
you or someone else has said. The word is frequently used in legal contexts.
*Some of the research findings seem to corroborate my father’s theory.
Does the word ‘w00t’ exist?

The internet has given us many new words, and ‘w00t’ is one them. I understand that the
word originated in ‘competitive online gaming’. It was an acronym used by players for ‘we
owned the other team’. In other words, you were much better than the other team and you beat
them easily. The word has acquired a general meaning, and is now frequently used in everyday
conversation as an expression of joy and excitement. The ‘00’ is pronounced like the ‘oo’ in
‘cool’, ‘pool’, and ‘school’.
*Believe it or not, the bank has decided to give us the loan we’d asked for. W00t!
The word can also be spelt ‘woot’, and it was included in the list of ‘Merriam-Webster’s
Words of the Year’ for 2007.
Some people are scared of taking injections. Is there a word for it?
‘Needle phobia’ is an expression that is commonly used by a lot of people. Doctors, on
the other hand, have another name for this fear. They refer to the extreme and irrational fear of
injections as ‘trypanophobia’. The ‘y’ in the first syllable is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and ‘sit’,
and the following syllable is pronounced like the word ‘pan’. It is also possible to pronounce the
‘a’ in the second syllable like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘go’, so’ and ‘no’, and
the final syllables are pronounced like the word ‘phobia’. The main stress is on ‘pho’. These are
just two of the ways of pronouncing the word.
Is it okay to say ‘Write me’?

Careful users of the language would argue it’s wrong. They would maintain that it should
be ‘write to me’. But the fact of the matter is that native speakers of English do say ‘Write me’. It
is used very frequently in American English.
“Here’s another sign that the economy isn’t doing well: plastic surgeries down 12 per
cent this year. That’s what they mean when they say the economy could get ugly.” — Jay Leno
Know your English

“A box of sweets early in the morning. What a nice little surprise!”
“Happy New Year!”
“Thank you. The same to you. So, what are you going to do today? What are your
plans?”
“My plans? You mean ‘our’ plans, don’t you? We’re supposed to be spending the day
together. Don’t you remember?”
“Oh, yes! That’s right. I seem...”
“So, what do you want to do? See a movie, go to a restaurant, visit...”
“Anything. Whatever floats your boat.”
“Whatever floats my boat? What are you talking about? You know I don’t own a boat.”
“I know that. When someone says something and you respond by saying, ‘Whatever
floats your boat’, what you mean is, ‘Whatever pleases you’.”
“In other words, you are telling the person, ‘I’ll do whatever makes you happy’.”
“That’s right! This is just one of the meanings of the expression. Let’s see a movie, and
then maybe later, we can go to a restaurant.”
“Sounds like a good idea. Which movie do you want to go to?”
“Whatever floats your boat.”
“How about ‘Billa’? I hear it’s an entertaining movie.”
“Then Billa, it is. Which show do you...”
“I’ll ring up Arjun and find out if he’s interested in coming with us. He wanted to...”
“Arjun! No way! The guy is cuckoo.”
“Cuckoo? Isn’t cuckoo a bird?”
“Yes, that’s right. But when you say someone is cuckoo, what you mean is that the
person is slightly crazy or silly. The word is mostly used in informal contexts.”
“I see. How about this example? Being a teacher nowadays can drive a person cuckoo.”
“It certainly can. If there are 60 or 70 students like you sitting in one class, just
imagine...”
“Good grief! Even my mother would go cuckoo.”
“That’s right! How did I get involved in a cuckoo scheme like this?”
“Which scheme are you talking about?”
“That was just an example.”
“I see. In that case, how about this example? Taking care of the twins has made Savithri
slightly cuckoo.”
“Sounds good! Looking after two babies can be very stressful, I guess. It’s to be
expected. It’s par for the course.”
“Par for the course? What are you talking about?”
“When you say something is par for the course, what you mean is that it is usual and
acceptable for the given situation.”
“In other words, your experience tells you that what is happening is normal.”
“Exactly! The expression comes from the world of golf. Here’s an example.
“The government is planning to increase its budget for education. That’s par for the
course.”
“Good example. Manaswini threw up several times during the long drive.”
“Given the fact, she gets sick whenever she travels, I guess it’s par for the course.”
“That’s a very good example.”
“Wow! A compliment! And that too from you! I guess the coming year is going to be a
great one after all!”
“Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because
they’re looking for ideas.” — Paula Poundstone
December 2007
•Is there a difference between Only Sujatha passed in English and Sujatha only
passed in English. (20071225)
•What is the meaning of not to put too fine a point on it ? (20071225)
•What s the difference between take care of and take care ? (20071225)
•How is the word malfeasance pronounced? (20071225)
•What is the difference between among and amid ? (20071225)
•What is the difference between climate and weather ? (20071218)
•How is the name Beowulf pronounced? (20071218)
•What is the meaning of honorificabilitudinitatibus ? (20071218)
•What is the meaning of mind-blowing ? (20071218)
•Is it ok to say, Woman conductors, irrespective of their gender, are treated badly by
officials ? (20071218)
•What is the difference between masochist and sadist ? (20071210)
•What is the meaning of one trick pony ? (20071210)
•What is the meaning of atonement ? (20071210)
•What is the meaning of batathon ? (20071210)
•What is the meaning of pretty penny ? (20071204)
•Is it okay to say, I hope you would come to the party ? (20071204)
•What is the meaning of white knuckler ? (20071204)
•How is the word dour pronounced? (20071204)
•What is the meaning of in camera ? (20071204)
•What is the meaning and origin of hats off to someone ? (20071204)
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH

Is there a difference between ‘Only Sujatha passed in English’ and ‘Sujatha only
passed in English.’
The first sentence means that Sujatha was the only person to pass in English; all the other
students in her class failed the exam. It doesn’t say anything about how well or how badly
Sujatha did in her other subjects.
The second sentence suggests that the only subject Sujatha managed to clear is English.
She failed in all other subjects. In this case, we are not comparing Sujatha with her classmates.
We do not know how well her classmates performed in the English exam.
What is the meaning of ‘not to put too fine a point on it’?

This is an expression that you normally use when you wish to speak your mind, and you
are not really worried about how the others around you will react. It is a polite way of saying,
‘Excuse me for being blunt, but this is what I think’.
Your dissertation, not to put too fine a point on it, should be thrown into the dustbin.
Our college team’s performance, not to put too fine a point on it, was terrible.
What’s the difference between ‘take care of’ and ‘take care’?
You usually ‘take care of something or someone’. In this case, you look after a person or
thing.
It’s your duty to take care of your old parents.
When you tell someone to ‘take care’, what you mean is that you want the person to be
careful.
Tell the children to take care when they cross the busy road.
Nowadays, lots of people use the expression ‘take care’ to mean goodbye. It is mostly
used in informal contexts.
Look at the time! I’ve got to get going. You take care.
How is the word ‘malfeasance’ pronounced?

The ‘a’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘cat’, ‘bat’ and ‘sat’, the ‘ea’ is like the ‘ee’ in
‘bees’, ‘sees’ and ‘cheese’. The ‘s’ sounds like the ‘z’ in ‘zoo’ and ‘zip’, and the ‘a’ that follows
is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The final ‘ce’ is like the ‘s’ in ‘sip’ and ‘sit’. The word is pronounced
‘mal-fee-zens’, with the stress on the second syllable.
‘Malfeasance’ is a legal term and it is mostly used in formal contexts to refer to the
dishonest and illegal behaviour of public officials.
Several cases of malfeasance by the higher ups within the party were never investigated.
What is the difference between ‘among’ and ‘amid’?
The two are not synonymous; ‘among’ is considered less formal of the two. Books on
English usage maintain that the word ‘among’ should be used when it is followed by plural
countable nouns or by a word ‘indicating a separable group of people or things’: congregation,
crowd, etc.
The priest walked among his congregation, shaking hands with a few.
Amid, on the other hand, is mainly used with uncountable nouns. It suggests that you are
surrounded by something that is usually inseparable.
The three robbers escaped amid the confusion that followed the fire.
“The person who writes for fools is always sure of a large audience.” — Arthur
Schopenhauer
What is the difference between ‘climate’ and ‘weather’?

Take a look outside the window. Is it bright and sunny or is it raining? Is it a hot day or a
cold one? If you are referring to the conditions as they exist right now, then you are talking about
the weather. The weather is something that is happening outside right now; it is what we
experience every day. On the various news channels, meteorologists give us a weather forecast;
they do not provide us with a ‘climate forecast’. The term ‘weather’ is normally used to refer to
conditions at a certain time or over a short period of time. What’s the weather like today? What’s
the weather like in Hyderabad during the summer? Climate, on the other hand, refers to the
average weather in a particular place over a long period of time — usually 30 years or more.
Scientists are now talking about the climate change that has taken place. In some places in India,
the average temperature is much higher than what it was 40 or 50 years ago.
How is the name ‘Beowulf’ pronounced?

The first syllable ‘be’ sounds like the word ‘bay’, and the following ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in
‘go’, ‘so’, and ‘no’. The final syllable is pronounced like the word ‘wolf’, and the main stress is
on the first syllable. The word is pronounced ‘bay-o-wolf’. This is just one way of pronouncing
the name. Beowulf is the name of a well-known hero in an old English epic poem.
What is the meaning of ‘honorificabilitudinitatibus’?

According to scholars, this is the longest word used by Shakespeare in any of his plays.
The word is used by Costard in Act V of ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’. The word means ‘state of being
able to achieve honours’. People who believe that it was Francis Bacon who wrote all of
Shakespeare’s plays argue that the word ‘honorificabilitudinitatibus’ is an anagram for “Hi ludi,
F. Baconis nati, tuiti orbi”. It means, “These plays, F. Bacon’s offspring, are preserved for the
world.”
What is the meaning of ‘mind-blowing’?

This is an expression that has been around since the 1960s. During this period, people
sometimes took drugs which produced hallucinatory effects; these drugs were called
‘mind-blowing drugs’. With the passage of time, any experience which affected the mind or
emotions of an individual began to be called ‘mind-blowing’. Nowadays, the expression is used
to mean ‘overwhelming’, ‘shocking’, or ‘astonishing’.
*Trekking through the forest all alone was a mind-blowing experience.
Is it ok to say, ‘Woman conductors, irrespective of their gender, are treated badly

by officials’?
No, it isn’t. First of all, you have already mentioned the gender right at the beginning of
the sentence. Therefore the second part of the sentence, ‘irrespective of their gender’, doesn’t
really make any sense. Also, it is not ‘woman conductors’ but ‘women conductors’. The sentence
should read, ‘Women conductors are treated badly by officials.’ If you would like to retain
‘irrespective of their gender’, then you will have to say, ‘Conductors, irrespective of their gender,
are treated badly.’
“In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that
teaches you a lesson.” — Tom Bodett
Know your English

What is the meaning of ‘pretty penny’?
The expression is mostly used in informal contexts in American English. When you say
that something cost someone a pretty penny, what you mean is that it cost the individual a
considerable sum of money. In other words, it was very expensive.
*That new car of his must have cost him a pretty penny.
‘Pretty’ in this context has nothing to do with looks; it means ‘considerable’. A ‘penny’ is
a one cent coin, and in the expression, it is used to represent money. So when you say ‘pretty
penny’ you mean ‘considerable money’. The expression ‘cost a pretty penny’ was first used in
1768, and at that time you could buy a lot of things with a penny.
Know your English

Is it okay to say, ‘I hope you would come to the party’?
No, it isn’t. It should be ‘will’ and not ‘would’. ‘I hope you will come to the party’. You
‘hope’ that someone ‘will’ do something, and not ‘would’ do something. Similarly, you hope
that something ‘will’ happen, and not ‘would’ happen.
*I hope you will consider my proposal very seriously.
Know your English

What is the meaning of ‘white knuckler’?
This is an expression that is used by the travel industry in the U.S to refer to short
commuter flights between small cities or towns. The aircraft used on such routes are usually very
small. Very often the flights are rough, forcing the passengers to hold on to their seats as tightly
as possible. In the process, the knuckles turn white! Hence the term ‘white knuckler’.
*The short flight turned out to be a white knuckler.
The term is now being used to refer to any scary or tense situation.
*It was white knuckle time for all those sitting in the waiting room of the hospital.
Know your English

How is the word ‘dour’ pronounced?
The word rhymes with ‘sure’, ‘poor’, and ‘cure’. It is normally used to refer to a person’s
appearance or his manner. When you say that an individual is dour what you mean is that he
appears very serious and rather unhappy. He looks rather severe, gloomy and unfriendly.
*Surprisingly, the normally dour Harish became the life of the party.
Know your English

What is the meaning of ‘in camera’?
The expression comes from Latin and it means ‘in chambers’. Nowadays, the expression
is mainly used in the field of law to mean ‘in private’. I understand that for some cases, the
public is not allowed to enter the courtroom. The hearing takes place ‘in camera’; in other words,
it takes place in the judge’s chambers. This is often done in order to protect the witness,
especially if he/she happens to be a child.
Know your English

What is the meaning and origin of ‘hats off to someone’?
This is an expression that has been around since the 19th century, and it is normally used
when you wish to show your admiration for someone. In the old days when wearing hats was
common, men showed their respect for someone either by taking their hats off or by tipping their
hats.
*Hats off to him — it takes a lot of courage to try and learn music at the age of 60.
“I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up – they have no holidays.” — Henry
Youngman
November 2007
•How is the word shoal pronounced? (20071127)

•Can a woman be called handsome ? (20071127)
•What is the meaning of stand something on its head ? (20071127)
•What is the difference between peep and peek ? (20071127)
•Which of the following two sentences is correct? He threw the ball at the wicket keeper or
He threw the ball to the wicket keeper . (20071127)
•What is the difference between `while' and `whilst'? (20071120)
•What is the meaning of `cowed into'? (20071120)
•Is there a difference between `grant me leave for Friday' and `grant me leave on Friday'?
(20071120)
•What is the meaning of `mutatis mutandis'? (20071120)
•How is the word `phlegmatic' pronounced? (20071120)
•What is the meaning of finale ? (20071113)
•Is it OK to say discuss about something ? (20071113)
•What is the origin of denim ? (20071113)
•What is the meaning of crony capitalism ? (20071113)
•What is the meaning of square peg in a round hole ? (20071113)
•What is the meaning and origin of `smoke and mirrors'? (20071106)
•Can the word ètc.' be used with people? (20071106)
•How is the word àcerbic' pronounced? (20071106)
•What is the meaning of ùrban legend'? (20071106)
How is the word ‘shoal’ pronounced?

The ‘sh’ is like the ‘sh’ in ‘shop’ and ‘ship’, and the following ‘oa’ is like the ‘oa’ in
‘boat’ and ‘coat’. ‘Shoal’ rhymes with ‘pole’, ‘coal’, and ‘hole’. The word is normally used with
reference to fish. A shoal of fish is a large group of fish swimming together. It is also possible to
say ‘school of fish’.
*Scuba diving was a wonderful experience. We swam among shoals of fish.
Can a woman be called ‘handsome’?

Yes, the word can be used with women as well. When you call a woman handsome, you
are not making fun of her; you are, in fact, paying her a compliment. What you mean is that she
is very attractive. Unlike a woman who is ‘pretty’, a handsome one is not built along very
delicate lines. She is somewhat big built and her features are usually large and there is something
about her which suggests strength of character. She has a strong dignified appearance. The word
is only used with women and not with young girls.
*Revathi is an extremely handsome woman with a very sharp mind.
The word can also be used to refer to objects, such as gardens and buildings. For
example, when you say that a building is handsome, what you mean is that it is large and
attractive in an impressive sort of way.
What is the meaning of ‘stand something on its head’?

When you ‘stand’ or ‘turn something on its head’, you turn everything upside down. You
treat an argument in a totally different way; you make an idea or belief the opposite of what it
was before. The attempt here is to get people to think differently.
*The speaker took the accepted view that sons were better than daughters and stood the
argument on its head.
What is the difference between ‘peep’ and ‘peek’?

In certain contexts, both words have the same meaning. When you ‘peek at something’ or
‘peep at something’ you take a look at it very quickly; this is often done secretly and quietly. It is
also possible to peek/peep at someone.
*I would like to have a peep/peek at the new play that she is writing.
The word ‘peep’ is also used in certain informal expressions. For example, if you say that
you don’t want to ‘hear a peep out of someone’, what you mean is that you don’t want the
individual to say anything or make any noise.
*We became rather worried because we hadn’t heard a peep from them.
Which of the following two sentences is correct? ‘He threw the ball at the wicket
keeper’ or ‘He threw the ball to the wicket keeper’.
In terms of grammar, both sentences are acceptable; the two, however, have very
different meanings. The first sentence suggests that the fielder threw the ball in order to hit the
keeper. In other words, his aim was to hurt the keeper. When you throw something at someone,
you do so angrily; your intent is to hit the individual.
*The students threw stones at the minister’s car and broke all the windows.
The second sentence suggests that the aim of the fielder was to get the ball to the keeper.
He wasn’t aiming to hit the keeper, but to get the ball to him.
“No matter how rich you become, how famous or powerful, when you die the size of your
funeral will still pretty much depend on the weather.” — Michael Pritchard
What is the difference between `while' and `whilst'?

The `w..h..i..l' in `whilst' is pronounced like the word `while', and the ?nal `st' sounds like
the `st' in `stupid' and `stump'. As far as the meaning is concerned, there is no difference between
`while' and `whilst'. According to some scholars, `while' is a much older word than `whilst'. The
word `whilst' is not used in American English; in British English, however, it is mostly used in
formal contexts. It is considered literary and somewhat old fashioned by many people. What is
the meaning of `cowed into'?
What is the meaning of `cowed into'?

The word `cow' can be used both as a noun and a verb. When used as a verb, the word
means to frighten someone into doing something that you want them to. You achieve this by
using threats or violence. *Prema needed the job, so she was cowed into doing things she didn't
want to.
Is there a difference between `grant me leave for Friday' and `grant me leave on
Friday'?
There is a big difference between the two. When you say "grant me leave for Friday",
what you mean is that you would like to have Friday off. In other words, you would like your
boss to tell you that you needn't come to work on Friday. The second sentence, "grant me leave
on Friday" is rather ambiguous. It could mean that you want your boss to inform you on Friday
that you have been granted leave. You don't want him to tell you today itself as to whether you
have been given leave or not. You want him to give you the good news on Friday.
What is the meaning of `mutatis mutandis'?
(K. Vijayakumar, Trichy)
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The ù' in both words is pronounced like the òo'
in `cool', `pool', and `fool', and the ?nal ì' is like the ì' in `hip', `dip', and `ship'. The à' in the
second syllable of `mutatis' is like the à' in àsk', `path', and `task'; while the à' in `mutandis' is
like the à' in ànt', `pants', and `stand'. The main stress is on the second syllable of `mutandis'.
This is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word.
`Mutatis mutandis' is a Latin expression frequently used in economics and law. Its literal
meaning is "things being changed that have to be changed". This can be interpreted to mean "the
necessary changes having been made". For example, if you were to say, "The same agreement
will, mutatis mutandis, be given to each manager in the organisation," what you mean is that the
agreement that will be given to each manager will be more or less the same. The only change
will be the name - each agreement will contain the name of a different manager.
How is the word `phlegmatic' pronounced?

The `ph' in the ?rst syllable sounds like the `f' in `?sh', `feel' and `full'; the `l..e..g' that
follows sounds like the word `leg'. The following syllable is pronounced like the word `mat', and
the ?nal ìc' is like the ìc' in `picnic' and `fantastic'. The main stress is on the second syllable
`mat'; the word sounds like `?egmatic'.
The word is normally used to talk about an individual's temperament. When you say that
someone is phlegmatic, what you mean is that person remains cool under pressure. He remains
unemotional.
*As expected, the champion remained phlegmatic throughout the tense ?fth set.
"Opinions are like feet. Everybody's got a couple, and they usually stink." - Jim Slattery
What is the meaning of ‘finale’?

The word ‘finale’ consists of three syllables. The ‘i’ in the first syllable and the ‘e’ in the
final syllable are like the ‘i’ in ‘hit’, ‘bit’ and ‘kit’; the ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘path’ and ‘bath’. The
stress is on the second syllable ‘na’. The word is pronounced ‘finaali’. The last item in a stage
show can be referred to as a finale; so can the final movement of a musical composition.
*The fireworks were the grand finale of the ten-day event.
Is it OK to say ‘discuss about something’?

Although we often hear people say, ‘I would like to discuss about the problem’, it is not
grammatically acceptable. You usually ‘discuss something’, you do not ‘discuss about’
something. The word ‘discuss’ is not followed by ‘about’.
*We will not discuss what happened at the meeting.
The word ‘discussion’, on the other hand, can be followed by ‘about’.
*There will be no discussion about what happened at the meeting.
What is the origin of ‘denim’?

When you hear the word ‘denim’, you immediately think of jeans. This sturdy cloth that
both young and old wear nowadays was originally made in the town of ‘Nimes’ in France. I
understand the name is pronounced like the word ‘neem’. The tough cloth material when it was
introduced was not called ‘denim’ but ‘serge’; it was often referred to as ‘serge de Nimes’,
meaning ‘serge of Nimes’. With the passage of time, the name of the cloth was shortened to
‘denim’. Sailors from ‘Genoa’, a seaport in Italy, made pants from denim. Since the trousers
lasted for a very long time, they were affectionately called ‘Genoese’. The name was later
shortened to ‘geans’, from which we get the word ‘jeans’.
What is the meaning of ‘crony capitalism’?

‘Crony capitalism’ is a pejorative term used to refer to the corrupt business dealings
carried out by government officials in a capitalist economy; it refers to the success in business
based on a close relationship between businessmen and government officials. The word ‘crony’
means ‘friend’; it is generally used to show disapproval. If you were to refer to Prakash as
‘Dilip’s crony’, the implication is that you do not approve of Prakash. What is it that politicians
normally do when they become ministers? They help their family members and friends make
money by awarding them government contracts, legal permits, special tax breaks, etc. This
favouritism that they show towards family members and friends is called ‘crony capitalism’.
What is the meaning of ‘square peg in a round hole’?

If you are working for an organisation, and you say that you feel like a square peg in a
round hole, what you mean is that you feel like a total misfit. You and the others around you
sense that you don’t belong there. The expression can also be used to refer to someone who is
unsuited for the type of job that he/she is actually doing.
*I’ve always felt like a square peg in a round hole in this university. I think it’s about
time I resigned.
“Our educational system disqualifies most people for honest work.” — Peter Drucker
What is the meaning and origin of `smoke and mirrors'?

When you say that something is `smoke and mirrors' what you mean is that it is a lie; it is
a distortion of the truth. It is a trick employed by someone to deceive or confuse people. By
drawing attention away from the truth, an attempt is made to make people believe that the
situation is better than it actually is. When you say that a politician's argument is `smoke and
mirrors', what you mean is that it lacks substance.
*Smoke and mirrors made the stock market look healthier than what it really was.
The expression comes from the world of magic. When a magician performs his tricks on
stage, he often makes use of smoke and mirrors to make the impossible appear possible; he uses
smoke to divert the audience's attention.
Can the word ètc.' be used with people?

The Latin expression èt cetera', which is normally abbreviated to ètc.', means ànd other
things' and `so on'. As writers or speakers, we use it when we don't wish to include everything on
a list. For the drawing competition on Sunday, students are expected to bring their own pencil,
paper, etc.' In such cases, we expect the reader/ listener to understand that the list is incomplete
and that he should supply the missing information on his own. It is very common nowadays to
hear people include ètc.' after the names of people as well: Ì ran into Ram, Geetha, Thiru, etc.
at the club yesterday.' Books on English usage suggest that such sentences are unacceptable.
According to scholars, since èt cetera' ends with an à', the word is neuter in gender; therefore, it
can only be used with things and not with people. The Latin expression èt al.', meaning ànd
others', should be used after the names of people.
*We are expecting Sharukh et al. to be present at the meeting.
How is the word àcerbic' pronounced?

The à' in the ?rst syllable is like the à' in àmount' and account'; the `cer' sounds like the
word `sir'. The ?nal ìc' is like the ìck' in `stick', `chick', and `kick', and the main stress is on the
second syllable. The word is pronounced àsirbick'. It comes from the Latin acerbus' meaning
`harsh'. When you say that someone's comments were àcerbic', what you mean is that they were
cruel, stinging or bitter tasting.
*Ram's acerbic wit has made him many enemies.
*Despite the acerbic reviews, Usha's latest book has become a bestseller.
What is the meaning of ùrban legend'?

These are very often widely circulated stories that are passed on from one person to
another. Often, these are very frightening stories which are supposed to have really happened;
whether they did or not, urban legends are meant to be believed. The stories have been told and
retold so many times that they have become a part of popular mythology. A very popular urban
legend in the U.S is that there are alligators living in sewers. Another one is that there is always a
killer hiding in the back seat of a car.
"My husband and I are either going to buy a dog or have a child. We can't decide whether
to ruin our carpet or ruin our lives." - Rita Rudner
October 2007
•How is the word `behove' pronounced? (20071022)

•What is the meaning of "steal a march on"? (20071022)
•Can the word "alma mater" be used to refer to one's school? (20071022)
•What is the difference between "call on" and "call at"? (20071022)
•What is the meaning and origin of foot the bill ? (20071008)
•What does a proctor in a university do? (20071008)
•What is the difference between disbar and debar ? (20071008)
•What is the meaning of mala fide ? (20071008)
•What is the meaning and origin of pull chestnuts out of the fire ? (20071002)
•What is the meaning of hunker down ? (20071002)
•Which is correct? Dravid is a friend of Indra or Dravid is a friend of Indra s ?
(20071002)
•What is the difference between theism and deism ? (20071002)
Know Your English

“What’s the matter with you? You look terrible.”
“I just finished watching the fifth ODI between India and Australia.”
“I read somewhere that the Men in Blue were ready to rumble in today’s match. Did
they?”
“What does the expression ‘ready to rumble’ mean?”
“In informal contexts, the word ‘rumble’ is used to mean ‘to fight’. When you say that
you are ready to rumble, you mean you are ready to fight.”
“I see. How about this example? The rival gangs were rumbling in the college canteen.”
“Sounds good. So tell me, did our players rumble with the Aussies? Did the likes of
Uthappa and company fight fire with fire?”
“Fight fire with fire! That’s a joke. Our guys were pathetic. They wouldn’t have been
able to start a fire even if you had given them a can of kerosene and a matchbox.”
“The Aussies, on the other hand, came out with guns blazing, did they?”
“What are you talking about? You know players aren’t allowed to carry guns on the
field.”
“No, that’s not what I meant. When you say that someone came out with guns blazing,
what you mean is that he came out with a lot of force and energy. He simply...”
“Well, in that case, the Aussies certainly came out with their guns blazing. The match
was more or less over in the first hour of play.”
“Let’s hope that the Indians come out with their guns blazing in the next two games.”
“For that to happen, the so called young guns in the team should put their money where
their mouth is.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“When you tell someone to put his money where his mouth is, what you want him to do
is to back his words with action.”
“In other words, don’t just talk, perform.”
“That’s right! In this context, perform with the bat and ball.”
“How about this example? I think you should stop complaining about how corrupt our
politicians are. Put your money where your mouth is and contest in the coming elections.”
“That’s a very good example.”
“ I saw your friend Abhay having breakfast in a restaurant this morning. I thought you
said he never eats out.”
“That’s strange. It probably means that the domestic engineer is out of town.”
“The domestic engineer is out of town? What are you talking about?”
“His wife, Deepa, the domestic engineer is probably out of town.”
“But Deepa is not an engineer. She is a homemaker.”
“That’s right! Another term for a homemaker is ‘domestic engineer’. Sounds much more
important than ‘homemaker’, doesn’t it?”
“It certainly does. So tell me, is a domestic engineer a woman who looks after the house
and…”
“A domestic engineer could be a man or a woman. He or she stays at home and makes
sure that things run smoothly.”
“I see. Do you plan on becoming a domestic engineer after marriage?”
“No, I plan to join the film industry. I want to try my hand at comedy.”
“Well, in that case, take some lessons from Sreesanth. He can tell you a thing or two
about how to make funny faces!”
“Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.”
— Doug Larson
Know your English

What is the meaning and origin of ‘pull chestnuts out of the fire’?
When you pull chestnuts out of the fire, you end up doing someone else’s dirty work. The
other person is in such a tight spot that you feel compelled to help him, often putting yourself in
danger. Another expression that has more or less the same meaning is ‘cat’s paw’.
As expected, Druv’s rich parents pulled chestnuts out of the fire for him once again.
The expression has its origins in a fable. In the story, a cat and a monkey are sitting
around a fire watching their master roast chestnuts. The monkey wants to eat the nuts, but he
doesn’t want to pull them out of the fire because doing so would burn his hands. While the
master is away, the cunning monkey convinces the poor cat to do his dirty work for him. The cat
scoops out the nuts one by one and in the process burns his paw. The selfish monkey eats all the
nuts leaving nothing for the silly cat.
Know your English

What is the meaning of ‘hunker down’?
This expression, mostly used in informal contexts, has several different meanings. When
you ‘hunker down’, you sit on your heels; you squat.
The scouts hunkered down around the campfire and drank hot soup.
The expression can also be used to mean ‘to take shelter’. The blizzard compelled us to
hunker down in a cave for a couple of days.
During a strike, if one of the two parties ‘hunkers down’, it very stubbornly sticks to a
position. The party remains adamant and refuses to make any compromise.
As the management hunkered down, unity among the union members began to crumble.
Know your English

Which is correct? ‘Dravid is a friend of Indra’ or ‘Dravid is a friend of Indra’s’?
The answer is Dravid is a friend of Indra’s. You are claiming that Dravid is Indra’s
friend. Although some people say ‘Dravid is a friend of Indra’, grammarians would argue that it
is wrong. When you say Dravid is a friend of Indra’s, what you mean is that Indra has several
friends, and Dravid is one of them. Take a look at these examples. ‘She is Rahul’s wife’ and ‘She
is a wife of Rahul’s.’ The first sentence suggests that Rahul has one wife, and the second
suggests that he has more than one!
The children standing over there are classmates of Ananya’s.
Know your English
What is the difference between ‘theism’ and ‘deism’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The ‘e’ in both words is pronounced like the ‘ee’
in ‘feel’, ‘peel’, and ‘heel’. The final ‘ism’ is like the ‘ism’ in ‘prism’, ‘materialism’, and
‘cronyism’. The stress in both cases is on the first syllable. ‘Theism’ comes from the Greek
‘theos’, and ‘deism’ comes from the Latin ‘deus’. Both words mean ‘god’. There are two
different views about the creation of the world and God’s role in it. Deism is the belief that God
created the world, and once He completed the task, He decided to call it a day! ‘Theism’, on the
other hand, is the belief that God not only created the world, but also continues to play an active
role in the running of it. In other words, He intervenes in the life of human beings; He is not a
mere observer. This is just one of the differences.
“Ethics are so annoying. I avoid them on principle.” — Darby Conley
September 2007
•What is the meaning of pig out ? (20070925)

•How is the word infructuous pronounced? (20070925)
•Can the word ward be used to refer to one s children? (20070925)
•What is the meaning of vomitorium ? (20070925)
•What is the meaning and origin of pay through one s nose ? (20070925)
•What is the meaning of lagniappe ? (20070911)
•What is the meaning of too clever by half ? (20070911)
•What is the difference between alternate and alternative ? (20070911)
•What is the meaning of wake in the following expression: in the wake of something ?
(20070911)
What is the meaning of ‘pig out’?

The pig is an animal that is not associated with anything good. When you call someone a
‘pig’, you mean one of two things: he eats a lot and is therefore extremely fat, or he is very dirty.
The expression ‘to pig out’ is normally used in informal contexts to mean, ‘to eat or drink too
much’.
*On Sundays, the students from the hostel go to the city and pig out on pizzas and
burgers.
How is the word ‘infructuous’ pronounced?

The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘in’, and the second rhymes with ‘truck’.
The following ‘tu’ is like the ‘tu’ in ‘Tuesday’, and the final ‘ous’ is like the ‘ous’ in ‘gorgeous’,
‘stupendous’, and ‘fabulous’. The stress is on the second syllable ‘fruc’. ‘Infructuous’ means
‘unprofitable’ or ‘ineffective’.
*Harish made an infructuous appeal to the union members to call off the strike.
Newspapers in India use this word frequently. Native speakers of English, however,
seldom use it; in fact, not all dictionaries list it.
Can the word ‘ward’ be used to refer to one’s children?

In India, many people do refer to their children as their wards. Native speakers of
English, however, wouldn’t do this. They would consider ‘ward’ to be a legal term; a word that
is normally used to refer to a person, especially a child, who is under the legal protection of a
guardian or a court of law.
The Collins Cobuild English Dictionary defines a ward as a child who is placed under the
care of a guardian because his ‘parents are dead’ or because he is ‘believed to be in need of
protection’. Teachers in India sometimes refer to their students as their wards. This would be
considered to be rather old fashioned by native speakers.
What is the meaning of ‘vomitorium’?

If an auditorium is a place where the audience sits, a ‘vomitorium’ should be a room
where people vomit. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The word comes from the world of
‘theatre’. A ‘vomitorium’ was the passageway that people used to get to their seats in an
amphitheatre. These passages were situated below or behind an individual’s seat, and they
enabled the members of the audience to enter and exit the theatre very quickly. I understand that
the ‘vomitoria’ in the Colosseum in Rome were so well designed that it was possible for 50,000
people to enter or exit the place in 15 minutes. The word ‘vomitorium’ comes from the Latin
‘vomitus’, meaning ‘to vomit’. What is the connection? When you vomit, the contents of your
stomach are thrown out. The ‘vomitorium’ disgorged or forced out the ‘contents’ of the theatre
— the people inside!
What is the meaning and origin of ‘pay through one’s nose’?
When you pay through your nose for something, you pay a heavy price for it. In other
words, you pay too much for it. This informal expression has the same meaning as ‘cost an arm
and a leg’.
*Never go to that restaurant. You have to pay through your nose for most things.
According to scholars, this idiom has been around for over ten centuries. I understand
that when the Danes ruled Ireland, they imposed heavy taxes on the locals. If an Irishman failed
to pay the tax, he had his nose cut off. In other words, if he didn’t pay, he had to literally pay
through his nose.
“Just got back from a pleasure trip: I took my mother in law to the airport.” — Henry
Youngman
Know Your English

"Where were you yesterday? I rang the bell for more than five minutes."
"I went to see a man about a dog."
"Dog! You don't like dogs. We all know that!"
"That's true. I'm not a dog lover. So tell me, ."
"No, you tell me. Why did you see a man about a dog? Are you planning to get one?"
"To see a man about a dog is an idiom which is used in informal contexts. You normally
use it when you don't want to tell someone where it is that you are actually going."
"So if you want to keep your destination a secret and don't want to reveal the purpose of
your visit, you say `see a man about a dog'."
"Very good. I don't know where Arvind went. He said that he had to see a man about a
dog."
"Prabhu had been moody all day. He suddenly got up and said that he had to see a man
about a dog."
"This informal expression has another meaning as well. When you say that you are going
to see a man about a dog, it means that you are going to use the bathroom. It's an indirect way of
saying that you wish to use the toilet."
"I see. It's like the expression that ladies often use, `powder my nose'."
"Precisely. When ladies say they wish to powder their nose, what they mean is that they
wish to make use of the bathroom."
"I've heard many heroines use this expression in movies. How about this example? Order
a dosa for me. In the meanwhile, I have to see a man about a dog."
"Good example. I saw your friend Ramesh today. He was all spiffed up. Any particular
reason?"
"Spiffed up? What does it mean?"
"It has the same meaning as `spruced up'. When you spiff something up, you try to make
it look attractive. The expression can be used with people as well."
"I see. Whenever my mother comes to know we are having guests, she really spiffs up the
house."
"A lot of women do that. I was talking to Balu yesterday. He suggested a number of ways
that I could spiff up my presentation."
"Yes, he's really good at spiffing things up, isn't he?"
"He certainly is. So tell me, why has Ramesh spiffed up his wardrobe? Has he found a
job?"
"No, the poor guy is still looking for one."
"Maybe he shouldn't turn down the offers he gets. He should lower his sights."
"Lower his sights? Meaning, Ramesh shouldn't aim as high as he is doing now. He
should set his goals or aims lower?"
"Exactly! If you lower your sights, you expect less from a given situation. With the job
market becoming tight, many people have started to lower their sights."
"My cousin Harish was hoping to become an engineer. He, however, had to lower his
sights when he failed to get good marks in his twelfth class exams."
"The poor chap must be heartbroken. So what does he plan on becoming now?"
"A politician!"
"A politician! He has really lowered his sights."
"Yes, he certainly has. Hey, where are you off to?"
"I need to spiff up and then see a man about a dog."
"If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you
grow old." - Ed Howe
Know Your English completes 25 years.
What is the meaning of ‘lagniappe’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The ‘a’ in the first and second syllable are
pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘cat’, ‘bat’, and ‘fat’. The ‘g’ and the final ‘e’ are silent, and the ‘i’
sounds like the ‘y’ in ‘yes’, ‘yellow’, and ‘young’. The word is pronounced ‘lan-yap’ with the
stress on the second syllable. I understand that ‘lagniappe’ comes from the Spanish ‘la napa’
meaning ‘the gift’. The word was originally used to refer to a gift or something extra that a
friendly shopkeeper added to a customer’s purchase. As time went on, the word acquired a
broader meaning. It began to be used to refer to any unexpected gift or benefit. Lagniappe is not
included in many dictionaries, and its use is mostly confined to what are known as the ‘Gulf
states’ in the United States — Mississippi, Louisiana, etc.
*Since we had bought so many items, the shopkeeper included a DVD player as
lagniappe.
The well-known author Mark Twain wrote about this word in his book ‘Life on the
Mississippi’.
What is the meaning of ‘too clever by half’?
This is an expression that is used to refer to someone who thinks very highly of himself.
When you say that someone is too clever by half, what you mean is that the individual is very
annoying because he imagines himself to be much smarter than he actually is. You are implying
that he is much too clever for his own good, and this might get him into trouble one day. The
expression is mostly used ironically. It is also possible to say ‘too smart by half’.
*You should meet the characters in my class. Some of them are too clever by half.
What is the difference between ‘alternate’ and ‘alternative’?
If you play tennis on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, then you are said to
play the game on alternate days. In other words, you don’t play every day, but on every other
day. The stress is on the first syllable ‘al’.
*Wouldn’t it be nice if we had school/college only on alternate days?
The word can also be used to mean ‘one after another’; when things ‘alternate’ they take
place in turns.
*It was a movie that made you laugh and cry alternately.
The word ‘alternative’ means one or the other; it is normally used to refer to a situation
when a choice has to be made. The stress in this case is on the second syllable.
*There’s something wrong with the car. Our alternative is to take a bus.
Careful users of the language sometimes argue that this word should be used only when
there is choice between two things. This however, is no longer true. You can have several
alternatives.
What is the meaning of ‘wake’ in the following expression: ‘in the wake of
something’?
The idiom means coming after something or as a consequence of something. The ‘wake’
has nothing to do with waking up from sleep. In this case, the word refers to the “turbulence left
by something moving through the water”. In other words, the waves or path that a moving ship
or boat leaves behind in the water is a ‘wake’.
*The tsunami left a trail of destruction in its wake.
“Many a man who falls in love with a dimple makes the mistake of marrying the whole
girl.” — Evan Esar
Know Your English

“What are you doing here so early?”
“Just came to check on you. How are you feeling today?”
“Much better, thank you.”
“Enjoying your forced break?”
“Enjoying my break? Are you kidding me? I’m going stir crazy.”
“I’ve heard of people going crazy. But what does ‘going stir crazy’ mean?”
“Well, my fever has forced me to stay at home. I haven’t stepped out even once in the
past five days.”
“And you feel angry because the fever has forced you to stay inside.”
“Exactly! I feel angry and upset because I have been confined to the house. This forced
confinement is making me very restless.”
“You probably feel very anxious. I think I understand what ‘stir crazy’ means now. How
about this example? I promised my sister that I would take care of her kids while she was on
tour. But after a week, I was going stir crazy.”
“I can well imagine. I would go stir crazy too. I’m told that people who live in really cold
places get stir crazy during the winter season.”
“Very good example. Now then, how about…”
“Tell me, where did this expression ‘stir crazy’ come from?”
“It was a slang term used in prison.”
“Prison? But what’s the connection? I don’t…”
“I understand the slang word for prison is ‘stir’. Stir crazy was the expression used by
inmates to refer to prisoners who had become mentally unbalanced because of their
confinement.”
“Being cooped up in prison for a long time had driven them crazy.”
“Exactly! Later, the expression was used to refer to any kind of confinement. Not just
prison.”
“That makes sense. Last week you said that you would tell me what ‘displace’ means.
Can you tell me now?”
“Why not? I have nothing better to do. When you displace something, you usually take
its place. Most of the time this replacement is done forcibly. For example, a growing number of
employees in the old factory have been displaced by computers.”
“According to this report, moderates are likely to be displaced by extremists.”
“We need some change, I guess. There’s no way that technology will displace teachers in
schools and colleges.”
“Teachers are always worried about things like that.”
“I know. Displace has another meaning as well. When a group of people are displaced,
they are forced to move from the place where they are living. The proposed dam will displace
thousands of villagers.”
“I am joining an organisation that helps people who have been displaced.”
“That’s a good idea. In that case, why don’t you help Nitya with her work?”
“Nitya? No way! I don’t think she has all her marbles.”
“Marbles? What are you talking about? Why should she…”
“When you say that someone has all her marbles, you mean that she is mentally sound.”
“I see. My neighbour is nearly 90 years old, but she hasn’t lost her marbles.”
“If you are forced to stay in your apartment for another week, I’m sure you will lose
yours!”
“When a thing has been said and well, have no scruple. Take it and copy it.” — Anatole
France
August 2007

•How is the word ombudsman pronounced? (20070813)
•What is the meaning of humour me ? (20070813)
•What is the difference between High Commissioner and Ambassador ? (20070813)
•How is the word nuptial pronounced? (20070813)
•What is the meaning of chequebook diplomacy ? (20070806)
•What is the meaning and origin of blurb ? (20070806)
•What is the difference between infant and toddler ? (20070806)
Know your English
“Looks like some of our judges have been playing a lot of Monopoly lately.”
“What makes you say that?”
“They have been giving influential people a free ‘Get out of jail’ card!”
“You have a point there. Tell me, how do you pronounce i..n..d..o..l..e..n..t?”
“The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘in’. The ‘o’ and the ‘e’ that follow sound
like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The stress is on the first syllable. Do you know what the word means?”
“I can guess. According to this article, one usually finds indolent people in government
offices. We all know that government offices are usually full of lazy people. People who are
unwilling to work. Does indolent mean lazy or something like that?”
“Very good! That’s exactly what indolent means. It is a formal word for ‘lazy’. For
example, the indolent husband refused to help his wife clear the dishes.”
“Good example. Did you see….”
“Did you manage to watch the two movies you’d borrowed last week?”
“I certainly did. The funny thing….”
“Which one did you like?”
“Difficult to say. There was very little to choose between them. The two were much of a
muchness.”
“Much of a muchness? What does the expression mean?”
“Well, in this case, it means the two movies were very much alike.”
“I see. So the expression means very similar or almost the same?”
“That’s right!”
“How about this example? According to my father, rock music these days is all much of a
muchness.”
“I didn’t know your father listened to rock music.”
“He listens to it a lot actually. He’s a great fan of the Rolling Stones.”
“I’m sure the youth of today won’t agree with your father. They probably feel that rock
music…”
“Tell me, is this word ‘muchness’ used in any other context?”
“No, it’s only used in this expression. Hey, is that a new watch you’re wearing?”
“No, it’s my old one. I seem to have displaced my new one.”
“You mean misplaced, don’t you?”
“What’s the difference between ‘misplaced’ and ‘displaced’?”
“When you ‘misplace’ something, you put it in the wrong place, and as a result you are
unable to find it.”
“But it’s only temporarily. Later, you do find it. Am I right?”
“Absolutely! You are unable to find it only for a short while. The word suggests that you
have merely mislaid the object.”
“I think I understand. My grandmother misplaced her spectacles.”
“It’s very difficult to find books in this library because they are always misplaced.”
“One can also misplace one’s trust. What this…”
“Meaning you trust a person who doesn’t deserve to be trusted.”
“Exactly! Your trust in Mohan is misplaced.”
“Sailaja is helping her former boss because of her misplaced sense of loyalty.”
“Our faith in our leaders is misplaced.”
“That’s true! So tell me, what does ‘displaced’ mean?”
“We’ll talk about it some other time. Right now, I have to do something for…”
“What are you going to do? Play Monopoly?”
“We’re not retreating. We’re advancing in another direction.” — Douglas MacArthur
Know your English
“You look absolutely exhausted. Busy preparing for your exams?”

“Not really. My friends and I have been celebrating India’s series win against England.”
“ Ever since we won the series, I find that many sports writers are using the term ‘Old
Blighty’ quite frequently. Any idea what it means?”
“Old Blighty is a slang term for England.”
“England! But what’s the connection? Blighty doesn’t sound anything like England or
Britain.”
“That’s true. According to many scholars, the word ‘blighty’ is actually from Hindi.”
“From Hindi! Are you sure? I don’t think a word like ‘blighty’ exists in Hindi.”
“You have a point there. The Hindi word that ‘blighty’ comes from is ‘vilayati’, meaning
‘foreigner’. In some dialects of Hindi, the word is pronounced ‘bilayati’.”
“So ‘bilayati’ became ‘blighty’?”
“Exactly! The British soldiers in India began to use the word to refer to their own
country. ‘Old Blighty’ was used as a term of endearment. The term became popular only during
the First World War.”
“How?”
“Homesick British soldiers sitting in the trenches in some foreign country began to refer
to Britain as ‘dear Old Blighty’. Many poets and song writers writing during this period used this
expression as well.”
“Poets and song writers, eh? They must have made the term even more popular.”
“They certainly did. Soldiers coined the term ‘blighty wound’ as well.”
“What kind of wound was that?”
“It was a serious wound, one that forced a soldier to leave the front line in order to
recuperate. But it did not leave him a cripple.”
“In other words, the wound was serious enough to get the soldier sent back home to
England!”
“Exactly! It was the sort of wound that could send the soldier back to Old Blighty.
Sometimes, the soldiers inflicted the wound on themselves!”
“Interesting! So tell me, what have you been up to?
“Nothing much actually. Have been keeping my eyes peeled for a two bedroom
apartment.”
“Keeping your eyes peeled? What does it mean?”
“When you keep your eyes peeled for someone or something, you remain alert or
watchful. You are on the look out for the person or thing.”
“In other words, it has the same meaning as ‘keep your eyes open’?”
“Yes, more or less. Here’s an example. If you are planning to cut across the field, please
keep your eyes peeled for stray dogs. They can be pretty vicious.”
“Tell me, are you getting the raise you’d asked for?”
“Not sure as yet. I met my boss yesterday, and he just hummed and hawed.”
“Hummed and hawed? Never heard that expression before.”
“When you hum and haw, you talk about something for some time, but you fail to arrive
at a decision.”
“In other words, you don’t speak your mind and fail to arrive at a decision.”
“When you ask Rajesh for something, he hums and haws for several hours before taking
a decision.”
“That’s true. I’d better go. Don’t want to be late for the one-day match.”
“Love is an ideal thing; marriage is a real thing. A confusion of the real with the ideal
never goes unpunished.” — Goethe
How is the word ‘ombudsman’ pronounced?
The ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘got’, and ‘not’, and the following ‘u’ sounds like the ‘u’ in
‘put’, ‘pull’, and ‘full’. The ‘s’ is pronounced like the ‘z’ in ‘zoo’, ‘zip’, and ‘zap’, and the final
‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The stress is on the first syllable ‘om’.
An ‘ombudsman’ is someone who investigates complaints made by people against the
government or any public organisation. He is an independent official who represents the
common man in his fight against the government
*All complaints must be made in writing to the banking ombudsman by three this
afternoon.
The word is Swedish in origin and it means ‘representative’ or ‘agent’. I understand that
the word was borrowed into English in the 1960s. The word is being slowly replaced by
‘ombudsperson’.
What is the meaning of ‘humour me’?
Sometimes, young children come and tell us tall tales. They narrate events which
couldn’t have happened. A child may tell us that there was a tiger in the garden and that he drove
it away with a stick. When children tell us such stories, as adults, it is our job to believe them.
Why do we pretend to believe them? Simple. We want to keep the children happy; we want to
‘humour’ them. When you tell someone ‘humour me’, what you want the person to do is to agree
with what you are saying or doing. What you may be saying or doing may be completely
unreasonable, but you want the person to agree with you just to keep you happy.
*The husband thought it best to humour his wife.
*I hold the purse strings. So you’d better humour me.
What is the difference between ‘High Commissioner’ and ‘Ambassador’?

The functions these two individuals perform are the same; there is no difference. I
understand that both are of the same rank as well. Britain’s diplomatic missions in various parts
of the world are either called “High Commission” or “Embassy”.
The former term is used to refer to Britain’s diplomatic missions in Commonwealth
countries.
For example, the diplomatic mission in Delhi is called the High Commission, and the
senior diplomat in charge of it is the “High Commissioner”.
Since the United States and Russia were never a part of the Commonwealth, Britain’s
diplomatic missions in these countries are called “Embassies”, and not “High Commissions”.
The person in charge of one is called “Ambassador”.
How is the word ‘nuptial’ pronounced?
The ‘u’ in the first syllable sounds like the ‘u’ in ‘cup’, ‘pup’, and ‘cub’; the ‘t’ is
pronounced like the ‘sh’ in ‘sheep’, ‘ship’ and ‘show’. The ‘ia’ that follows sounds like the ‘a’ in
‘china’, and the stress is on the first syllable. The word sounds like ‘nupshell’. It is considered
rather old fashioned, and is mainly used jocularly to refer to things related to a person’s wedding
ceremony.
*I had to laugh when the old woman referred to her bedroom as her nuptial chamber.
“Seeing a murder on television can help work off one’s antagonisms. And if you haven’t
any antagonisms, the commercials will give you some.” — Alfred Hitchcock
What is the meaning of ‘chequebook diplomacy’?
This is an expression that was coined during Gulf War I, when Saddam Hussein invaded
Kuwait. In order to ‘liberate’ the country, George Bush, the current President’s father, invited
other nations to join him in his effort to overthrow Saddam.
Many countries sent troops, but there were some whose constitution did not permit them
to send troops abroad. Japan and Germany, two of the closest allies of the U.S, were two such
countries. Since they couldn’t commit troops to the coalition, these two rich nations did the next
best thing – they gave a lot of money for the war effort! This is how ‘chequebook diplomacy’
came into being.
Nowadays, the expression is used to describe any international policy in which a country
dangles money, in the form of economic aid and investment, to win diplomatic favour. Another
expression that has more or less the same meaning is ‘dollar diplomacy’.
*China denies using chequebook diplomacy in Africa.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘blurb’?
When we pick up any book, the first thing we normally look at is the back cover. It
usually contains the publisher’s/reviewers’ short, but raving description of the book. This
description, which is always full of praise for both the author and the book, is called a ‘blurb’.
*According to the blurb, this is the best novel written by the author.
Although the idea of a blurb had been in existence for a long time, the word itself was
coined only in the 20th century. I understand that it was the brainchild of Gelett Burgess, the
well-known author of ‘The Purple Cow’. When his new book, ‘Are You Bromide?’ was
launched, Burgess persuaded his publishers to do away with the usual sugary write-up. Instead,
he made them paste the picture of a girl whom he named Miss. Belinda Blurb. The back cover
said, ‘YES, this is a BLURB’; it contained quotes from Ms. Blurb. As a result, anything that was
printed on the back cover began to be called a blurb. Nowadays, we have blurbs on DVD and
VCD covers as well.
What is the difference between ‘infant’ and ‘toddler’?
The word ‘infant’ comes from the Latin ‘in–fans’ meaning ‘unable to speak’. So
technically an infant is a child that has not learned to speak as yet. For many native speakers,
‘infant’ is a formal word for ‘baby’; some scholars argue it is an impersonal or a medical term
for ‘baby’.
A newborn baby or a very young child can be called an infant. In American English, the
word is normally used to refer to a baby, especially a very young one. In British English,
children as old as 7 are called ‘infants’.
In England, children between the ages of 4 and 7 go to ‘Infant Schools’. According to
British law, anyone under the age of 18 is an infant!
There is less confusion about the word ‘toddler’. He is someone who ‘toddles’. In other
words, he is someone who is just beginning to walk; he takes small, unsteady steps.
“Don’t knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it
didn’t change once in a while.” — Kin Hubbard
July 2007

•What is the meaning of wake up and smell the coffee ? (20070723)
•What is the meaning of akimbo ? (20070723)
•Is it OK to say, Myself is Rajesh ? (20070723)
•Can we say, He is a faculty at Osmania University ? (20070723)
•What is the difference between look and see ? (20070723)
•What is the meaning of take pot shots at someone ? (20070716)
•What is the meaning of last but not least ? (20070716)
•How is the word sang-froid pronounced? (20070716)
•What is the difference between cronyism and nepotism ? (20070716)
•What is the meaning of tour de force ? (20070709)
•Is there a sentence that includes all 26 letters of the alphabet? (20070709)
•What is the meaning and origin of back to square one (20070709)
•What is the difference between stammer and stutter ? (20070709)
Know your English
“Hello! Come in! Come in! What are you doing here so early?”
“Nandini called and said that her computer was acting up. Thought it was a hardware
problem.”
“Hardware problem, eh? Knowing Nandini, it’s probably a wetware problem.”
“Wetware problem? What does it mean?”
“The human brain is sometimes referred to as ‘wetware’. The next time you meet
Nandini, tell her that she needs to update her wetware.”
“You have a point there. She doesn’t know anything about computers. In fact, there was
nothing wrong with her computer. As you rightly said, it was a wetware problem. So, how are
things with you?”
“Things are just great. How about you?”
“I’m glad that somebody is feeling great. I bumped into Chandu at the market. He looked
like…”
“You ran into poor Chandu? Did he look like death warmed over?”
“Look like death warmed over? Doesn’t it mean that you want him dead or something
like that?”
“Of course not! When you say that someone looks like death warmed over, what you
mean is that the person looks terrible ill.”
“I see. How about this example? I saw Girish at the hospital. He looked like death
warmed over.”
“Sounds fine! I haven’t slept in three days. I feel like death warmed over.”
“Feel like death warmed over? Does it mean you feel extremely tired?”
“Exactly! It’s also possible to say ‘like death warmed up’. They both have the same
meaning.”
“O.K. Tell me, why does Chandu look like death warmed up?”
“I’m told he lost his shirt. Poor chap, he...”
“He looks like death warmed up because he lost some silly shirt. Is he crazy?”
“I don’t think you understand. When you say that someone lost his shirt, what you mean
is he lost everything, including his shirt.”
“In other words, he is penniless. He has no money.”
“That’s right! He is broke. Chandu lost a lot of money in the stock market.”
“I see. How about this example? My friend Sandeep lost his shirt on some silly dog race.”
“Sounds good. Do you think I should lend Chandu some money and ask him to…”
“Go right ahead. It’s your funeral.”
“First, you talk about death, and now funeral. What does this expression mean?”
“When you tell someone that it’s his funeral, what you mean is that if he does something,
he has to suffer the consequences.”
“I see. Go ahead, make the presentation without really preparing for it. It’s your funeral.”
“I’m told there are many crocodiles in this part of the river. But if you insist on
swimming, I won’t stop you. It’s your funeral.”
“I think I understand the meaning now. I’d better go. I promised to meet Dilip at the new
restaurant.”
“I went there yesterday. It’s no great shakes.”
“Meaning it’s not very good?”
“That’s right! According to Ananya the latest Harry Potter book is no great shakes.”
“That may be true. When it comes to judging restaurants, you’re no great shakes.”
“I installed a skylight in my apartment. The people who live above me are furious.” —
Steven Wright
What is the meaning of ‘wake up and smell the coffee’?
This is an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts. When you tell someone to
‘wake up and smell the coffee’, what you mean is that you want the individual to be more aware
of what is happening around him. It has the same meaning as ‘get with it’.
*You don’t know what an iPhone is! Wake up and smell the coffee.
*The company is in serious trouble. Wake up and smell the coffee.
What is the meaning of ‘akimbo’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The ‘a’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’; the
following syllable is pronounced like the name ‘Kim’. The final ‘bo’ rhymes with ‘so’ and ‘no’,
and the stress is on the second syllable ‘kim’. The word is mainly used to refer to one’s arm
position. When you stand with your arms akimbo, you have your hands on your hips and the
arms are spread out with the elbows pointing outwards. It is a posture that generally indicates
impatience, hostility, or contempt.
*The principal stood, arms akimbo, glaring at the students.
*Standing behind the sofa with arms akimbo, Sheel told the painter what to do.
Is it OK to say, ‘Myself is Rajesh’?
No, it isn’t; you cannot begin a sentence with the word ‘myself’. The correct way of
saying this is ‘I am Rajesh’ or ‘My name is Rajesh.’ You use ‘myself’ only when you have used
the word ‘I’ earlier in the same sentence.
For example, ‘I did all the cooking myself’ and ‘I am not particularly fond of dosas
myself.’ You cannot say, ‘Myself did all the cooking’ or ‘Myself am not particularly fond of
dosas.’
Can we say, ‘He is a faculty at Osmania University’?
The word ‘faculty’ is normally used to refer to all the teachers in a particular department
or university. In this sense, it is like the word ‘staff’. Just as you cannot say ‘He is a staff’, you
cannot say, ‘He is a faculty’. If you wish to refer to a particular individual, then you have to say,
‘He is a member of the faculty’ or ‘He is a faculty member.’
*Eminent faculty members from Harvard will be present at the conference.
*I’d like all of you to meet the new member of our faculty.
What is the difference between ‘look’ and ‘see’?
Both words are used to talk about the different ways we use our eyes. ‘Seeing’ is a
physiological process, it is something that our eyes do automatically. When you ‘see’ something,
it is not intentional, but accidental. On your morning walk, you may see a cute little puppy, a
man wearing a pink shirt, and an old motorcycle parked next to your new car. When you went
for the walk, it was not your intention to see all these objects. You saw them because they came
in front of you. You couldn’t avoid noticing them.
‘Looking’, on the other hand, is an intentional act. When you look at something, you pay
attention. For example, if you look at a puppy, you observe it carefully. You begin to pay
attention to its colour, size, etc.
“In case you’re worried about what’s going to become of the younger generation, it’s
going to grow up and start worrying about the younger generation.” — Roger Allen
What is the meaning of “take pot shots at someone”?
In British English, the word ‘pot’ is used as a verb to mean “to shoot small birds and
animals without taking careful aim.” The reason you don’t need to aim is because there are so
many birds/ animals clustered nearby, that if you shoot in their general direction, you are bound
to hit something. There is no way that you can miss. Hunters took pot shots because they wanted
to put food on the table; their aim was to fill the cooking pot! The opposite of ‘pot shot’, I
understand, is ‘fair shot’; the kind of shot a ‘gentleman hunter’ prefers to take. In this case, the
hunter decides which animal he wishes to kill, aims for it, and then shoots. As time went by, the
term ‘pot shot’ began to be applied to any sort of blow – physical as well as verbal – that was
difficult to avoid. The expression “take pot shots at someone” is now used to mean to criticise
someone rather unexpectedly or unfairly.
*During the press conference, several reporters took pot shots at the aging actor.
What is the meaning of “last but not least”?
The expression has been around since the 16th century. It means “finally, but not less
importantly.” The expression can be used when you introduce a group of people to a friend.
When you come to the last person in the group, you can say “last but not least, this is Suman”.
What you mean by this is that though Suman is the final person to be introduced, it doesn’t mean
she is less important than those introduced before her; she is as important as the others.
How is the word ‘sang-froid’ pronounced?

There are several ways of pronouncing this word. ‘Sang’ is often pronounced like the
word ‘song’. The ‘fr’ is like the ‘fr’ in ‘from’, ‘French’, and ‘friend’; the sound that follows is
like the ‘w’ in ‘wet’, ‘well’, and ‘wish’. The vowel is like the ‘a’ in ‘bath and ‘path’. The final
‘d’ is silent, and the stress is on ‘froid’. The word sounds like ‘song-frwaa’.
‘Sang-froid’ is a word of French origin and it means ‘cold blood’. When a person
displays ‘sang-froid’ in a crisis, he remains very calm when things around him are falling apart.
*Though the crowd was extremely hostile, the visiting team showed remarkable
sang-froid.
What is the difference between ‘cronyism’ and ‘nepotism’?
Both words are used to show disapproval. If you are accused of nepotism, then you use
your position to promote or help the members of your family; it is favouritism based on kinship.
The word comes from the Latin ‘nepos’ meaning ‘nephew’.
*Prema got the job because of nepotism — her father is the CEO of the company!
The word ‘crony’ (rhymes with ‘pony’ and ‘Tony’) is used to refer to a friend with whom
you spend a lot of time. When you accuse someone of cronyism, what you mean is that the
person is using his official position to help his friends.
*Bush and Cheney have often been accused of cronyism.
“People say New Yorkers can’t get along. Not true. I saw two New Yorkers, complete
strangers, sharing a cab. One guy took the tires and the radio; the other guy took the engine.”
—
David Letterman
What is the meaning of ‘tour de force’?

This is an expression that comes from French, and is mainly used to show emphasis.
When you call someone’s speech or performance a ‘tour de force’, what you mean is that it was
outstanding; it was very well done. It is something that is unlikely to be equalled by others.
*The ageing actor’s performance as the drunken father is a tour de force.
Is there a sentence that includes all 26 letters of the alphabet?
A sentence which contains all the letters of the alphabet is called a ‘pangram’. There are
many pangrams; in fact, if you are in the mood, you can create one of your own. The most
famous pangram is the following: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lady dog.”
I understand that in the old days when typists wished to check if all the keys were in
working order, they invariably typed this sentence.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘back to square one’
When you have been working on a problem for a long time, and you are unable to find a
solution, what is it that you normally do? Since you have not been able to make any progress,
you go back to the beginning and start all over again. When you tell someone that you are ‘back
to square one’, what you mean is that you’ve returned to the original starting point. In other
words, you are going to begin all over again.
After three days of house hunting, I found one that I really liked. When I went to pay the
advance the next morning, the landlord said that he had decided not to rent the house. So, it was
back to square one.
According to some scholars, this expression was made popular by sports commentators
of the BBC. Since football is a game that is difficult to follow on the radio, what some
enterprising radio commentators did in the early 20th century was to divide the field into eight
squares. The commentators informed the audience of what was happening on the field by telling
them which square the ball was in. On the day of the game, most newspapers and sports
magazines carried a drawing of the playing field with the squares clearly marked and numbered
— this made it easy for listeners to follow the action. Square one was where the goalie stood.
Others believe that the idiom has its origins in board games like Snakes and Ladders.
What is the difference between ‘stammer’ and ‘stutter’?
Both words are used to refer to a defect in an individual’s speech. We often meet people
who have difficulty speaking; sometimes, they merely repeat the first sound or syllable of a
word. They are unable to produce anything beyond that. Careful users of the language maintain
that the word ‘stutter’ is used to refer to a person who has a chronic speech defect. ‘Stammering’,
on the other hand, is considered temporary. All of us have ‘stammered’ sometime or the other.
Human beings can stammer or stutter; machines only stutter. Speech therapists in Britain prefer
to use ‘stammer’, while those in America and Canada prefer ‘stutter’. Aristotle, Aesop, Darwin,
Napoleon, and Marylyn Monroe are some famous people who stuttered.
“The tongue is the only instrument that gets sharper with use.” — Washington Irving
June 2007
•Is it ok to say, I have a head-bath every Saturday ? (20070625)

•What is the meaning of hasta la vista ? (20070625)
•What is the meaning of excuse my French ? (20070625)
•What is the difference between pain and ache ? (20070625)
•How is the word curmudgeon pronounced? (20070618)
•What is the difference between ex and former ? (20070618)
•What is the meaning and origin of for Pete s sake ? (20070618)
•What is the meaning of diem ? (20070618)
•What is the meaning of `smell blood'? (20070604)
•How is the word `boulevard' pronounced? (20070604)
•What is the meaning and origin of `damp squib'? (20070604)
•What is the difference between `cool down' and `cool off'? (20070604)
•How is the word `sic' used? (20070604)
Is it ok to say, ‘I have a head-bath every Saturday’?
This is an expression that is commonly heard in India; not many dictionaries include
‘head-bath’ – the few that do, state that the word is mainly used in South Asia. Native speakers
of English don’t use this word, and probably won’t understand what you mean by it. When a
native speaker of English talks about taking a ‘bubble bath’, what he means is that he is going to
get into a bathtub which is full of water and soap bubbles.
So when you tell him that you are going to have a head-bath, he might get the impression
that you are going to get into a tub which is full of heads! Just kidding! Native speakers wouldn’t
say ‘I have a head-bath every Saturday’; instead, they would say, ‘I wash my hair every
Saturday.’
What is the meaning of ‘hasta la vista’?
The expression is from Spanish and it means ‘see you later’ or ‘good bye’. ‘Hasta la
vista’ became quite popular among native speakers of English thanks to Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s blockbuster, ‘Terminator 2: Judgement Day’. In this sequel, Schwarzenegger,
who plays a cyborg from the future, keeps saying ‘Hasta la vista baby’.
What is the meaning of ‘excuse my French’?
Very often, when people get angry, they swear. They use many vulgar words which they
wouldn’t normally use. When you say ‘excuse my French’, what you mean is that you are sorry
that you have sprinkled your conversation with words which are considered impolite. You are
apologising for swearing in the presence of those who might be offended by it. The expression
‘pardon my French’ has the same meaning. Why the French, and not the Germans or Russians?
The answer is fairly simple. The English hated the French; they thought that the French were
vulgar people who swore all the time. Therefore, when an Englishman says, ‘pardon my French’,
what he means is that he is going to behave crudely like a Frenchman!
What is the difference between ‘pain’ and ‘ache’?
Both words can be used to refer to any bodily discomfort that an individual may feel. Of
the two, ‘pain’ is the more general term. The pain that you feel in some part of the body may be
intense, or it may be mild; similarly, its duration could be either long or short. If you hit your
thumb with a hammer, the pain could last for a few seconds, or for several days.
Usually, ‘pain’ implies something that comes on suddenly. When you bump into the wall,
you feel ‘pain’ and not ‘ache’. The pain that you feel could be local — over a small area — or it
could be widespread.
Ache, on the other hand, is usually associated with a particular part of the body; we often
talk of a toothache, headache and stomachache. When we get any of these aches, they usually
last for some time. They don’t disappear in a matter of minutes.
An ache, therefore, is usually long lasting. Another difference is that the discomfort that
one experiences is not as intense as ‘pain’; some dictionaries define ‘ache’ as ‘dull pain’.
“The only exercise I get is walking behind the coffins of friends who took exercise.”
— Peter O Toole
How is the word ‘curmudgeon’ pronounced?
The ‘u’ in the first syllable and the ‘eo’ in the last syllable are pronounced like the ‘a’ in
‘china’. The second ‘u’ is like the ‘u’ in ‘cut’, ‘hut’, and ‘but’, while the ‘dg’ that follows is
pronounced like the ‘j’ in ‘jam’, ‘jeep’, and ‘juice’. The main stress is on the second syllable.
This is one way of pronouncing the word.
Some people pronounce the ‘ur’ in the first syllable like the ‘ur’ in ‘burn’ and ‘burst’.
When you call someone a curmudgeon, what you mean is that you are not particularly fond of
the individual because he is bad tempered. The word is considered to be rather old fashioned, and
is usually used with men.
*Rahul decided to resign because he couldn’t put up with his new boss, a terrible old
curmudgeon.
What is the difference between ‘ex’ and ‘former’?
Careful users of the language lament the fact that not many people maintain a distinction
between these two words. If you are in the habit changing jobs every two months, you will have
several ‘former bosses’, but only one ‘ex-boss’. What is the difference between the two?
Some scholars argue that the word ‘ex’ should be used with the ‘immediate past
incumbent’. Your previous boss is your ex-boss, and the ones you had before him are your
former bosses. Vajpayee is the ex-Prime Minister of India. Nehru, V. P. Singh, Indira Gandhi,
and Gujral, some of the others who preceded Vajpayee, are all ‘former’ Prime Ministers of India.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘for Pete’s sake’?
The expression ‘for Pete’s sake’ is mostly used in speech to indicate surprise, anger, or
disgust. It has the same meaning as ‘for heaven’s sake’ ‘for goodness sake’, ‘for God’s sake’,
‘for pity’s sake’, etc.
*For Pete’s sake, don’t just stand there like an idiot. Give me a hand.
Nowadays, it is very common to hear people say, ‘god dammit’ or ‘what the hell’ when
they are angry or exasperated. In the old days, people were not allowed to take the Lord’s name
in vain; they were punished if they did so.
In order to avoid swearing, people began to make use of euphemisms — mild and less
harsh sounding expressions. According to scholars, ‘for Pete’s sake’ is one such euphemism —
it’s often referred to as ‘minced oath’. The ‘Pete’ refers to St. Peter.
What is the meaning of ‘diem’?

This is a word that comes from Latin, and it means ‘day’. The word is used in English in
certain fixed expressions like ‘carpe diem’ and ‘per diem’.
Of the two, ‘per diem’ is much more common in India, especially in Government circles.
It means ‘per day’; when employees of the government are sent on official duty to other places,
they are paid a daily allowance. This is called per diem, and it is given to an individual to meet
his daily expenses. Carpe diem means ‘seize the day’.
“Women will never be successful as men because they have no wives to advise them.” —
Dick Van Dyke
Know your English
"You're late as usual. What's the excuse this time?"

"Ran into Sarita and Ganesh at the bus stop. They are planning to see Spiderman 3 this
evening, and they wanted to know if I'd like to come along."
"I hope you said no. If you go with those two, you'll end up feeling like a fifth wheel."
"A fifth wheel? What are you talking about?"
"This is an expression mostly used in American English. A fifth wheel is a person or a
thing that is not required."
"In other words, the person is the unwanted extra. He is like the fifth wheel of a car that
already has four good ones, and is therefore unnecessary!"
"For example, the team already has two very good off spinners. I feel like a fifth wheel."
"It is also possible to say, `third wheel'."
"Lavanya is just a third wheel around here. Why don't you send her home?"
"Good example. Is something wrong? You look a little green around the gills."
"What are you talking about? I'm not a fish! I don't have gills!"
"When you say that someone is green around the gills, what you mean is that he/she
looks out of sorts."
"In other words, the person looks sick or unwell."
"That's right! The person feels like throwing up. For example, I'm feeling green around
the gills. I'd better step outside and get some fresh air."
"It's possible to say `blue around the gills' as well. It means the same thing. Ever since
eating the chocolate cake, I've been feeling a little blue around the gills."
"I've been feeling blue around the gills since this morning. That was just an example.
There's nothing wrong with me. I feel just fine."
"You don't look it, though. Do you... ."
"Guess who came to see me this morning?"
"I'm not in the mood to play games. Just tell me."
"Ram. He says that he is going to start his own business."
"Ram is going to start his own business! Does he have the smarts to do that?"
"Smarts? You mean `smart', don't you?"
"No, I mean `smarts'. The word `smarts' is used in informal contexts to mean
ìntelligence' or èxpertise."
"Intelligence, eh? Can I say, I've have the smarts to do the job?"
"You certainly can. Here's another example. If I were you, I would talk to Bala. He has
the smarts to figure out what to do next."
"But your friend Ram certainly hasn't got the smarts. The only thing that he is good at
doing is telling fish stories."
"Fish stories! What are you talking about?"
"A fish story is a tall tale. In other words, a great big lie."
"How about this example? Politicians are good at telling fish stories."
"That's a good example. Do you seriously expect me to believe that fish story?"
"Can you tell me why tall tales are called fish stories?"
"Fishermen always have interesting stories to tell about the fish that they didn't catch. In
the stories that they tell, the fish that gets away is always very big. Hence the expression `fish
story'."
"That makes sense."
"You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else
you could do while you're down there." — George Burns
What is the meaning of `smell blood'?
When someone you are competing against begins to exhibit a weakness, what would you
do? You would make use of the weakness to your advantage. This is what the expression `to
smell blood' means — to make use of someone's weakness or problems to your advantage. It is
also possible to say `scent blood'.
*When our main bowler was injured, the opposition began to smell/scent blood.
When a shark smells blood, it goes into a frenzy. It attempts to find out where the smell is
coming from. It tries to locate its prey making use of its amazing senses, and when it finds the
wounded animal, it attacks. The wounded animal is at a disadvantage, and the shark makes use
of this weakness to kill it.
How is the word `boulevard' pronounced?
The òu' in the first syllable is like the òo' in `cool', `pool', and `fool'; the following è' is
like the à' in `china'. The final àr' sounds like the àr' in `bar', `par', and `tar'. In American
English, the òu' is pronounced like the ù' in `put', `pull', and `full'. In both cases, the stress is on
the first syllable. The word is used to refer to a street or a road that is lined with trees on both
sides. In the U.S, however, any broad road can be referred to as `boulevard'.
What is the meaning and origin of `damp squib'?
When your favourite film star's movie is released, you go to the theatre with great
expectations. You think that the film is going to be great, and you are going to have a wonderful
time. Sometimes, the film doesn't meet your expectations, and you feel a sense of
disappointment; you feel terribly let down. In such a context, you can say that the movie was a
damp squib — in other words, it failed to live up to your expectations.
*For the majority of Indians, the World Cup turned out to be a damp squib.
We all know what damp means — it means `wet'. A `squib' is a firecracker. We know
from experience that when a damp firecracker is lit, it will not explode. How do we feel when it
doesn't? Terribly disappointed.
What is the difference between `cool down' and `cool off'?
The two phrasal verbs have more or less the same meaning. When something `cools
down' or `cools off', it becomes cooler than what it was earlier. In other words, the temperature
drops a little bit. During summer, when it cools down, things seem a little more pleasant.
*It was well past midnight before it started to cool off/cool down.
The two expressions can be used with people as well. When you say that someone has
cooled down/cooled off, what you mean is that he has become less angry.
*There's no point talking to you now. Go to your room and cool off.
How is the word `sic' used?
The word is pronounced like the word `sick' and it means `so, thus'. This Latin word is
usually written within brackets after a quote. By putting the word `sic' within brackets, what you
are telling the reader is that you are aware there is an error in what you have written; this error is
not yours, but the original writer's. You are merely informing the reader that you are being
faithful to the original source.
*The young soldiers were unable to cope up (sic) with the pressure.
"His insomnia was so bad, he couldn't sleep during office hours." — Arthur Baer
May 2007
•How are the words `drought' and `draught' pronounced? (20070528)

•What is the meaning of èleemosynary'? (20070528)
•What is the difference between `damsel' and `spinster'? (20070528)
•What is the meaning of `spill the beans'? (20070528)
•What is the difference between Ì'll meet you in the mall' and Ì'll meet you at the mall'?
(20070528)
•How is the word `wind' in the expression `long winded' pronounced? (20070521)
•What is the difference between `look over' and òverlook'? (20070521)
•What is the meaning of `Federer rules'? (20070521)
•What is the meaning and origin of `doubting Thomas'? (20070521)
•What is the meaning of `win-win situation'? (20070521)
•What is the difference between "prophecy" and "prophesy"? (20070514)
•What is the meaning of "supranational"? (20070514)
•What is the meaning of "to work one's fingers to the bone"? (20070514)
•How is the word "parsimonious" pronounced? (20070514)
•Where does the expression "stand and deliver" come from? (20070514)
How are the words `drought' and `draught' pronounced?
The `gh' in `drought' is silent; the word rhymes with `doubt', `shout', and `pout'. The `gh'
in `draught', on the other hand, is pronounced like the `f' in `fish', `feet', and `foul'. `Draught' is
pronounced like the word `draft'. In American English, `draught' is spelt `draft'. We all know
what `drought' means; it's the period when we have continuous dry weather, and as a result, we
don't have enough water to meet our needs. Drought and famine are very common in some parts
of Africa. A `draught', on the other hand, is the unwanted current of air that comes into a place.
For example, during winter nights, cold air manages to get into the house even when we have all
the doors and windows closed.
*I could feel the cold draught coming through the wooden walls.
What is the meaning of èleemosynary'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. There are several ways of pronouncing this word.
The simplest way is to pronounce the first è' like the è' in `set', `pet', and `let'; the following èe'
like the èe' in `feel', `peel', and `heel'. The ò' sounds like the ò' in `hot', `pot', and `dot', and the
`y' like the ì' in `hit', `pit', and `sit'. The final à' is like the à' in `china', and the main stress is on
the third syllable `mos'. Remember, this is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word.
Not all dictionaries include this word. Eleemosynary is mostly used in formal contexts,
and it means relating to charity or the giving of alms.
*We intend to provide eleemosynary assistance to the poor in our neighbourhood.
What is the difference between `damsel' and `spinster'?
A `damsel' is a young, unmarried woman; the word is mostly used in literary contexts,
and is considered rather old fashioned. A much more common word nowadays is `bachelorette'.
By the way, the first syllable of `damsel' is pronounced like the word `dam', and the `s' that
follows is like the `z' in `zoo' and `zip'. The main stress is on the first syllable. A `spinster', unlike
a damsel, is usually middle aged or old. She is someone who has never married and her chances
of getting married are remote. A damsel is single for the time being; she may choose to marry
later on.
What is the meaning of `spill the beans'?
This is an expression that is very popular in American English; it is mostly used in

informal contexts. When you `spill the beans', you unintentionally reveal a secret. The
expression has more or less the same meaning as `let the cat out of the bag'.
*As expected, Sashi spilled the beans about Hari's surprise party.
What is the difference between Ì'll meet you in the mall' and Ì'll meet you at the
mall'?
The first sentence implies that you are going to meet the person inside the building.
Where exactly inside the mall you are going to meet the individual, we don't really know. All
that we know is that the meeting is going to take place inside. When someone informs you that
he will meet àt' the mall, you are not really sure whether it is inside or outside the building. It
could be either.
"I was the best man at the wedding. If I'm the best man, why is she marrying him?" —
Jerry Seinfeld
How is the word `wind' in the expression `long winded' pronounced?
The ì' in `winded' is like the ì' in `kid', `did' and `bid', and the stress is on the first
syllable. The word is pronounced like the noun `wind', the strong breeze that sometimes blows
before the evening rain. When you say that someone's speech was `long winded', what you mean
is that the person wasted a lot of time getting to the point. The speaker used too many words, and
as a result the speech turned out to be tediously long. The expression `long winded' can also be
used to talk about things that have been written.
*The CEO gave a long-winded speech about the importance of family.
What is the difference between `look over' and òverlook'?
When you overlook something, you ignore it or fail to see it. In other words, it is possible
for one to overlook something or someone accidentally or deliberately. By the way, the main
stress in this word is on `look'.
*The fast bowler had been overlooked again. The selectors were unwilling to give a
reason.
The word òverlook' also means to give a view of a place from above. For example,
*Vinita is pretty excited because her room overlooks a beautiful lake.
When you look something or someone over, you very quickly examine the object or
person.
*The writer asked a couple of his friends to look over the article.
What is the meaning of `Federer rules'?
When you say that someone rules, what you mean is that he is the best. He is king. This is
an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts.
*When it comes to playing on clay, Nadal rules.
What is the meaning and origin of `doubting Thomas'?
A `doubting Thomas' is a sceptic; the expression is used to describe someone who

demands proof before he believes or accepts anything.
*Balagopal is a real doubting Thomas. He wouldn't believe that the new house was mine
till I showed him the documents.
When St. Thomas was informed that Christ had risen from the dead, he refused to believe
it. He demanded physical proof of Jesus' resurrection. It was only when he saw Jesus with his
own eyes and touched His wounds did he believe what he had been told. According to scholars,
the expression began to be used in the late 19th century. The earlier expressions that were
commonly used were `wavering Thomas' and ùnbelieving Thomas'.
What is the meaning of `win-win situation'?
In a dispute, there are two parties involved. Usually, one side wins and the other loses. In
a win-win situation there are no losers; the result is such that both sides get the impression that
they have won. The two sides are happy with the outcome of the dispute; each side feels it has
emerged victorious.
*It is important that you come up with a win-win situation.
"My dad knew I was going to be a comedian. When I was a baby, he said, Ìs this a
joke?'" — Ken Dodd
What is the difference between "prophecy" and "prophesy"?
The first word is a noun and the second is a verb. There are other pairs like this in
English: advice (n), advise (v); practice (n), practise (v); device (n), devise (v), etc. The "o" in
"prophecy" is like the "o" in "cot", "hot" and "lot", and the following "ph" is like the "f" in "fish",
"feel" and "fast". The "e" in the second syllable and the final "y" are like the "i" in "bit", "hit"
and "sit". In the case of the verb, the final syllable is pronounced differently. The "y" sounds like
"y" in "my" and "by". In both cases, the main stress is on the first syllable. When an individual
prophesises, he is predicting what is likely to happen in the future.
*Some of the prophecies she made over twenty years ago have come true.
*They have prophesised that the ruling party will lose the elections.
What is the meaning of "supranational"?
"Supra" means "above" or "beyond". When you say that something is supranational, what
you mean is that it goes beyond national boundaries. The United Nations and NATO are
supposed to be supranational organisations. What this means is that these organisations involve
more than one country, and their power or authority extends beyond the borders of individual
countries.
What is the meaning of "to work one's fingers to the bone"?
When you say that you have been working or wearing your fingers to the bone, what you
mean is that you have been working very hard for a long time. You have been putting in such an
effort that you have managed to work the skin and flesh off your fingers. There is no skin or
flesh left, only bones.
*I've been working my fingers to the bone trying to get the room ready for the guests.
How is the word "parsimonious" pronounced?
The "a" in the first syllable is like the "a" in "bath", "path", and "cast"; the "i" in the
second and fourth syllables sound like the "i" in "it", "bit", and "kit". The "o" is pronounced like
the "o" in "go", "no", and "so"; while the final "ou" is like the "a" in "china". The main stress is
on the third syllable "mo". The word is mostly used in formal contexts. When you say that
someone is `parsimonious', what you mean is that the individual is very careful about how he
uses the resources that are at his disposal. It could be money or anything else.
*If we are parsimonious now, we won't have to depend on our children later on.
Where does the expression "stand and deliver" come from?
This was the expression used by highwaymen (robbers) in England in the 17th century.
When these robbers held up stagecoaches, they used to shout "stand and deliver". By "stand"
what they meant was they wanted the coach to "stand still"; in other words, stop. And by
"deliver", what they meant was they wanted the passengers to "deliver" or hand over the
valuables to them.
"Not even computers will replace committees, because committees buy computers." —
Unknown
Know your English
" H..o..a..r..d and h..o..r..d..e. Are they pronounced differently"

"No, they are not! Both rhyme with `board', `cord', and `ford'."
"But what's the difference in meaning between the two?"
"Hoarding is what some politicians do."
"You mean hoarding is `human trafficking'?"
"No, that's not what the word means. When you hoard something, you store it away for
future use. This is often done very secretively. The word is usually used to show disapproval."
"In our country, it is common practice among merchants to hoard rice and... ."
"Especially when there is a shortage. Squirrels hoard nuts for the winter, and misers
hoard money."
"Now tell me, what does h..o..r..d..e mean?"
"It's a very large gathering of people. It is usually an excitable crowd, often unpleasant.
Like `hoard', this word is also used to show disapproval."
"How about this example? Hordes of fans went to the stadium to greet Sachin on his
birthday."
"What's the matter with you today? Why are you so angry?"
"It's just been a really bad hair day."
"A really bad hair day! But there's nothing wrong with your hair. It looks great!"
"When you tell someone that you've been having a bad hair day, what you mean is that
you've been having a bad day. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with your hair."
"Although it could. Is that what you're saying?"
"That's right! Your hair is in such a mess that the very thought of it ruins your entire
day."
"Some people are like that, I guess. Ever since the debacle in the World Cup, it's been
one bad hair day after another for our overpaid underachievers."
"
"Aren't you glad the World Cup is over?"
"For me, like most Indians, the World Cup came to an end after the first round."
"Let's not talk about our self proclaimed `heroes'. The Aussies were just magnificent,
weren't they?"
"They certainly were. They just waltzed through the tournament."
"Waltzed through the tournament? Are you trying to say they won all matches easily?"
"That's right! When you waltz through something, you get through it very easily."
"Isn't the waltz a dance of some kind?"
"Yes, it is a dance. So, shall we... ."
"I thought as much. How about this example, then? The Indians thought they would waltz
through to the Super Eight."
"Sounds good! "
"Talking about projects, aren't you supposed to be working on one right now?"
"I finished it over a week ago."
"A week ago! How did you manage that? I thought... .."
"The project turned out to be a waltz."
"A waltz? What do you mean? Does it... ."
"When you say that something is a waltz, what you mean is that it is very easy to do."
"The Indians thought that the game against Bangladesh would be a waltz."
"We thought watering the garden would be a waltz. But it turned out to be real hard
work."
"It usually is. You'd better leave. I have to prepare for tomorrow's presentation."
"Oh, don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll waltz through it."
"We learn from experience. A man never wakes up his second baby just to see it smile."
— Grace Williams
April 2007
•What is the meaning of "bury your head in the sand"? (20070430)

•How is the word `cynosure' pronounced? (20070430)
•What is the difference between "She's ill" and "She's been ill"? (20070430)
•When do you use `how ever'? (20070430)
•Why are street vendors sometimes referred to as `costermongers'? (20070423)
•What is the meaning of the expression `no ifs and buts'? (20070423)
•Which is correct? "The students had a difficulty in getting the books" or "The students had
difficulty in getting the books"? (20070423)
•What is the difference between òbsolete' and `junk'? (20070423)
•What is the meaning of `three dog night'? (20070416)
•What is the meaning of `ne plus ultra'? (20070416)
•What is the meaning of `willy-nilly'? (20070416)
•How is the word `dichotomy' pronounced? (20070416)
•Why do pilots shout `Mayday, Mayday' when they are in trouble? (20070409)
•What is the meaning of `Red-corner notice'? (20070409)
•What is the meaning of `snit'? (20070409)
•What is the meaning and origin of the expression, `to be called on the carpet'? (20070409)
•How is the word `schedule' pronounced? (20070409)
What is the meaning of "bury your head in the sand"?

What happens when you `bury' or `hide' your head in the sand? The most obvious thing is
that you won't be able to see anything! If you can't see anything, you will not know what is
happening around you. When a person buries his head in the sand, he tries to run away from his
problems; he refuses to even acknowledge that he has any. Instead of tackling the problem, he
deliberately ignores it. By turning a blind eye to it, he hopes that somehow the danger or trouble
will go away on its own! In other words, he is wishing it away; he doesn't want to deal with it.
*You cannot continue to bury your head in the sand. We need a plan of action.
When an ostrich is in danger and doesn't want to be detected, it stays low and stretches
out its long neck along the ground. People thought the bird was trying to bury its head in the sand
- it wasn't!
How is the word `cynosure' pronounced?
There are several ways of pronouncing this word. Some people pronounce the `cy' like
the `si' in `sit', `sip' and sin', and the following ò' like the à' in `china'. The `s' sounds like the `z'
in `zip' and `zoo', and the final ùre' like the ùre' in `pure', and `cure'. The stress is on the first
syllable. Others pronounce the `y' in the first syllable like the `y' in `my' and `by', and the `s' in
the third syllable like the `sh' in `should' and `sheep'. A cynosure is the centre of attraction;
everyone is drawn to the person or object. Anything that can serve as a guide is a cynosure. The
word is mostly used in formal contexts.
*The young bride didn't even realise that she was the cynosure of all eyes.
The word `cynosure' comes from the Greek `kynosoura' meaning `dog's tail'. In ancient
sailing charts, the North Star was referred to as `cynosure' because sailors used it as a guide to
navigate the seas.
What is the difference between "She's ill" and "She's been ill"?
When you say that someone is ill, what you are implying is that the individual is not well
right now. At the moment, he is ill; you don't know whether he was ill 15 or 20 minutes ago. The
only thing you can be sure about is the fact that he is ill right now. `Has been ill' suggests that the
individual has been unwell for some time. As to how long he has been unwell, one can't really
say. The construction suggests that the individual was unwell sometime ago, and still continues
to be unwell.
*The players are in Hyderabad. (Right now, the players are in Hyderabad)
*The players have been in Hyderabad. (They have been in Hyderabad for a while)
When do you use `how ever'?
Don't confuse `how ever' with `however'. `How ever' occurs mostly in questions. The
word èver' is used to give emphasis to various expressions. It is used to indicate surprise,
admiration, anger, etc.
*How ever did you manage to get the tickets for the movie?
The word èver' is used to add emphasis to the question. Notice that even without the
word èver', the questions would be grammatically correct. According to some scholars, `how
ever' in these questions has the same meaning as "how on earth". "How on earth did you get a
job as teacher?"
"A man's face is his autobiography. A woman's face is her work of fiction." — Oscar
Wilde
Why are street vendors sometimes referred to as `costermongers'?
The word `costermonger' is mainly used in British English to refer to someone who sells
fresh fruit, vegetables and fish on the street. `Monger' means `seller or trader'; `coster', on the
other hand, is actually a corruption of an old English word `costard', meaning àpple'. A
`costardmonger' was someone who sold apples on the street.
What is the meaning of the expression `no ifs and buts'?
Very often when we tell children to do something, their standard reply is, "But can't I do
it later? I want to watch this match on TV!" — or something like that. They always try to put
things off, and they provide all kinds of excuses as to why things should be postponed. They will
keep arguing with you till they are blue in the face. When you tell someone that you don't want
any ìfs and buts', what you mean is that you want them to stop arguing and do what they have
been told to. It's your way of telling them to get on with their job. You don't want to hear any
more excuses.
*I don't want to hear any ifs and buts. You are not wearing that dress to the party.
Which is correct? "The students had a difficulty in getting the books" or "The
students had difficulty in getting the books"?
The second sentence is correct; you do not normally say `had a difficulty'. The word
`difficulty' does not take the indefinite article à' before it. For example, we say, "The children
had difficulty in understanding the accent." We don't say, "The children had a difficulty in
understanding the accent." It is possible to drop the word ìn' in the sentence.
*It rained heavily last night, and we had difficulty (in) finding a taxi.
What is the difference between òbsolete' and `junk'?

First, let's deal with the pronunciation of òbsolete'. The first syllable rhymes with `sob',
`cob' and `mob'. The second ò' is like the à' in `china', and the final `lete' rhymes with `neat',
`beat', and `meat'. The main stress is on the final syllable `lete'. When you say that something is
òbsolete', what you mean is that it has gone out of fashion; it is outdated. It is no longer required
or no longer in use because something new and better has taken its place. For example,
computers have made typewriters obsolete; the `tonga', which was quite popular once upon a
time, has become obsolete.
*We don't have spare parts for your computer. The model has become obsolete.
`Junk', unlike the word òbsolete', is mostly used in informal contexts. When you say that
something is `junk', what you mean is that it is worthless. The object is fit to be thrown away.
Something that is new, but is of no value, can also be called `junk'. Òbsolete', on the other hand,
does not carry this meaning. The word merely suggests that the equipment has become outdated
— it could be an outdated piece of equipment that still works. A piece of junk, on the other hand,
could be an outdated piece of equipment which may or may not work. Either way, you want to
throw it away. Not everyone throws away an obsolete piece of equipment.
*You've had that scooter for over 20 years now. Get rid of the junk.
"It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it." — George W. Bush
What is the meaning of `three dog night'?
According to some scholars, the expression comes from Down Under. Cowboys spend a
lot of their time outdoors looking after animals. During cold winter nights when the temperature
dips, the men often cuddle up with their dogs to keep warm. When it is slightly cold, they need
the body heat of only one animal to keep warm; such a night is referred to as òne dog night'.
When it becomes extremely cold, the men may need three dogs to keep warm. Such an extremely
cold night is referred to as `three dog night'. This practice of embracing dogs for body warmth
was quite common among the Australian Aborigines.
*Take extra blankets. According to the forecast, it's going to be a three dog night.
`Three Dog Night' is also the name of an American rock and roll band. They were quite
popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
What is the meaning of `ne plus ultra'?
The expression comes from Latin, and it means, `not further beyond'. The ancient Greeks
believed that this was the expression that was inscribed on the Strait of Gibraltar - then called,
`Pillars of Hercules'. The inscription was meant to warn sailors not to go any further westwards.
If they did, they would be sailing into unknown territory - the uncharted waters of the Atlantic.
Nowadays, `ne plus ultra' is used to mean the highest level of excellence, something that is close
to perfection. The "e" in "ne" is pronounced like the "ay" in "way", "hay", and "ray", while the
"u" in "ultra" sounds like the "u" in "cut", "hut", and "but". Here is an example.
*Bala's career with the organisation reached its ne plus ultra when he was appointed
Managing Director.
What is the meaning of `willy-nilly'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The first syllables of the two words sound like
`will' and `nil' respectively. The final `y' in both cases is pronounced like the ì' in `bit' and `sit'.
The main stress is on `nil'. When you do something `willy-nilly', you do it under compulsion.
You do it whether you like it or not; you don't really have a choice regarding the matter.
*Be careful. Otherwise, you will be dragged, willy-nilly, into the fight.
The expression can also be used to mean doing something in a careless or disorganised
manner; doing it without any prior planning.
*The students rushed in and threw their bags willy-nilly into the storeroom.
The expression is a contraction of `will ye, nill ye'. `Nill', a word that we no longer use,
meant `to be unwilling'.
How is the word `dichotomy' pronounced?

The first syllable `di' is pronounced like the word `die'; the following `chot' sounds like
the word `cot'. The ò' that follows is like à' in `china', and the final `y' is like the ì' in `kit' and
`bit'. The main stress is on the second syllable `chot'. When you say that there is a dichotomy
between two things, what you mean is that there is a big difference between them. The two are so
different that they seem to be the complete opposite. The word `dichotomy' is mostly used in
formal contexts.
*What most students don't realise is that there is a dichotomy between theory and
practice.
The word comes from the Greek `dikhotomia' meaning, `cut in two'.
"It's useless to hold a person to anything he says while he's in love, drunk, or running for
office." — Shirley Maclaine
Why do pilots shout `Mayday, Mayday' when they are in trouble?
When a pilot is in serious trouble and wishes to let air-traffic control know that he has a
problem, he usually shouts, `Mayday, Mayday, Mayday'. The term is always shouted three times
in a row. The expression `Mayday' has been used as an international distress signal in radio
communications since 1927. `Mayday' has nothing to do with the month of May. The expression
comes from the French `m'aider', which is the shortened form of `venez m'aider', meaning `come
help me'.
What is the meaning of `Red-corner notice'?
What happens when a criminal from India evades arrest and flees to another country?
How do we get the person back so that he can stand trial here? In such cases, the country gets in
touch with Interpol and asks it to issue a Red-corner notice. If the government knows in which
country the criminal is hiding, it asks Interpol to issue the Red-corner notice to that country. A
`Red-corner notice' is an arrest warrant circulated by Interpol on behalf of the government of a
particular country. It is a request from one country to another to arrest and deport the wanted
individual. In the old days, we had `wanted' posters. Nowadays, we have Red-corner notices.
*Interpol issued a Red-corner notice for the gang leader in 2001.
What is the meaning of `snit'?
(G. G. Laxman, Mangalore)

When you are extremely agitated or irritated about something, you are said to be in a snit.
The expression ìn a snit' can also be used to mean ìn an angry mood'. It carries the suggestion
that you are being unreasonably angry or annoyed. `Snit' is mostly used in informal contexts. As
for the origin, no one is really sure where the word comes from.
*The children were in a snit because I refused to let them watch the match.
What is the meaning and origin of the expression, `to be called on the carpet'?
When you are called on the carpet, you are usually questioned by someone in authority.
In most cases, you are rebuked and are held accountable for a mistake or an offence.
*The students were called on the carpet for cheating in the exam.
In the old days, most offices did not have a carpet. Only the most important people in the
organisation were given one. Therefore, when you say that someone was called on the carpet,
what you mean is that a person in a subordinate position was called to the boss' room to face the
music. The person literally stood on the carpet while the boss gave him a piece of his mind.
How is the word `schedule' pronounced?
The word is pronounced differently depending on which side of the Atlantic you are
from. The British pronounce the `sched' like the word `shed'; the following ùle' sounds like the
word `Yule'. The Americans, on the other hand, pronounce the `sch' like the `sk' in `skip' and
`skin'. The `d' that follows sounds like the `j' in `jam' and `jazz'. The final ùle' rhymes with `cool'
and `pool'. In both cases, the stress is on the first syllable.
*Raj was disappointed because nothing went according to schedule.
"The perfect love affair is one which is conducted entirely by post." — G. B. Shaw
Know Your English
"Our Men in Blue are back! They seem to have sneaked into the country very quietly."
"The poor chaps had to. If the fans had to come to know... ."
"Poor chaps? Most people are cursing them, and you say... ."
"Listen! There's no point bad-mouthing our players. It's not going to... ."
"Bad-mouthing? What does it mean? Does it mean to speak ill of someone?"
"That's right! When you bad-mouth someone or something, you say bad things about the
person or thing. For example,
"My neighbour bad-mouths politicians all the time."
"That's something a lot of people enjoy doing! "
"Excellent example! The expression `bad-mouth' can also be used as a noun. A
bad-mouth is someone who speaks ill of others."
"Why do you say that we shouldn't bad-mouth our Men in Blue?"
"I don't see any reason to! After all, they have done their job admirably!"
"Done their job admirably! Are you nuts? They lost in the very first round!"
"I know that! But you forget, they are the Men in Blue. By losing in the first round, they
have succeeded in making the entire country blue! They have done their job!"
"You have a point there! 15 people have succeeded in making a billion people sad. Isn't
that what feeling blue means? Feeling sad or depressed?"
"That's right! And that's what the expression ìn a blue funk' also means. For example,
Tara has been in a blue funk ever since she lost her job."
"There's no point in going into a blue funk whenever our team loses. Our overpaid
underachievers seldom win. So, we... ."
"What do you think will happen to the players?"
"Absolutely nothing! They will be in the doghouse for a while. But after some time,..."
"In the doghouse? What does it mean?"
"When you say that a person is in the doghouse, what you mean is that others are
annoyed with him because of something that he has done. For example, when a man forgets his
wife's birthday, he's really in the doghouse."
"The children were in the doghouse because they broke a couple of window panes while
playing cricket."
"According to some people, the reason we lost is because there was just too much
pressure on our players."
"You know what they say. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
"I have heard that expression before. But I forget what it means."
"It means if you can't handle a difficult situation, then leave."
"In other words, if the players can't handle the pressure, they should just quit the game."
"Exactly! The students argued that the course was too demanding. The teachers said that
if they couldn't stand the heat, they should get out of the kitchen."
"None of our players will stay out of the kitchen. Too much money involved."
"Another reason they won't be able to stay out of the kitchen is because many of them
own restaurants!"
"The exquisite art of idleness, one of the most important things that any university can
teach." —
Oscar Wilde
March 2007
•How is the word `naďve' pronounced? (20070326)

•What is the difference between `hat' and `cap'? (20070326)
•What is the meaning of òut of kilter'? (20070326)
•What is the difference between `squirrel something away' and `squirrel out of something'?
(20070326)
•What is the meaning and origin of the idiom `dark horse'? (20070319)
•What is the meaning and origin of `white paper'? (20070319)
•What is the opposite of `feminist'? (20070319)
•Is it OK to say, Ìt was a good movie indeed'? (20070319)
•What is the meaning of `murfing'? (20070312)
•How is the word `brusque' pronounced? (20070312)
•What is the meaning of `nook and cranny'? (20070312)
•What is the reply to the question `You didn't' like him, eh?' Should it be `No, I didn't' or `Yes, I
didn't'? (20070312)
•What is the difference in meaning between `sicken at' and `sicken of'? (20070312)
•How is the word `scintilla' pronounced? (20070305)
•Which is correct? Ì think the team has a good chance of winning the tournament' or Ì think the
team have a good chance of winning the tournament'? (20070305)
•What is the meaning and origin of `make no bones about it'? (20070305)
•What is the difference in meaning between `forbear' and `forebear'? (20070305)
How is the word `naďve' pronounced?

The word consists of two syllables. The à' is pronounced like the ùy' in `guy' and `buy';
the ì' that follows sounds like the èe' in `fees', `bees', and `sees'. The final è' is silent, and the
stress is on the second syllable ìv'. This is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word. When
you say that someone is `naďve', what you mean is that the person is very trusting. He is very
inexperienced, and as a result, he doesn't know very much about the ways of the world. He
willingly believes everything that people tell him.
*Jai is naďve enough to believe that politicians are really interested in helping people.
What is the difference between `hat' and `cap'?
Both are used to cover the head of an individual. Caps usually fit tightly around the head,
and they don't have a brim — a flat edge that goes all around a hat. A cap is usually made of soft
material, and is equipped with a visor in the front. Hats, on the other hand, are grander than caps.
They vary in shape and are usually worn on formal occasions; caps are never worn to official
functions such as state dinners. Both men and women have been wearing hats for a long time. In
fact, a couple of centuries ago, a married woman had to wear a hat when she went out — this
was to let people know that she was married. Single women, on the other hand, were allowed to
go hatless.
What is the difference between `hat' and `cap'?
Both are used to cover the head of an individual. Caps usually fit tightly around the head,
and they don't have a brim — a flat edge that goes all around a hat. A cap is usually made of soft
material, and is equipped with a visor in the front. Hats, on the other hand, are grander than caps.
They vary in shape and are usually worn on formal occasions; caps are never worn to official
functions such as state dinners. Both men and women have been wearing hats for a long time. In
fact, a couple of centuries ago, a married woman had to wear a hat when she went out — this
was to let people know that she was married. Single women, on the other hand, were allowed to
go hatless.
What is the meaning of òut of kilter'?

The expression, mostly used in British English, has several different meanings. When
you say that a machine is out of kilter, what you mean is that it is not in proper working order. It
is malfunctioning.
*Our TV has been out of kilter for the past two weeks.
Other expressions which have more or less the same meaning are òn the blink' and òut
of whack'.
*Our old tape recorders are out of whack. They need to be replaced.
When you say that someone's opinion is òut of kilter', what you mean is that it is
different from those of others.
*The president's views were out of kilter with public opinion.
As for the origin, well, no one is really sure where the expression comes from.
What is the difference between `squirrel something away' and `squirrel out of
something'?
Squirrels spend most of their summer getting ready for the winter. They gather nuts and
hide them away so that they can eat them when food becomes scarce. So, when you say that
someone has `squirreled something away', what you mean is that he has hidden or stored
something away in order to use it later on.
*I'm told that Rajesh has been squirreling away money for several years now.
When you succeed in `squirreling out of something', you manage to escape doing what
you were supposed to do. You get out of a situation you do not wish to be in.
*Babu will do anything he can to squirrel out of going to the dentist.
*Listen to me! You have to do it. Don't you dare try to squirrel out of it.
"Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes." —
Lewis Grizzard
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH
What is the meaning and origin of the idiom `dark horse'?
With the World Cup matches under way, this idiom has become very popular among
sports columnists. When Bangladesh defeated New Zealand in a warm-up match, it became the
dark horse of the tournament. In the context of sports, when you say someone is a dark horse,
what you mean is that very little is known about the person's ability. Since people don't know
how well the individual plays, chances are, he may end up surprising his opponents — he may
even end up winning the tournament!
*According to my favourite columnist, there are two or three dark horses in the
tournament.
*Sanjay is a dark horse for a medal in the 200 metres event.
The expression comes from the world of horse racing. I understand that when placing a
bet on a horse, punters (people who bet on horses) take into account the animal's lineage and its
win-loss record. If this information is not available, then the bettors have no way of knowing
what the strengths and weaknesses of the animal are. They are kept in the `dark' about the
capability of the animal. Such a horse is known as a `dark horse'. The expression was first used
by Disraeli in his novel, `The Young Duke'.
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH

What is the meaning and origin of `white paper'?
We often read in newspapers that the government has issued a white paper on some
matter. A `white paper' is an official report, in which the government outlines its policy on an
issue of current concern. The report is usually not very bulky, and it is made available to the
public. Such a report began to be called `white paper' because it was bound in paper of that
colour. A couple of weeks ago, a judge said that corrupt individuals must be hanged from lamp
posts. Since there are some people of questionable reputation in Parliament, it would be
interesting to see if the government brings out a white paper regarding this matter.
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH

What is the opposite of `feminist'?
A feminist, in simplistic terms, is someone who advocates equal rights for women. A
man who believes that men should have the same rights as women is called a `hominist'. This is
not a new word. George Bernard Shaw coined it in 1903 in his preface to `Man and Superman'.
Another word that is commonly used now is `masculinist'.
Is it OK to say, Ìt was a good movie indeed'?
We often hear sentences like this. People who are fond of grammar, however, would
frown at such a sentence. They would argue that the sentence would have been grammatically
acceptable if the word ìndeed' had come immediately after the verb `was' - Ìt was indeed a good
movie'. Similarly, it is OK to say, `The behaviour of the students was indeed bad', but not `The
behaviour of the students was bad indeed.' If you wish to have ìndeed' at the end of these
sentences, then you need to put the word `very' in front of the adjective good/bad.
*It was a very good movie indeed.
*The behaviour of the students was very bad indeed.
"The only ìsm' that Hollywood believes in is plagiarism." — Dorothy Parker
What is the meaning of `murfing'?
Very often when we surf the Net for information, we end up visiting sites that we don't
really need to. We spend a lot of time moving from one site to another because we find the
contents rather interesting — though they may not provide us with the information that we
actually need! This aimless surfing of the Net that we indulge in is called `murfing'.
*Uma spent the afternoon murfing `diabetes', and ended up learning more about dowry
deaths.
Today, the word has taken on an additional meaning. `Murfing' is seen as a combination
of `mobile' and `surfing'. With advances in technology, it is now possible to surf the Net on your
mobile phone.
How is the word `brusque' pronounced?
There are different ways of pronouncing this word. The Americans pronounce the ù' like
the ù' in `cut', `hut', and `but', while the British pronounce it like the òo' in `cool', `fool', and
`pool'. The final `que', in both cases, is pronounced like the `sk' in `mask', `task', and `flask'.
When you say that someone's behaviour is `brusque', what you mean is that the person is rather
curt — in other words, rude or rough. The person doesn't say much, but when he speaks, he
sounds rude.
*Don't worry! I'm not going to be put off by his brusque replies.
The word `brusque' comes from the Italian `brusco' meaning `sour' or `sharp'. The same
word was also used to refer to a prickly plant (`butcher's broom'). Perhaps it was in this sense
that `brusque' was used when it was borrowed into English — someone as disagreeable as the
butcher's broom.
What is the meaning of `nook and cranny'?
The word `nook' rhymes with `hook', `book', and `cook'. Since the 14th century, the word
has been used to refer to a remote corner or secluded spot. The à' in `cranny' is like the à' in
àpple', ànt', and àdd'. A `cranny' is a crack or an opening of some kind — for example, a crack
in the wall can be referred to as a `cranny'. When you say that you have looked for something in
every nook and cranny, what you mean is that you have looked for it everywhere.
*The children looked for the ball in every nook and cranny, but they couldn't find it.
What is the reply to the question `You didn't' like him, eh?' Should it be `No, I
didn't' or `Yes, I didn't'?
If you would like to agree with the speaker, and say that you did not like the person, then
the standard reply to the question is, `No, I didn't'. You do not say, `Yes, I didn't like him.' If you
wish to indicate agreement with a negative statement, you normally say, `No', and not `Yes'.
*Your sister is not an easy person to work with, is she? No, she isn't.
What is the difference in meaning between `sicken at' and `sicken of'?
Sometimes, the very thought of something makes you sick; you are horrified or repulsed
by it. That's what the expression `sicken at' means.
*The children sickened at the idea of having to clean public toilets.
When you `sicken of' something, you get bored or tired of it. In other words, you get sick
of it. It is also possible to sicken of a person.
*Many students were beginning to sicken of the strike.
"All the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal, or fattening." — Alexander
Woollcott
How is the word `scintilla' pronounced?

The first syllable `scin' is pronounced like the word `sin', and the second is pronounced
like the word `till'. The final à' is like the à' in `china', and the main stress is on the second
syllable. Scintilla means àn extremely small amount'.
I wouldn't worry if I were you. There isn't a scintilla of truth in what he is saying.
Which is correct? Ì think the team has a good chance of winning the tournament'
or Ì think the team have a good chance of winning the tournament'?
Both are correct. It depends on how you view the team. If you think of the team as
consisting of several individuals, then you use the plural àre'. If, on the other hand, you think of
the members of the team as forming a single unit, then you use the singular ìs'. `Committee',
`jury', and `public' are examples of nouns that can be used with both singular and plural verbs.
Here are two more.
The government are hoping to lower the interest rates by next month.
My family wants me to go abroad and do a PhD.
What is the meaning and origin of `make no bones about it'?
When you say that someone makes no bones about something, what you mean is that the
person is very frank about it; he speaks plainly, and does not attempt to hide the truth. For
example, if a person makes no bones about a scandal in his past, he talks about it candidly — at
times, leaving the listener embarrassed!
The teachers made no bones about their dissatisfaction with the contents of the article.
Radha made no bones about her dislike for crossword puzzles.
Some scholars believe that the idiom comes from games played with `dice'. During the
early 14th century, dice were made from bones; therefore, it comes as no surprise that the slang
term for these small cubes was `bones'. I understand that even today, it is common practice
among gamblers to talk to their dice and blow kisses on them before throwing them on the table.
When a person makes `no bones about it', he rolls the dice without really doing any of these
things. In other words, he doesn't plead with the dice to give him a particular number. This is just
one of the explanations for the origin of the idiom.
What is the difference in meaning between `forbear' and `forebear'?
`Forebear' is a noun, and `forbear' is a verb. It is also possible to spell the noun, `forbear'.
When used as a noun, the word means àncestor'; the stress, in this case, is on the first syllable.
The word is considered literary.
Thiru has every intention of returning to the land of his forebears.
When used as a verb, `forbear' means `refrain from'. In this case, the stress is on the
second syllable, `bear'. The past tense of `forbear' is `forbore'.
The witness turned hostile and forbore to answer many of the questions.
"I never married because I have three pets at home that answer the same purpose as a
husband - a dog that growls all morning, a parrot that swears all afternoon, and a cat that
comes home late at night." — Marie Corelli
February 2007

•What is the meaning of `mealy mouthed'? (20070219)
•What is the meaning and origin of `to read the riot act'? (20070219)
•Is it OK to say, Ìt costs very much money'? (20070219)
•What is the difference between òdorous' and òdious'? (20070219)
•What is the meaning of `wimpy'? (20070212)
•What is the meaning of `subaltern'? (20070212)
•What is the difference between ìmpulsive' and `compulsive'? (20070212)
Know Your English
"Where have you been? I've been waiting for over half an hour."
"I'm sorry. I had the misfortune of running into my new neighbour. He... "
"You didn't like him, eh?"
"No, I didn't. I found his manner very off-putting."
"Off-putting? Don't think I've heard the expression before. What does it mean?"
"When you say that someone's behaviour is òff-putting', what you mean is that it is
rather strange or unpleasant."
"Since the behaviour is unpleasant, there is no way you can like the guy!"
"Exactly! Here's an example. The strong language used in the letter was off-putting."
"The behaviour of teenagers nowadays is off-putting."
"You're beginning to sound like my father! Not all of them are bad, you know. Tell me...
."
"First, you tell me. How do you pronounce the word c..u..s..s..e..d?
"Well that depends on the meaning of the..."
"This article talks about a cussed old man."
"In that case, the first syllable `cuss' rhymes with the words `fuss' and `bus'. The èd' that
follows sounds like the èd' in `wanted', `hunted', and `slanted'. The main stress is on the first
syllable."
"But what does the word mean?"
"When you refer to an individual as being `cussed', what you mean is that he is very
stubborn; he doesn't readily agree or cooperate with people."
"I see. So a cussed person is someone who doesn't help others?"
"You could say that! That's one of the meanings of the word. `Cussed' is considered
rather old fashioned, and is normally used in informal contexts."
"And it's probably used to show disapproval!"
"Exactly! Here's an example. Gayathri, my cousin's daughter, is so cussed that she always
does the opposite of what her parents tell her to."
"Sounds good. Anyway, what is the article you are reading? Is it interesting?"
"It's an article on places that one can visit during the summer. Tell me, what does the
expression `teeming with' mean?"
"When you say that the river is teeming with fish, what you mean is that the river is full
of fish."
"In other words, `teeming with' means in great numbers."
"Yes, that's right! It also means that the people or animals are moving around quite a bit."
"I see. How about this example? I'm told that during summer, most hill stations are
usually teeming with tourists."
"Sounds good. So, tell me, what do you think... ."
"It is also possible to use the expression `teem with' figuratively. For example, Sujatha
says her mind is teeming with ideas."
"That's what Vinay, our school cricket captain, says as well! He believes... "
"Vinay? You mean that chunky boy is the captain of your school team?"
"Chunky? What does it mean? Does it mean `fat'?"
"Not necessarily. When you say that someone is `chunky', what you mean is that the
person is rather short and heavy."
"In other words, he is stocky!"
"Exactly! The person is broad built. For example, according to the coach, some of our
superstars are chunky."
"Remember, the word is normally used in informal contexts."
"I will, oh chunky one!"
"Doing nothing is very hard to do... .you never know when you're finished!" — Leslie
Nielsen
What is the meaning of `mealy mouthed'?
We often meet people who are hesitant to say what is on their mind. When something
unpleasant happens, they refuse to speak plainly or openly about the matter. When you say that
someone is `mealy mouthed', what you mean is that the individual is not frank or sincere. He is
not brave enough or honest enough to speak his mind. The term is normally used to show
contempt for an individual.
*Jai is a young, mealy-mouthed politician that people just love to hate.
Food that is dry and powdery is often referred to as being `mealy'. So when you say that
someone is `mealy-mouthed', what you mean is that the person has something dry and powdery
in his mouth. He is therefore unable to speak clearly. According to scholars, the expression
comes from the German `Mehl im Maule behalten', meaning `to carry a meal in the mouth'.
What is the meaning and origin of `to read the riot act'?
When you read someone the riot act, what you are doing is giving him a severe scolding.
You are angrily telling the individual that if the same thing happens again, he will get into
serious trouble.
*Listen, you guys! If you don't clean this mess up, the coach will read you the riot act.
The Riot Act was a law that came into effect in Britain in 1715. This law had to be passed
because of the unstable political situation in the country. The Riot Act made it illegal for 12 or
more people to assemble in public places. Whenever a group gathered, it was the job of the
Magistrate or the policeman to stand in front of the crowd and read aloud the Act. If the people
did not disperse after hearing the proclamation, they were arrested and put in prison, sometimes
for several years!
Is it OK to say, Ìt costs very much money'?
No, it isn't. Normally with verbs like `cost', èat' and `pay', we generally don't use `very
much' - especially in affirmative sentences. We cannot say, Ì ate very much ice cream' or Ì had
to pay very much'. We normally use à lot' with these verbs. For example, we say, Ì ate a lot of
ice cream', Ì had to pay a lot in taxes', and `The new TV costs a lot'. It is, however, possible to
use `very much' with these verbs in questions.
Did the new TV cost very much?
Did you have to pay very much as rent?
One can also use `cost' and `pay' with `very much' in negative sentences. For example, it
is grammatically acceptable to say, Ìt doesn't cost very much' and `You don't really have to pay
very much.'
What is the difference between òdorous' and òdious'?

When you say that someone is òdious', you are implying that the person is extremely
unpleasant. The individual deserves our contempt and hatred. The word is normally used in
formal contexts, and can be used with things as well.
*Ritu is certainly the most odious teenager that I've ever met.
The word òdorous' is related to òdour', meaning `smell'. When you say that something
is òdorous' what you mean is that it has a strong and distinctive smell. The smell can be either
pleasant or unpleasant.
"The word `politics' is derived from the word `poly' meaning `many', and the word `ticks',
meaning `blood sucking parasites'." — Larry Hardman
What is the meaning of `wimpy'?
When you call someone a `wimp', you mean that he is a very weak and timid individual;
he is spineless. Other words that have more or less the same meaning are `drip' and `wuss'.
*Don't be such a wimp, Raju. Just go ahead and take the plunge.
*How can you ask someone wimpy like Karthick to be the next President?
The expression `wimp out' is being used nowadays in informal contexts to mean the same
thing as `chicken out'. When you `wimp out' of doing something, you get out of doing it because
you are very scared.
*Sagar said that he would go bungee jumping with me. At the last minute, he wimped
out.
*If you're serious about doing it, let me know. I don't want you to wimp out.
According to some scholars, the word `wimpy' comes from the word `whimper'. Others
believe that it comes from the name of a character in a well-known cartoon show, `Popeye'. J.
Wellington Wimpy, affectionately called `Wimpy', is Popeye's friend. Unlike the star of the
show, there's nothing heroic about this roly-poly character. Wimpy is spineless; he never
participates in any of the fights that Popeye is constantly getting himself into. The only thing
Wimpy enjoys doing is eating hamburgers! "I'd gladly pay you tomorrow for a hamburger today"
is his favourite line.
What is the meaning of `subaltern'?
It means `subordinate'. The word was originally a term used in the army to refer to any
commissioned officer below the rank of a captain. In British English, the à' and the è' are
pronounced like the à' in `china', and the main stress is on the first syllable. In American
English, the ù' and the è' are like the à' in `china', and the à' is like the àu' in àught' and
`caught'. The main stress, in this case, is on the second syllable. Nowadays, the term is used to
refer to the underprivileged or the disadvantaged.
What is the difference between ìmpulsive' and `compulsive'?
Some people are compulsive liars. What this means is that these individuals are addicted
to lying; they just cannot stop lying. Lying is an obsession for them. Similarly, a person who is a
compulsive gambler has to gamble; he cannot refrain from gambling. Even when he has run up a
huge debt, he will beg, borrow or steal money and continue to gamble. He will be unable to kick
the habit.
*It was during the honeymoon that he realised that his wife was a compulsive eater.
Something that you do ìmpulsively', you do spontaneously. When a fast bowler bowls a
bouncer, most batsmen impulsively duck. You may lie impulsively on an occasion; this doesn't
mean that you lie all the time. In other words, you are not a `compulsive liar'. You are not
constantly thinking about lying — it just happens. A compulsive smoker or gambler constantly
craves for the things that he is addicted to.
"A woman's mind is cleaner than a man's. She changes it more often." — Oliver
Herford
Know your English
"Your company seems to be doing quite badly. According to my cousin... "

"Have you come here to cheer me up or make me feel even more depressed?"
"Sorry! How did your boss react when people started selling their shares?"
"He didn't turn a hair."
"Didn't turn a hair, eh? How could he? Your boss is completely bald!"
"He's as bald as a coot, isn't he? When you say,..."
"What is a coot? Is it an animal of some kind?"
"It's a bird. And... "
"When you say that someone is as bald as a coot, what you probably mean is that the
person is completely bald. Am I right?"
"One hundred per cent. My neighbour is as bald as a coot."
"My twenty-five year old cousin is as bald as a coot. We've been telling him to wear a
wig."
"Maybe someone should tell Sehwag to wear one as well. Ever since he started losing
hair, he's stopped scoring runs."
"Maybe he's related to Samson! Anyway, what does `didn't turn a hair' mean?"
"When you give someone bad news and he doesn't show any emotion, you say, `he didn't
turn a hair'."
"When my boss was told that the union members were going on strike, he didn't turn a
hair."
"He's a cool customer, isn't he?"
"He certainly is. I wouldn't want his job, though. He has to take a lot quick decisions. I
want a job where I don't have to take any. A job... "
"Then become a Supreme Court Judge. The only time he takes a quick decision is when
he has to decide whether Doordarshan should be given telecast rights for a cricket match."
"You have a point there."
"Turn on the TV, will you? I want to... "
"There's something wrong with it."
"It's not even a year old. It's still in guarantee, isn't it?"
"You don't say that something is ìn guarantee', but ùnder guarantee'. Yes, the TV is still
under guarantee."
"How about this example? I have to remind my father that the air conditioner is still
under guarantee."
"Good example. By the way, the stress in guarantee is on the final syllable. Not on the
first. How is your friend Sunita doing?"
"She's doing great! She's got a job in a call centre and is working alongside of Arun and
Sarah."
"She works alongside Arun and Sarah. You don't say àlongside of'. For example, the
children took great delight in working alongside the clowns."
"Senior citizens were seen fighting alongside soldiers."
"We jogged alongside the Olympic champion..."
"I understand how to use àlongside' now. So, please stop. Tell me, are you in the mood
for a movie?"
"A movie, eh? Not a bad idea! Going out might do me a world of good. It might help me
overcome my depression. Can you wait for a while? I'll take a bath, and then... "
"Take your bath? Shouldn't you say, Ì'll have my bath'?
"You can either `take a bath' or `have a bath'. Both are acceptable. The British say `have a
bath', while Americans say, `take a bath'."
"OK then, you have your bath. While I'm waiting, I'll write a letter."
"A letter? To whom?"
"To Sehwag. I'm going to tell him to wear a wig."
"If you want to make God laugh, tell him your future plans." — Woody Allen
January 2007
•What is the meaning and origin of the idiom "let the chips fall where they may"?
(20070129)
•How is the word `succulent' pronounced? (20070129)
•What is the difference between `noticeable' and `notable'? (20070129)
•What is the meaning of `chatterati'? (20070129)
•What is the meaning and origin of the expression `to curry favour'? (20070122)
•Which is correct? Ènter a room' or Ènter into a room'? (20070122)
•What is the difference between `backward' and `backwards'? (20070122)
•Is it OK to say, Ìrregardless of what you say, I plan to marry him'? (20070108)
•What is the meaning of `devil-may-care-attitude'? (20070108)
•What is the difference between `murder' and `manslaughter'? (20070108)
•Is it correct to say, `come to here'? (20070108)
•What is the meaning of the word àffability'? (20070108)
What is the meaning and origin of the idiom "let the chips fall where they may"?
This is an expression that is mostly used in American English. When you say `let the
chips fall where they may', what you mean is, do whatever you have to do without worrying too
much about the consequences of your action. In other words, do the right thing and don't worry
about the fallout. Let things happen naturally; do not make an attempt to try to control
everything.
*The minister said that he would speak from the heart, and let the chips fall where they
may.
The `chips' has nothing to do with the chips we normally eat. This idiom comes from the
world of logging. When you chop down a tree using an axe, every time you hit the tree, pieces of
wood (chips) scatter. While you are cutting, you do not worry about the various chips flying
around; you don't really care where they land. As a cutter, you remain focussed on the task at
hand — which is to chop down the tree.
How is the word `succulent' pronounced?
The `succ' is pronounced like the word `suck'. The sound that follows is like the `y' in
`yes' and `yellow', and the following ù' is like the ù' in `pull', `full', and `bull'. The è' in the
third syllable is like the à' in `china', and the main stress is on the first syllable. The word is
normally used in relation to meat, fruit and vegetables. Food that is `succulent' is very juicy and
good to eat.
*Shalini placed the succulent fruit on top of the ice cream and served it to the guest.
What is the difference between `noticeable' and `notable'?
When you say that something is `noticeable', what you mean is that it is apparent. In
other words, it is obvious; it can be seen or `noticed' by others.
*There is a noticeable improvement in the champion's backhand.
*What is noticeable is that the two brothers just can't stand each other.
Anything or anyone that is important or interesting is `notable'. The word is normally
used with people who are well known. It can also be used to refer to their impressive
accomplishments.
*Winning the Grand Slam twice is one of his notable achievements.
`Notables' is normally used to refer to important or powerful people.
*Many of the local notables decided to stay away from the event.
What is the meaning of `chatterati'?
`Chatterati' is a combination of `chatter' and `literati'. The word `literati', as you probably
know, refers to the educated people who take a great interest in literature. `Chatterati' is a term
used by journalists to refer to people (columnists, talk show hosts, self-proclaimed pundits, etc)
who love letting the world know what their opinion on something is — it doesn't really matter to
these people whether or not they know anything about the subject being discussed! Needless to
say, the word is used to show disapproval.
*What does the chatterati have to say about the new policy?
"Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost how it
feels about dogs." — Christopher Hampton
What is the meaning and origin of the expression `to curry favour'?
When you `curry favour with someone' you try to gain a person's approval by making use
of flattery. You attempt to win the individual's support by talking to him rather politely, very
often resorting to insincere praise. The expression is normally used to show disapproval.
*Prakash is trying to curry favour with his uncle again.
The `curry' in the expression has nothing to do with the curry we eat. This curry comes
from the world of horse riding. People who take care of horses make use of a `curry-comb' to rub
the animal down. It is from this, that we get the expression `to curry', meaning `to groom a
horse'. In other words, the verb `to curry' means to rub down a horse. The word `favour' in the
idiom has got nothing to do with the favour we know. It is, in fact, a corruption of the French
name `Favel' (also spelt `Fauvel'). Favel is the name of a cunning centaur that appears in a
French story written in the 14th century. A `centaur', as you probably know, is an animal that is
half man and half horse. In the story, people who wanted to be on the good side of the evil Favel,
used to flatter him and also rub him down. In other words, the characters in the story used to
`curry Favel'. In fact, the original expression was `to curry favel'. Since `favel' sounded like
`favour', native speakers of English started saying, `to curry favour'.
Which is correct? Ènter a room' or Ènter into a room'?
When you walk into a room, you ènter' it. You do not ènter into' it. You normally ènter'
a room, building or country.
*As usual, Chandru entered the room with a smile on his face.
*The student wasn't allowed to enter the country without a valid visa.
Ènter into' is normally used in relation to `conversation', àgreement', `discussion', etc.
This is just one of the ways of using the expression.
*After three days of fighting, the two companies entered into an agreement.
*I hope to enter into a discussion with the leaders of the strike.
What is the difference between `backward' and `backwards'?
In terms of meaning, there is no difference. For example, you can say, `The absent
minded professor had put his shirt on backwards.' It is also possible to use `backward' in the
sentence. The British generally tend to use `backwards', while the Americans use `backward'. It
is very much like the use of the words `toward' and `towards'. Americans prefer `toward', while
the British favour `towards'. When used as an adjective (that is when used before a noun),
however, you can only use `backward'. In the sentences given below, we cannot use `backwards'.
*The children walked out the cave without a backward glance.
*Sandhya took a couple of deep breaths before doing her three backward flips.
"I have never married because I have three pets that answer the same purpose as a
husband. I have a dog that growls all morning, a parrot that swears all afternoon, and a cat that
comes home late at night." — Marie Corell
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH

Is it OK to say, Ìrregardless of what you say, I plan to marry him'?
Ìrregardless' is a word that has caused a great deal of controversy. It has the same
meaning as `regardless'; it is a word that is mostly used in informal contexts in America English.
According to experts, it is a blend of ìrrespective' and `regardless'. The word is considered
non-standard, and hence not all dictionaries include it. This is because the word ìrregardless'
consists of two negatives; the prefix ìr' means `not', and the suffix `less' means `without'. Avoid
using the word.
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH

What is the meaning of `devil-may-care-attitude'?
A person who has a very casual attitude about things in general is said to have a
devil-may-care attitude. This individual is rather carefree, and doesn't get terribly worked up if
things don't go according to plan. He is rather reckless and doesn't really worry about the
consequences. The expression is considered to be rather old fashioned. It is also possible to say,
`devil-may-care manner'.
*When it comes to his studies, Sandeep has a devil-may-care attitude.
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH

What is the difference between `murder' and `manslaughter'?
In both cases, you perform an illegal act; you end up taking someone's life! When you
`murder' someone, the act of killing the individual is deliberate or intentional. Usually, it is
planned, and is carried out in a cold-blooded manner. It is for this reason that the punishment for
murder is very severe. In the case of manslaughter, the act of killing may or may not be
intentional. You could end up killing someone quite accidentally. If your kill your aunt or uncle
because you want their property, then it is murder. If you run over a pedestrian, it is
manslaughter. When you kill someone in self-defence, it is manslaughter, and not murder.
*The murders in Noida have upset many people in our country.
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH

Is it correct to say, `come to here'?
No, it isn't. You generally say, `Come here', and not `come to here'. There are a number
of common words in English, such as `here', `there', `home', ùp', `down', ùpstairs', and
`downstairs' which are not preceded by the word `to'.
*The children ran upstairs/downstairs. (Not `ran to upstairs/downstairs')
*The CEO asked us to come here. (Not `come to here')
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH

What is the meaning of the word àffability'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The first à' is pronounced like the à' in `cat',
`bat', and `hat'. The à' in the second syllable is like the à' in `china'; and the final `bility' is like
the `bility' in àbility', `capability', and `stability'. The main stress is on the third syllable `bi'. A
person who is àffable' is very pleasant and friendly. Such a person is usually very courteous
whenever he talks to someone.
*Many students find the new teacher's affability very irritating.
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire P.R. officers." — Daniel J.
Boorstin
Know your English

"Hey, why are you taking out your walking shoes? Planning to go somewhere?"
"Planning to go for an early morning walk. Are you game?"
"Game? Are you asking me if I'm willing to come along?"
"Exactly! If someone is `game' for something, then he is eager and willing to do it. For
example, Sujatha is game for anything that involves a bit of adventure."
Now that you have started exercising again, how about playing table tennis this evening?
Are you game for it?"
"Would love to play, but I can't? I'm taking my bike to the mechanic. It has... "
"To the mechanic? I thought you went last week!"
"That's right! I did go. The guy has done a slipshod job. So, I need to go back and... "
"The guy has done a what? What did you say?"
"S..l..i..p..s..h..o..d. The ò' in the second syllable sounds like the ò' in `hot' and `got'. The
main stress is on the first syllable `slip'. Do you know what slipshod means?"
"It probably means sloppy or careless."
"That's very good! That's exactly what the word means. Anything that is `slipshod' has
been done in a careless way. For example, please don't ask Praveen to write the report. He is a
slipshod writer."
"Let's talk about the slipshod work of your mechanic. How much did you pay him?"
"Two thousand five hundred."
"Two thousand five hundred! Last week, you said two thousand."
"That was the ballpark figure he'd given me. When things... "
"Ballpark figure? What does it mean?"
"When you give someone a `ballpark figure' or a `ballpark estimate', you give them an
approximate figure."
"In other words, you give them a rough estimate?"
"That's right! There must have been 500 people at the party. That's just a ballpark
estimate."
"How much do you think it'll cost to go on a cruise? Give me a ballpark figure."
"I haven't the faintest idea. If you were to sell those things you have on the table, you'll
have enough money for a ticket."
"No way! I won't get anything for bric-a-brac."
"Bric-a-brac? What does it mean?"
"The small ornamental objects which people collect, and which are of no value are called
bric-a-brac. For example, Bala clutters his office table with a lot of bric-a-brac."
"My cousin Ananya's house is filled with bric-a-brac."
"She just loves the Australian cricket team, doesn't she?"
"Yes, that's right! Right now, she's cock-a-hoop about the way Ponting and his men have
won back the Ashes."
"Cock-a-hoop? Does it mean extremely pleased or something like that?"
"Right again! When you're cock-a-hoop about something, you are extremely pleased
about what you have done. Ameya was cock-a-hoop about coming first in class."
"The two brothers were cock-a-hoop about getting a job in a really good company."
"Good example. But remember, the expression is considered old fashioned, and is mostly
used in informal contexts. So, how about the walk? You coming?"
"I'm game."
"Any organisation is like a septic tank. The really big chunks rise to the top." — John
Imhoff
December 2006
•What is the meaning and origin of `beck and call'? (20061225)

•Which is correct? `Sunita has gone off Rajender' or `Sunita has gone off with Rajender'?
(20061225)
•What is the meaning of Òrkut'? (20061225)
•Does the word `cybrarian' exist? (20061225)
•What is the meaning of àptonym'? (20061225)
•Is there such a word as àuto dentist'? (20061211)
•How is the word `honcho' pronounced, and what does it mean? (20061211)
•What is the meaning of `pull the rug from under someone's feet'? (20061211)
•Is it okay to say, "It took Mohan six months to recover from his fatal accident"? (20061211)
What is the meaning and origin of `beck and call'?
When you are at someone's `beck and call', you do whatever he wants you to. In order to
please the individual, you remain slavishly attentive to all his needs; the person's wish is your
command.The young prince was at his wife's beck and call.
There are a few reporters we know who are at the minister's beck and call.
The word `beck' is actually the shortened form of `beckon'. A `beck' is usually a silent
signal that you give someone in order to draw his attention. The signal could be a simple nod of
the head or the motioning of one's finger. Who are the people who pay a great deal of attention to
an individual's head and hand movement? Servants, of course! In the old days, servants were at
their master's beck and call. A master could get a servant to do his bidding in two different ways
— he could either `call' the servant or `beckon' him.
Which is correct? `Sunita has gone off Rajender' or `Sunita has gone off with
Rajender'?
In terms of grammar, there is nothing wrong with the two sentences; their meanings,
however, are very different. The first sentence means that Sunita no longer likes Rajender. When
you `go off someone', you stop liking him/her. It is also possible to `go off something' as well.
The expression `go off someone/something' is mostly used in British English in informal
contexts.
*Ganesh started to go off the idea of building a new house.
The second sentence, `Sunita has gone off with Rajender', suggests that Sunita has
accompanied Rajender to some place. When you `go off with someone', you run away with the
person leaving your family behind.
*The rumour is that Sridhar has gone off with Geetha.
What is the meaning of Òrkut'?
I don't know what the word means. All I know is that Orkut is the online community
provided by Google which enables people not only to keep in touch with their old friends but
also make new ones. The network is named after its Turkish creator, a Google software engineer,
Orkut Buyukkoten.
Does the word `cybrarian' exist?
Yes, the word `cybrarian' does exist; it's been around for more than a decade. The word is
a combination of `cyber' and `librarian'. A `cybrarian' is someone who makes use of the Internet
as a resource tool. His job is to be in the know as to what is available on the web; he finds,
collects, and manages whatever material is available on the Net.
*Yukti constantly surfs the Net because it's part of her job. She's the new cybrarian.
What is the meaning of àptonym'?
Sometimes, an individual's name correctly describes his occupation. This correspondence

between the name and occupation is an aptonym. John Constable (policeman), Marie House (real
estate agent), Ray Strike (union leader), and John Cutter (butcher) are examples of aptonyms.
"The difference between a bad artist and a good one is the bad artist seems to copy a
great deal; the good one really does." — William Blake
Know Your English
"Who was that on the phone?"

"It was Sujatha's cousin Rajesh. He said he'd call you back in 15 minutes."
"It must be about his CV. I promised to look at it before he sent it off to... "
"You know, he sounds a lot like a girl. In fact, I thought... "
"Yes, he is rather effeminate."
"Effeminate? Does it mean a man who sounds like a girl?"
"When you refer to a man as being effeminate, what you mean is that he is unmanly."
"In other words, an effeminate person behaves, looks, and sounds like a woman rather
than a man."
"That's right! The word is normally used with men. It is used to show disapproval. Here's
an example. The students made fun of the principal's effeminate walk."
"Tarun's effeminate manner raised eyebrows among the members of the club."
"That's a good example. Now then, shall we... "
"Let's not worry about who is effeminate and who is not. Did you manage to see the film
yesterday?"
"Unfortunately, I did. It helped me to... "
"What do you mean ùnfortunately'? It was a great movie. Everyone is raving... "
"What did you say? Could you please run that by me again?"
"Run that by you again? What are you talking about?"
"When you tell someone to run something by you again, you want him to repeat what he
said."
"I see. So if I'm in a noisy room and I don't hear what someone has said, can I say, `Could
you run that by me again'?"
"You certainly can. It is also possible to say `run that by me one more time'. What did
you have to say about the movie? Could you run that by me one more time?"
"I said it was a great movie. All my friends loved it."
"It was a sleepfest. I didn't... "
"A sleepfest? What does it mean? I don't think I've heard the expression before."
"When you say that something was a sleepfest, what you mean is that it put you to sleep."
"In other words, it was so boring that you fell asleep for a long time."
"Exactly! Here's an example. The students said that Indra's lecture on Shakespeare was a
real sleepfest."
"What did Rajesh think of the movie? Did he like it?"
"He didn't even bother to come. Said that he'd rather stay at home and read."
"Read? Not many people do that nowadays."
"I know. Anyway, don't utter the word `read' in Rajesh's presence. You'll get him on his
favourite hobby-horse. You'll never... "
"Hobby-horse? What does it mean?"
"A hobby-horse is a subject or an idea that you have very strong feelings about. You love
talking about it at great length whenever you get an opportunity to."
"How about this example? Corruption is a favourite hobby-horse of my father's."
"That's a good example. Here's another one. Deepak is usually a great person to be with.
But once he gets on his hobby-horse, he can be downright boring."
"That's true. I hate it when he talks about... "
"Could you get the phone, please?"
"You answer it. It must be Rajesh."
"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty
girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity."— Albert Einstein
Is there such a word as àuto dentist'?
Yes, the word does exist; it has been around for a few years now. You may be surprised
to know that the word `dentist' in this case does not refer to the doctor who looks after people's
teeth! As you walk along the road and look at the various parked cars, scooters and motorcycles,
what is it that strikes you? What is it that the vehicles have in common? Most of them have
`dents'; there are very few cars in India that do not have dents. An àuto dentist' is someone who
repairs the dents and other minor damages in cars. Auto means `car' and `dentist' means òne
who repairs dents'.
How is the word `honcho' pronounced, and what does it mean?
The first ò' is pronounced like the ò' in `hot', `pot', and `dot'; the second sounds like the
ò' in `so', `go', and `no'. The `ch' is like the `ch' in `chips', `cheap', and `chew'. The main stress is
on the first syllable `hon'. The word is considered slang, and is mostly used in American English
in informal contexts. It can be used both as a noun and a verb. Anyone who is the boss or the
leader can be referred to as a `honcho'. The word is of Japanese origin and can be used with both
men and women.
Meera, the top honcho in the accounts department, listened patiently to our problem.
When used as a verb, `honcho' means to manage or direct something.
Did Revathi tell you who is likely to honcho the project?
Amrit is honchoing preparations for the forthcoming seminar.
What is the meaning of `pull the rug from under someone's feet'?
If someone were to pull the rug on which you are standing, what do you think is likely to
happen? You will probably fall and hurt yourself, and in the process create problems for
yourself. When someone pulls the rug from under your feet, what he is doing is taking away the
support or help that you have been receiving. By taking away your support rather unexpectedly,
he creates all kinds of problems for you.
Prabhu pulled the rug from under his children's feet by denying them their allowance.
The company was losing money. It decided to pull the rug from under the ill-fated
project.
Is it okay to say, "It took Mohan six months to recover from his fatal accident"?
No, it isn't. The word `fatal' usually has a negative connotation. An accident or an illness
that is described as `fatal', usually results in the death of an individual. As you probably know, it
is difficult for a person to recover from death!
The ailing chief minister suffered a fatal heart attack around midnight.
Several policemen were fatally wounded during the encounter with the militants.
The word `fatal' can also be used to mean ùndesirable' or `causing disaster'.
The captain made the fatal mistake of asking Agarkar to bowl the final over.
Sahu's injury proved fatal to our plans of winning the trophy.
"Women are like cell phones. They like to be held and talked to, but push the wrong
button, and you'll be disconnected."Unknown
Know Your English
"Come on in! Would you like some sweets?"

"Sweets? What's the occasion? Did you get a promotion?"
"No, the sweets are from my Bengali neighbour. He threw a party because Ganguly is
back in the team."
"Lots of people are talking about Dada. Weren't you surprised that he was selected?"
"Not at all. Haven't you been listening to the so-called experts? He's been touted as the
ideal partner for Sachin. Of course, not everyone."
"Touted? What does it mean?"
"When you tout someone as something, you deliberately praise the individual in order to
convince people that he is important or good. For example, Sekhar is being touted as the next
boxing champion."
"The word `tout' can also mean to sell something. For example, now that Ganguly is back
in the team, many multinationals will use him to tout their products."
" Let's talk about something a little more interesting. Like your recent trip, for example.
Did you manage to see all the monuments you'd planned to?"
"Yes, I did see most of them. But I was rather disappointed. You see... "
"Were they not as beautiful as you had expected them to be?"
"Unfortunately, many of them were in a state of disrepair."
"State of disrepair? What does it mean?"
"When you say that something is in a `state of disrepair', what you mean is that it's in
very bad condition. It's in a state of neglect. Repairs need to be carried out."
"I see. We haven't had anybody living in the old house opposite ours for quite some time.
It's in a state of disrepair."
"Good example. It's also possible to say, `fall into disrepair'. The old library building fell
into disrepair after it was closed."
" By the way, does one `sit in a chair' or `sit on a chair'?"
"It depends on the type of chair, I guess! Why do you want to know?"
"Because I've had another one of my silly bets with Sujatha. I told her that it's always
ìn'."
"As I said, you can either sit in a chair or on it. I read somewhere that you normally `sit
in' a chair that has arms."
"And `sit on' is used with chairs which don't have arms! Is that what you're saying?"
"That's what I've heard. Did you manage to see the new.."
"Talking about managing, how is your new accountant?"
"He seems to be doing a good job. My boss just loves him. He says that the man has the
ability to think on his feet."
"He can't think when he's sitting down, eh?"
"Please, don't try to be funny. You know you were never good at it. When you say that
someone can think on his feet, what ..."
"I know what the expression means. When someone thinks on his feet, he reacts very
quickly to a situation. You mean that he is mentally alert."
"Especially in a situation when things are happening very quickly."
"The reason why Priya is being sent to represent the company is because my boss feels
she has the ability to think on her feet."
"That's a good example. Ganpat prides himself on his ability to think on his feet."
"Well, tell him to take some pride in his house as well. It's in a state of disrepair."
"Never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut." — Paul Miller
November 2006
•What is the meaning of Èeyorish'? (20061127)

•What is the meaning and origin of `Garrison finish'? (20061127)
•What is the difference between `break a sweat' and `break into a sweat'? (20061127)
•What is the difference between Ì read your article' and Ì did read your article'? (20061127)
•What is the meaning and origin of `cakewalk'? (20061113)
•What is the difference between `magazine' and `journal'? (20061113)
•How is the word èxorcism' pronounced? (20061113)
•What is the meaning and origin of òn cloud nine'? (20061113)
•What is the meaning and origin of `ding-dong battle'? (20061106)
•Which is correct? `Deter to do' or `deter from doing' something? (20061106)
•Is it okay to say, `Some of the animals have become extinguished'? (20061106)
•What is the meaning of èater's coma'? (20061106)
•Correction (20061106)
What is the meaning of Èeyorish'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The èe' is like the èe' in `feel', `peel', and `heel';
the following ò' sounds like the ò' in `hot', `cot', and `dot'. Eeyore is the name of one of the
characters in A. A. Milne's children's classic, `Winnie the Pooh'. Eeyore is a donkey; he is very
pessimistic, and makes cynical comments about a lot of things. He is seldom happy. Therefore,
when you say that someone is Èeyorish', what you mean is that the person is gloomy or
depressed.
*What's wrong with Malini? Why is she so Eeyorish this morning?
What is the meaning and origin of `Garrison finish'?
Early this year, our one-day team pulled off a couple of sensational victories. When we
thought that the match had been lost, someone or the other did something incredible and helped
the team win the match. This come-from-behind victory is called `Garrison finish'.
*It was a Garrison finish. Our team scored three goals in the last two minutes.
The expression comes from the world of horse racing. Edward H. Garrison, nicknamed
`Snapper', was a famous American jockey who raced in the late 19th century. He was famous for
his spectacular come-from-behind victories. Whenever he participated in a race, Garrison always
began by staying at the back of the pack. He made his move (he speeded up his horse) only
during the last stretch of the race. Since he always won his races by staying back till the last
minute, a come-from-behind victory began to be called `Garrison finish'.
What is the difference between `break a sweat' and `break into a sweat'?
When you do something `without breaking a sweat', you do it without any difficulty. You
find the task so easy that you don't have to exert yourself at all; you perform the task very easily
or quickly. There is no need for you to sweat.
*Rahul answered all the questions without breaking a sweat.
Another expression that has more or less the same meaning is `no sweat'.
*Listen, I'll carry the two large suitcases. No sweat at all.
When you `break into a sweat', you actually start sweating. And when is it that we begin
to sweat? When we exert ourselves or when we are extremely nervous or frightened about
something.
*The children broke into a sweat when they heard strange noises coming from the
bedroom.
*Uma broke into a sweat when she saw the policeman walking towards her.
What is the difference between Ì read your article' and Ì did read your article'?
The first sentence is a statement. It could be the reply to the question, `Did you read my
article?' The second sentence is what you would tell someone if they didn't believe that you had
actually read the article. The `did' is used to add emphasis; you are saying that you have indeed
read the article. You are not lying.
"I love mankind; it's the people I can't stand." — Charles Schulz
Know your English
"Did you take part in the 10 km run on Friday?"

"I certainly did. You should have seen me. I had my game face on, and the... ."
"You had your game face on? What are you talking about?"
"When Dravid and Tendulkar bat, they look very serious most of the time. They don't
joke around. This serious look that a sportsman has while he is on the field is referred to as his
`game face'."
"You mean the look of determination and concentration is called `game face'?"
"I guess you could say that! Here's an example. Don't be fooled by his jokes. Once he's
got his game face on and steps onto the field, Chethan is a completely different person."
"You should see me when I have my game face on. I'm... ."
"Can we talk about something else, please?"
"Sure! Let's talk about the marathon. Did you manage to run the distance easily?"
"Not really! Had a tough time, but I managed."
"It's quite an achievement, actually. I'm impressed. So, how did you celebrate your
achievement?"
"Celebrate! There was no celebration. I hotfooted it home. I felt so... ."
"You hotfooted it home? Does it mean you went home immediately?"
"When you hotfoot it to some place, you get there quickly. You do not delay."
"I see. In other words, when you `hotfoot it', you run."
"You run or walk quickly. Here's an example. When the car broke down, the CEO and his
wife were forced to hotfoot it to the airport."
"I got up late yesterday. So I had to hotfoot it to school."
"Good example. The expression `hotfoot it' is mostly used in informal contexts."
" Tell me, what did you do once you got back home?"
"All I know is that I was dead to the world for the next fifteen hours or so."
"Dead to the world? What do you mean? Do you mean you were unconscious or
something?"
"When you say that someone is dead to the world, what you mean is that the person is
sound asleep, and you're finding it rather difficult to wake him up."
"I see. How about this example? After doing all the karate exercises, Tapas was dead to
the world."
"Sounds good. Sujatha was dead to the world. We were just unable to wake her up."
"How did Sujatha's mother react when she was unable to wake her up? She must have ...
."
"Don't think she told Sujatha anything. In the evening, she came to our place and
bellyached about how lazy her daughter had become."
"She bellyached about how lazy her daughter had become! Does it mean she complained
about how lazy her daughter had become?"
"Very good. When you `bellyache', you complain in a whining manner."
"In other words, you sound as if you are moaning."
"Exactly! For example,,... ."
"Wait! Let me try. Whenever I run into Pankaj, he bellyaches about all the work he has to
do."
"Good example. Do you know what you call a person who is constantly complaining?"
"A bellyacher?
"Excellent! That's exactly what he is called. "
"Some of your friends tell me that you bellyache about a lot of things."
"Me, a bellyacher? Not a chance! How dare you... ."
"Hey, easy does it. Let's not get into a fight. I'd better hotfoot it down to the supermarket
before it closes."
"Lawyers are like rhinoceroses: thick skinned, short sighted, and always ready to
charge." — David Mellor
What is the meaning and origin of `cakewalk'?
When you say that the victory was a `cakewalk', what you mean is that it was very easily
achieved. You didn't have to put in too much of an effort; you won without really having to work
hard.
*Given your experience, getting the job should be a cakewalk
*The first couple of rounds of the tournament should be a cakewalk.
The `cakewalk' was a form of entertainment among African Americans. Well-dressed
couples that took part in this competition were made to walk around a cake. The pair that
performed this task most gracefully was awarded a prize. In most cases, the prize was the cake
itself; the winner used to `take the cake'. Later, the word `cakewalk' was used to refer to a
popular form of dance.
What is the difference between `magazine' and `journal'?
When first used, the word `journal' referred to a daily publication which gave an account
of the events that happened the previous day. It was like a newspaper. Nowadays, the word is
used to refer to any publication that is brought out at regular intervals. For example, a journal can
be a monthly, quarterly, etc. The articles contained in a journal are usually scholarly, serious in
nature, and deal with a specialised area. For example, we have the Journal of Linguistics, Journal
of Writing, etc. A `magazine', on the other hand, doesn't limit itself to one area; it deals with
various subjects — politics, entertainment and sports. Since the articles are meant for the general
public, they are much shorter and are usually accompanied by photographs. Òutlook',
`Frontline', and `Sportstar', are all magazines, not journals; and like the journal, they too are
brought out at regular intervals.
How is the word èxorcism' pronounced?
The èx' is pronounced like the letter `x', and the following ò' is like the òu' in òught',
`sought' and `fought'. The final ìsm' sounds like the ìsm' in `prism'. The main stress is on the
first syllable. When you èxorcise' a ghost or an evil spirit, what you do is to drive it away by
making use of magic or prayers. This act of driving away an evil spirit is called èxorcism'.
*The witch doctor tried to exorcise the evil spirit from the library.
What is the meaning and origin of òn cloud nine'?
When you say that you are on cloud nine, what you mean is that you are extremely
happy; you feel as if you are on top of the world.
*The entire team was on cloud nine after winning the championship.
No one is really sure where the expression comes from. Some believe that the original
expression was òn cloud seven', very similar to the expression `seventh heaven'. Others believe
that nine was chosen because it is considered a mystical number. According to weathermen,
`cloud nine' refers to the `cumulonimbus' or the thunderstorm cloud. This cloud often rises to
forty thousand feet; and when you are òn' such a cloud, you are literally on top of the world!
"I'm not messy. I'm organizationally challenged!" — Garfield
What is the meaning and origin of `ding-dong battle'?
Remember the nursery rhyme we learnt in school? `Ding-dong bell, pussy's in the well.'
Well the expression `ding-dong' refers to the sound that a bell makes; the back and forth motion
of the knocker hitting a bell. When you say that two participants were involved in a ding-dong
battle, what you mean is that they were involved in a long drawn out battle. The fight was intense
and there were times when each participant seemed to have the upper hand in turns. In a
ding-dong battle, it is often very difficult to predict who will emerge the winner; sometimes, the
result is inconclusive. Another expression which has more or less the same meaning is `see-saw
battle'. When you sit on the see-saw, you are up one moment, and down the other.
*The fans were hoping for a ding-dong battle. They were disappointed when the Aussies
thrashed the Indians.
Which is correct? `Deter to do' or `deter from doing' something?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of `deter'. The first è' is like the ì' in `bid', `bit'
and `sit', and the second is like the ìr' in `shirt', `bird' and `dirt'. The stress is on the second
syllable `ter'. The word `deter' is usually followed by `from' and not `to'. When you deter
someone from doing something, you discourage him from doing it. You achieve this by making
the individual realise how difficult the task may be, or by highlighting the unpleasant
consequences of performing the task. You do everything to ensure that the person no longer
wishes to continue to do what he was doing.
*Nothing you say will deter the students from joining the protestors.
Is it okay to say, `Some of the animals have become extinguished'?
The word that you probably have in mind is èxtinct', not èxtinguished'. When something
becomes extinct, it ceases to exist; you don't find it anywhere on the planet. Any living organism
can become extinct. Dinosaurs, for example, have become extinct.
*There are reasons to believe that the tiger will soon become extinct.
*Some of the animals in the rainforests are on the verge of extinction.
The word èxtinguish', on the other hand, is usually used along with the word `fire'. When
you extinguish a fire or a flame, you put it out.
*The firemen battled for three hours before they extinguished the fire.
What is the meaning of èater's coma'?

This is a type of coma that we have all experienced some time or the other. How do we
normally feel after a particularly heavy meal? Most of the time, we feel pretty sluggish; we don't
feel like doing anything. After some time, we begin to feel rather sleepy. This lazy and sleepy
feeling that we have after a heavy meal is called èater's coma'.
*If I eat everything that is on the table, I'll lapse into an eater's coma.
Correction
The `c' in `sotto voce' is pronounced like the `ch' in `child' and `chips', and not like the
`sh' in `ship' and `sheep' as indicated in last week's column.
"Try not to have a good time....this is supposed to be educational." — Charles Schulz
October 2006
•What is the meaning of `Bangalored'? (20061030)

•What is the difference between `The theatre is closed' and `The theatre has been closed'?
(20061030)
•What is the meaning and origin of `let your hair down'? (20061030)
•How is the expression `sotto voce' pronounced? (20061030)
•What is the meaning of `geek'? (20061023)
•What is the difference between ìnform of' and ìnform on'? (20061023)
•How is the word `braggadocio' pronounced? What does it mean? (20061023)
•How is the word èmaciated' pronounced? (20061002)
•What is the meaning of "run with the hare and hunt with the hounds"? (20061002)
•Is there a difference in meaning between "amuse" and "bemuse"? (20061002)
•What is the meaning of "lost in the shuffle"? (20061002)
•Which of the following is correct? "He is busy at weekends" or "He is busy on weekends"?
(20061002)
What is the meaning of `Bangalored'?
The Americans invented this word, and they have been using it quite frequently. As you
know, many multinationals, in order to save money, are outsourcing their work to cities in India.
When an American says that he has been `Bangalored', what he means is that he has lost his job
because his company has decided to move its operations to a city in India — not necessarily
Bangalore.
* According to the article, another 10,000 people will be Bangalored by the end of the
year.
It is not often that the name of a city is used as a verb. As a proud Hyderbadi, you may
wonder why the Americans chose the city of Bangalore. You must remember that during the
early stages of outsourcing, most of the companies were moving to this city — Bangalore was
then perceived as the Silicon Valley of India. The Americans' fear of losing jobs to the city of
Bangalore gave rise to another word — `Bangalorephobia'.
What is the difference between `The theatre is closed' and `The theatre has been
closed'?
The first sentence suggests that the theatre is not open at the moment; it is locked for the
time being. Chances are, it will open a little later. It has not been closed permanently. The second
sentence, on the other hand, seems to suggest that someone has forcibly closed down the theatre.
Perhaps the municipal authorities were unhappy with the safety features, and decided to shut the
place down. In this case, the closure is either permanent or for a lengthy period of time.
What is the meaning and origin of `let your hair down'?
Some people are very reserved when they are in the company of others. When you tell a
person to let his hair down, what you mean is that you want him to relax and start enjoying
himself. You want him to speak his mind.
* It was only after the completion of his last exam that Chetan let his hair down.
In the old days, women had to put their hair up in a bun during the daytime. The only
time when they could literally let their hair down and be themselves was when they were ready
to go to bed.
How is the expression `sotto voce' pronounced?
The first ò' in `sotto' is like the ò' in `hot', `got', and `pot'; the second is like the ò' in
`go', `so', and `no'. The ò' in `voce' is pronounced like the second ò' in `sotto'. The `c' that
follows is like the `sh' in `sheep', `should', and `ship'; the final è' is like the ì' in `bit', `pit', and
`hit'. The main stress is on the first syllable of `voce'. The word comes from Italian; `sotto' means
ùnder' and `voce' means `voice'. When you say something `sotto voce', you say it in a soft voice.
Whatever you say is spoken in a low volume; you speak softly out of the corner of your mouth,
so that you are not overheard by anyone. The word is considered literary, and is mostly used in
formal contexts.
* During the principal's speech, several students made snide remarks sotto voce.
"She was what we used to call a suicide blonde — dyed by her own hand." — Saul
Bellow
What is the meaning of `geek'?
This is a word mostly used in informal contexts, and it has several different meanings.
One of the meanings of `geek' is a boring individual who walks around wearing rather
unfashionable clothes. This person has little or no social skills.
*You must be nuts to ask a geek like Govind tips about fashion.
*I don't want you to invite that geek Harish to our party.
An individual who is an expert, or is very knowledgeable in his limited area of interest
(for example, computers) can also be called a geek. He is someone whose focus of interest is
rather narrow, but he knows everything about the subject.
*If it is a computer geek you require, you'd better hire Dravid. He's excellent.
*I want to learn everything on my own. I don't want some geek telling me everything.
I understand the word comes from the Dutch `geck' which means `fool'. It is in this sense
that Shakespeare used the word in some of his plays. In the 1920s, the Americans used the word
`geek' to refer to an individual in a carnival who performed bizarre acts. The original `geek' was
someone who entertained his audience by biting off a live chicken's/snake's head! With the
passage of time, the word began to be used to refer to anyone who was socially inept; whose
interests were very different from those of others.
What is the difference between ìnform of' and ìnform on'?
When someone is ìnformed of' something, he is formally told about the facts; the
information is passed on to him.
*Please be here at 2:00 o'clock tomorrow. I will inform you of my decision then.
*We were informed of the change in plans last night.
When you ìnform on' someone, you give information about the individual to the
authorities. In other words, you tattle on the person. The people in power may use the
information you provide against the person. Here are a few examples.
*If you continue to come late like this, I'm afraid that I'll have to inform on you.
*It was his own friends who informed the police on him.
How is the word `braggadocio' pronounced? What does it mean?
The first syllable is pronounced like the word `brag'; the à' in the second is like à' in
`china'. The ò' in the third and final syllable sounds like the ò' in `no', `so', and `go'. The `ci' is
like the `shi' in `ship' and `shin'. The main stress is on the third syllable `do'.
Braggadocio is a literary word and is mostly used in formal contexts. A `braggadocio', as
the word suggests, is someone who brags about himself quite a bit. He is vain and therefore talks
about his achievements in a rather proud manner. Most of the time, it is only empty boasting.
The word comes from the name of a boastful character (Braggadocchio) in Edmund Spenser's
poem `Faerie Queene'.
*Tarun came across as a braggadocio that deliberately tried to make others
uncomfortable.
*According to reporters, the Chairman's braggadocio at the meeting was a sign of
weakness, not strength.
"A statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of the nation. A politician is
a statesman who places the nation at his service."
— Georges Pompidou
Know your English
"How is the course that you've been asked to attend? Are you enjoying it?"
"Not really. It's turning out to be a Mickey Mouse course, I'm afraid."
"A Mickey Mouse course? What does it mean? Does it mean useless or something like
that?"
"If you refer to a course as being a Mickey Mouse course, what you mean is that it's a
very simple course. It's not at all challenging, and you end up learning absolutely nothing."
"According to Sujatha most colleges offer only Mickey Mouse courses."
"You met Sujatha? Did you tell her about your plan to... ."
"Yes, I did. She said that the plan was pretty idiotic. My friend who was with me was
shocked to hear her say that. To tell you the truth, so was I. There are times when I can't stand
Sujatha. She's just too blunt."
"There's nothing wrong in calling a spade a spade."
"There's nothing wrong in calling a spade a spade? What are you talking about?"
"When you call a spade a spade, you tell the truth about the matter. Even if it means
being unpleasant."
"In other words, you tell it like it is. You are very direct, no matter how unpleasant or
embarrassing... ."
"That's right! You speak plainly and frankly. My uncle always calls a spade a spade.
When I was young, whenever he found me saying or doing something stupid, he didn't hesitate
to call me an idiot."
" Tell me, is w... a... r... y pronounced the same way as w... e... a...r...y?"
"No, the two words are pronounced differently. The first syllable `w..a..r' in `w..a..r..y is
pronounced like the word `where'."
"And the final `y' is like the ì' in ìt', `bit', and `sit', I suppose?"
"You're right! In fact, that's how the final `y' in w... e... a...r...y is pronounced as well. The
èa' in the first syllable of the word sounds like the èa' in `dear', `near', and `fear'. In both `weary'
and `wary', the stress is on the first syllable."
"I see. But what is the difference in meaning between the two?"
"When you say that someone looks `weary', what you mean is that the person looks
exhausted. For example, after swimming non-stop for seven hours, the young boy looked pale
and weary."
"When you say that you have become weary of something, what you mean is that you
have become tired of it."
"In other words, you have lost your enthusiasm for it."
" Many people have become weary of the war in Iraq."
" Tell me, how... ."
"What does `wary' mean?"
"When you are wary of something, you are unsure of it, and therefore you are cautious of
it."
"Is it because you think it could be dangerous?"
"It could be dangerous or it may cause problems for you. The word can be used with
people as well. For example, most parents teach their children to be wary of strangers."
" It's also possible to `keep a wary eye' on someone or something."
"What does it mean?"
"When you keep a wary eye on someone, you watch them very carefully to see what they
are up to."
"The shareholders kept a wary eye on the developing story."
"I don't think I'll be able to keep a wary eye on anyone right now. I'm feeling sleepy."
"Being a philosopher, I have a problem for every solution." — Robert Zend
Know your English

"What's wrong? You don't look happy at all about something."
"It's the two new people in the Accounts Department. My boss... ."
"Oh yeah! You told me that you were hiring some new people. Young ones."
"We asked for young people. But my boss decided to hire some tired retreads."
"Retread? What are you talking about?"
"When you refer to someone as a retread, what you mean is that he's burnt out. He has
nothing to offer."
"In other words, he's very old."
"Not necessarily. He's a burnout. Nowadays, a lot of people burn out when they are
relatively young."
"That's true. It happens in the corporate world quite a bit. So a retread is like a retread
tyre?"
"I guess you could say that. He's been made over and is unlikely to last for a long time."
"How about this example? When the government does decide to hire new teachers, I hope
they get young people. Not a whole bunch of retreads."
"That's a good example." " It's important to remember that the word is mostly used in
informal contexts. And you never tell someone that he is a retread to his face."
"Most people working for any government agency are either retreads or clock-watchers."
"Clock-watchers? Haven't heard that expression before."
"A clock-watcher is someone... ."
"Hey, the meaning is fairly obvious. A clock-watcher is probably an employee who keeps
looking at the clock instead of doing his work."
"It needn't be an employee. It could be anyone. A student could be a clock-watcher as
well. "
"My father says that there are five clock-watchers in his department."
"You stop being a clock-watcher when you are working on a crossword puzzle, though.
You've been sitting with that one for two hours now. Why don't you give up?"
"I can't. I have only one left. Why don't you help me? I'm sure that... ."
"You know that I'm not a cruciverbalist. In fact, ... ."
"You're not a what?"
"A cruciverbalist. Someone who is skilled at doing crossword puzzles. You can... ."
"Skilled, eh? Well, in that case, I'm not a cruciverbalist. You know that I'm not very good
at solving crossword puzzles."
"But you don't have to be. A cruciverbalist can also be someone who just enjoys doing
crossword puzzles. He doesn't have to be good at it. You love torturing yourself, don't you?"
"That I do. Crossword puzzles are a great deal of fun."
"Well, help me with this one. This is the only clue that I haven't found an answer to. It's a
six-letter word which means ùnderstand'. Starts with the letter `c'."
"It's probably capish. Spelt c..a..p..i..s..h. It's a word mostly used in informal contexts."
"You're right! It is ca.., ca.. How do you pronounce the word?"
"The à' is like the à' in `china'; the following ì' is like the èe' in `fees', `bees', and
`knees'. The final `sh' is like the `sh' in `ship', `sheet', and `sheep'. The main stress is on the
second syllable. "What no wife of a writer can ever understand is that a writer is working when
he's staring out of the window." — Burton Rascoe
How is the word èmaciated' pronounced?
(J. Priyanka, Cochin)

The è' in the first syllable and the ì' in the third syllable are pronounced like the ì' in
`sit', `bit', and `kit'. The `ma' sounds like the word `may'; the `c' that follows is like the `sh' in
`ship', `shin', and `show'. The àted' at the end rhymes with `hated', waited', and `fated'. The
stress is on the second syllable `ma'. This is one way of pronouncing the word. Someone who is
èmaciated' is very weak and thin.
*The emaciated child was unable to walk for more than a minute.
What is the meaning of "run with the hare and hunt with the hounds"?
Very often when two people have an argument, they go to a third person and ask him to
be a judge. If the person is timid and is afraid to take a decision, he will end up saying that both
parties are in the right. He will support both sides of the argument because he doesn't want to
hurt the feelings of his friends; sometimes, he does this with an ulterior motive in mind. This
desire to be on friendly terms with both warring factions by supporting their arguments is what
we mean by the expression, "running with the hare and hunting with the hounds." The individual
is trying to be both the rabbit (hare) and the dog (hound). He wants to be the hunted as well the
hunter; and this is just not possible. This idiom is considered rather old fashioned.
*Latha is a very clever person. She runs with the hare and hunts with the hounds.
Is there a difference in meaning between "amuse" and "bemuse"?
Yes, there is a difference — a big difference. The two words are not synonymous, as
some people believe. When something "amuses" an individual, it makes him laugh or smile. He
finds it funny or entertaining.
*The principal found the comments made by the students very amusing.
"Bemuse", unlike amuse, has nothing to do with making people laugh. When you are
"bemused" by something, you are bewildered by it. It leaves you confused or puzzled. For
example,
*When the stranger walked into the classroom, the children looked at her with a bemused
expression.
What is the meaning of "lost in the shuffle"?
This is an expression that comes from the world of card games and is mostly used in
American English. When you shuffle a pack of cards, you mix them up; you don't know where a
particular card is. When a plan or an idea gets lost in the shuffle, it doesn't get the attention that it
deserves. The expression can be used with reference to people as well.
*In refugee camps, orphans often get lost in the shuffle and are left without food for days.
Which of the following is correct? "He is busy at weekends" or "He is busy on

weekends"?
Both are acceptable. "At weekends" is commonly used in British English; the Americans,
on the other hand, tend to use "on weekends." Use whichever expression you feel comfortable
with.
*I informed my new boss that I do not do any office related work at weekends.
*My friends and I are planning to go sailing on the weekend.
"Good resolutions are simply cheques that men draw on a bank where they have no
account." — Oscar Wilde
September 2006
•What is the meaning and origin of `you're nuts'? (20060918)

•How is the word `Renaissance' pronounced? (20060918)
•What is the difference between `He cooked a good meal' and `He cooked up a good meal'?
(20060918)
•Which is correct? `My wife knows well that I can't sing' or `My wife knows that I can't sing
well'? (20060918)
•What is the meaning of `sweep under the carpet'? (20060904)
•How is the word `faux pas' pronounced? (20060904)
•What is the meaning of àpropos', and how is the word used? (20060904)
•What is the meaning of `git'? (20060904)
•Is `pair of' followed by a singular or plural verb? (20060904)
What is the meaning and origin of `you're nuts'?
When somebody tells you that you are nuts, what they mean is that you are crazy. The
expression is mostly used in informal contexts.
* Naresh wants to invest all his savings in the stock market. The guy is nuts, I tell you.
* I wouldn't go out with that guy if I were you. My friends tell me he's nuts.
During the middle of the 19th century, the word `nut' began to be used to refer to an
individual's head. This was because some people thought that there was a similarity between the
shape of a nut and the shape of a human head! Another similarity they found was that the nut,
like the human head, was hard — and the most important thing in both cases was contained
inside and not outside! Whatever be the case, the head began to be referred to as a `nut'. Around
this time, the expression òff one's head' was frequently used to mean òut of one's mind; crazy'.
As time went by, the word `head' was replaced by `nut' in the expression, and very soon the word
`nut' acquired the meaning `crazy'. Anyone who was crazy was called `nuts', and the hospital for
people who had mental illness began to be called a `nut house'.
How is the word `Renaissance' pronounced?
The è' in the first syllable is like the ì' in `bit', `sit', and `hit'; the ài' is like the ày' in
`day', `bay', and `say'. The à' is pronounced like the ò' in `lot', `got', and `hot', and the final `ce'
is like the `ce' in `dance', `France', and `chance'. The `ss' sounds like the `s' in `sit', and the main
stress is on the second syllable `nai'. This is one way of pronouncing the word. The period
between the 14th and 16th centuries is usually referred to as the `Renaissance'. The word means
`rebirth', and during this period, people in Europe began to take an active interest in art,
literature, and science. Renaissance is now used to talk about a rebirth of interest in some
activity. For example, if you say that letter writing is experiencing a renaissance, what you mean
is that people are taking an interest in it; letter writing is becoming popular again. Someone who
shows a great a deal of interest in the arts and sciences and has a wide range of interests in other
things is called a `Renaissance man'. He/she is someone who does a lot of different things very
well.
* Ramanan is a writer, director, painter, and musician — a real Renaissance man.
What is the difference between `He cooked a good meal' and `He cooked up a good
meal'?
The result is the same in both cases — you end up eating a good meal! `Cook up'
suggests that the various dishes were prepared rather quickly, and at short notice. The expression
is considered to be informal and has the same meaning as `rustle up'.
* My grandmother managed to cook up a decent meal for the guests who arrived
unannounced.
* My appointment has been cancelled. Think you'll be able to rustle up something for
lunch?
Which is correct? `My wife knows well that I can't sing' or `My wife knows that I
can't sing well'?
Both sentences are grammatically acceptable, but they don't have the same meaning. The
first sentence suggests that your wife knows that you cannot sing. There is no doubt in her mind
that you are not a singer. The second sentence suggests that your wife knows that you can sing
— but not very well. In this case, you are a singer, but not a good one.
* You know well that I don't play tennis. (You know that I don't play tennis at all.)
* You know that I don't play tennis well. (I can play tennis, but I am not very good at it.)
"The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are
children more awful than your own." — Unknown
Know Your English
"For someone who is supposed to be going on vacation, you don't look very happy."
"Who said that I was going anywhere?"
"You told me last week that you would ask your boss if you could...."
"I asked my boss if I could take the week off, and he cut me dead."
"Cut you dead, eh? Well, if he did that, how come you are sitting here talking to me?"
"Not very funny, I'm afraid. When someone cuts you dead, he or she just ignores you.
The person may see you, but chooses not to acknowledge your presence."
"In other words, the person will look right through you. He will pretend you don't exist."
"Exactly! For example, I tried to greet our friend Sujatha this morning, but she cut me
dead."
"She had every reason to. I understand that you had some nasty things to say about her
latest story. How about this example? Raja is acting crazy these days. This morning he cut my
father dead."
"That doesn't sound like Raja. I was told by his....."
"The Manager was about to speak when the CEO cut her dead."
"Sounds good. Let me tell you what I told Sujatha. I said...."
"I'm not interested in what you told her. But tell me, what's wrong with Raja? He used to
be such a fun person to be with. Now he seems worried all the time."
"Some of his classmates tell me that he's become a cyberchondriac."
"Cyberchondriac? Don't think I've come across that word before."
"Do you know what `hypochondriac' means?"
"I think I do. Isn't a hypochondriac someone who constantly worries about his health?
Although there may be nothing really wrong with him, he always imagines that there is
something seriously wrong."
"That's right! A hypochondriac is obsessed about his health. He has imaginary ailments."
"Such people give doctors a tough time. Luckily, we don't have a hypochondriac in our
family."
"We have several in ours. You are welcome to one."
"No thanks. Coming back to the point, who is a cyberchondriac?"
"Well, he is someone who gets all his medical information from the Internet and...."
"He reads about the various diseases going around, and imagines that he has them too."
"I am told that my boss' wife is a cyberchondriac."
"Maybe that's the reason your boss is in a bad mood all the time."
"That could explain why he cut me dead this morning."
"You need a little cheering up. How about a movie?"
"Sorry, I can't. A colleague of mine is immigrating to New Zealand. So the boys in the
office are throwing him a farewell party."
"Tell me, what's the difference between èmigrate' and ìmmigrate'?"
"Well, in both cases the person is leaving the country he was born in, and...."
"I know that. He is moving to another country on a permanent basis. He plans to settle
down there."
"That's right! The word èmigrate' is normally used to refer to the movement from a
place. When the person leaves his country of origin, he is emigrating. For example, my colleague
is leaving India ...."
"He is emigrating from India to New Zealand."
"The person who ìmmigrates', moves to another country. In this case, you are talking
about the movement in terms of the country the person is going to settle in."
"Exactly! During the Second World War, lots of Germans immigrated to the United
States."
"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" — Abraham Lincoln
What is the meaning of `sweep under the carpet'?
When you sweep or brush something under the carpet, you attempt to hide something
embarrassing from others. Instead of dealing with your problem, you try to keep it a secret. It is
also possible to say `sweep something under the mat/rug'.
*The Government has managed to sweep the cola controversy under the carpet.
*The actor tried to sweep the embarrassing incident under the rug.
Where does this expression come from? What is it that lazy people normally do when
they are asked to clean a carpeted room? They sweep around the carpet, and instead of bending
down to collect the dust, they quietly sweep it under the carpet!
How is the word `faux pas' pronounced?
The àu' in the first word is pronounced like the òa' in `coat', `boat', and `goat'; the
following `x' is silent. The à' in `pa' is like à' in `cart', `part', and `dart'; the `s' is silent. The
main stress is on `pas'. Faux pas comes from French, and it literally means `false step'. When you
commit a faux pas you commit a social blunder. You violate certain accepted, though unwritten,
social rule and in the process you end up doing something that is socially embarrassing. These
unwritten rules vary from culture to culture. For example, in India, it would be considered a faux
pas to walk into someone's kitchen or puja room with one's shoes on.
*The speaker apologised to the audience for his faux pas.
The word `faux', which means false, is used quite frequently in the world of fashion and
interior design. For example, people talk about `faux fur' and `faux leather' to mean `false fur'
and `false leather'. When someone says that he's bought a `fauxlex', what he means is that he has
bought a `fake Rolex'!
What is the meaning of àpropos', and how is the word used?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The à' sounds like the à' in àct', cat', and `hat';
the following ò' is like the à' in `china'. The final ò' is pronounced like the òa' in `coat', `boat',
and `goat'; the `s' is silent. The stress is on the final syllable. The expression àpropos of' is
usually used to introduce a new subject, but one which is connected to what you were talking
about earlier.
*I received a call from Priyanka last night — apropos of which, did you send her the
paintings?
When you say that something is àpropos', you mean that it is suitable for the situation.
*The Vice Chancellor's remarks were very apropos.
What is the meaning of `git'?
When you call another person a `git', what you mean is that you dislike him because you
find him annoying. The `g' is like the `g' in `get' and `guess', and the following ìt' is pronounced
like the word ìt'. `Git' is used in British English in informal contexts to refer to a man.
*How could you have fallen in love with a git like him?
*Tell the git standing over there to stop whistling.
The word is also used to mean `get'.
Is `pair of' followed by a singular or plural verb?
You normally use à pair of' when you are talking about two things which are of the same
size and which are used together - for example, shoes, gloves, etc. When used in this manner, it
can be followed by a singular or a plural verb.
*The pair of gloves I liked was not for sale.
*The man put on a pair of black shoes that were in the veranda.
"Everyone who is incapable of learning has taken to teaching." — Oscar Wilde
August 2006

•What is the killing of one's brother called? (20060821)
•What is the meaning of `raise the bar'? (20060821)
•Why do we say `five star hotel' and not `five stars hotel'? (20060821)
•How is the word èmbarrass' pronounced? (20060821)
•What is the difference between a `story' and a `tale'? (20060821)
•What is the difference between àdvisor' and àdviser'? (20060807)
•What is the meaning of `cross the bridge when you come to it'? (20060807)
•Which is correct? À small percentage of the students is worked up about the fee hike' or À
small percentage of the students are worked up about the fee hike'. (20060807)
•What is the origin of the word `nightmare'? (20060807)
Know your English
"Is something the matter? You look very depressed."

"I feel depressed too. My best friend is leaving for Delhi tomorrow. His father has been
transferred."
"These things happen. Listen, your quarterly exams start next week. If you want to do
well in them, you'd better snap out of it soon."
"Snap out of what?"
"Your depression, of course. When you tell someone to snap out of something, what you
mean is that you want them to get over it."
"So in my case, you're telling me to overcome my sense of depression."
"When we lost the World Cup, many of my friends were very disappointed. It took them
a while to snap out of it."
"I remember how disappointed I was. Hey, are you going somewhere? You seem to be all
packed."
"Going to Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow. Remember the project I was telling you
about? The one... "
"The client liked your ideas? Congrats."
"I didn't say that. They want me to come over... ."
"To sign the contract! What else could they want? You've clinched the deal!"
"You know what they say. It's not over till the fat lady sings."
"Fat lady? What fat lady? What are you talking about?"
"It's an expression mostly used in American English. When you say that something is not
over till the fat lady sings, what you mean is that you can't be sure of the result till the very end."
"Though you may seem as if you are losing, you might end up winning. In other words,
don't give up!"
"Yes, something like that."
"We need to get 150 runs in 10 overs. As they say, it's not over till the fat lady sings."
"Good example. "
"Are you flying or taking the train?"
"Since the company is paying, I'm flying. I should be back in a couple of days."
"You will get done in two days? That's pretty fast. So, when... ."
"In this context, a `couple' doesn't have to mean two days. It could be more. If you say
that you'll be gone a couple of days, what you mean is that you will be gone for a few days."
"So when you say that a couple of shops were open, it can mean that more than two shops
were open?"
"That's right. The word `couple' is often used to mean two or more."
"In other words, a few shops were open, but not many."
"Exactly!"
"Where will you be staying in Thiruvananthapuram? Will you staying with your friend,
Bala?"
"No, I haven't touched base with him in a while. So, I don't think... ."
"Touched base with him? Does it mean keep in touch with him?"
"Very good. That's exactly what it means."
"How about this example? Do you want me to touch base with you while you are in
Thiruvananthapuram?"
"No thanks. I think I want to be left in peace. I will touch base with you when I return."
"So if you are not staying with Bala, where will you be staying?"
"The company that's invited me is putting me up in a really top-drawer hotel."
"Top-drawer hotel! Does it mean top quality or something like that?"
"Exactly. My cousin is on the lookout for a teacher who is top-drawer."
" How about this example? The college that my cousin's children go to is top-drawer.
You should see the place... ."
"I'm sure it's a great place. Listen, my flight leaves early tomorrow. Need to get my
sleep."
"O.K. Have a safe flight."
"Thanks."
"A rule of thumb in the matter of medical advice is to take everything any doctor says
with a grain of aspirin." — Goodman Ace
What is the killing of one's brother called?

The killing of one's brother is referred to as `fratricide'. The à' is pronounced like the à'
in `pact', `fact', and `tact'; the following ì' is like the ì' in `sit', `bit', and `hit'. The final `cide' is
pronounced like the word `side', and the stress is on the first syllable. This is one way of
pronouncing the word. `Frater' in Latin means `brother' and `cida' means `killer'. There are many
words in English ending with the suffix `cide'. For example, the killing of one's father is
`patricide'. `Matricide' is the killing of one's mother, and when a parent kills his/her child, it's
called `filicide'. If you kill another human being it's `homicide', and when you kill yourself, it's
`suicide'.
What is the meaning of `raise the bar'?
The expression comes from the world of athletics. In high jump and pole-vault, when you
clear a particular height, the horizontal bar is raised to a new level to see if you can jump even
higher. Every time you clear the hurdle, the bar is raised, and you are set a new challenge. When
you raise the bar for something, you raise the level; in other words, you set a higher standard.
*The students went on strike because the Principal raised the bar for admission.
*The CEO had to lower the bar in order to give his son the job.
Why do we say `five star hotel' and not `five stars hotel'?
This is because `star' is functioning as an adjective, and not as a noun. You can say that
you saw `Five stars shining in the sky.' But when a noun like hotel follows the word `star', you
say, Ì had dinner in a three star hotel'. You do not say, `three stars hotel'. Similarly, you say, Ì
want five rupees'. But when the word `rupees' is followed by the noun `coin' or `note', you say, Ì
need a five rupee coin/note'. You do not say, `five rupees note'. Joggers talk about a `twenty-mile
marathon', and not a `twenty miles marathon'.
How is the word èmbarrass' pronounced?
The first syllable is like the ìm' in `him', `slim', and `Kim'; the following à', which has
the main stress, is pronounced like the à' in `cat', `bat', and `hat'. The final à' is like the à' in
`china'. When you do something that you are ashamed of, you say that you are embarrassed by
what you did. The word can also be used to mean nervous or uncomfortable.
*Shantha gave an embarrassed smile when she spilt orange juice on her friend's new
carpet.
*The questions that the psychiatrist asked embarrassed Jai's daughter.
What is the difference between a `story' and a `tale'?
Of the two, `story' is the more general word. A story can be real or fictitious, and it can
be written or oral. You can talk about a story that you read in the newspaper, or a story that your
grandmother told you as a child. The newspaper story could be true, but the one that your
grandmother told you could be made up. A story can be in the form of poetry or prose and it
usually, not always, deals with a series of incidents in an individual's life.
*Listen, give me the facts. I don't want to hear the story of your life.
*After seeing the film, he went around telling the story to everyone.
Unlike a story, a `tale' is usually fictitious; the word carries with it a sense of
exaggeration. Tales, in general, deal with exciting, but imaginary events that took place in
ancient times and in far off lands. For example, we talk about the tales of King Arthur and the
Round Table.
"Make crime pay. Become a lawyer." — Will Rogers
Know Your English
"I want you to return the Rs. 50 that you borrowed from me a couple of weeks ago."
"Can I give it to you next month? You see, I don't...."
"Sorry, I want the money by tomorrow. I want my pound of flesh."
"Your pound of flesh? What are you talking about?"
"When someone demands their pound of flesh, they want something that they are entitled
to. They want it even though it might create problems for the person it is demanded from."
"In other words, you are forcing the person to pay you back even though you may not
need the money that you are asking for?"
"That's right! You ask for what is due to you, even though you know it's going to create
problems for the other person. For example, the family's distress had absolutely no effect on the
greedy moneylender. He was determined to get his pound of flesh."
"Do you know where the expression comes from?"
"Doesn't it come from Shakespeare's, `The Merchant of Venice'?"
"Very good. Something funny happened today. The accountant asked my boss for a
raise."
"Your accountant? You mean the new guy? He joined your firm only last month, didn't
he?"
"Yes, he's been with us for just three weeks. So it was rather surprising when...."
"Surprising? It's crazy. How did your boss react?"
"He was dumbfounded. He just...."
"I don't think it's nice to call your boss, stupid. You should...."
"I didn't call my boss `dumb'. I said that he was `dumbfounded'. Any idea what the word
means?"
"Does it mean `surprised' or something like that?"
"Very good. When you're dumbfounded by something, you're extremely surprised or
shocked by it. You're more or less rendered speechless. For example, the newly appointed
teacher stared dumbfounded as the children screamed at one other."
"Tell me, why did your new accountant ask for a raise? It seems rather foolish."
"You know what they say! Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
"What does that mean?"
"It means inexperienced or ignorant people often do things without really thinking things
through. They end up doing things which informed or experienced people would avoid."
"Rajeev was keen on becoming the President of the Club. Now he feels he shouldn't have
contested. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Tell me, what did your boss do? Did he have
a good laugh and tell the accountant that he should wait?"
"My boss is a nice guy, but he doesn't suffer fools gladly."
"Don't think I have come across that expression before."
"When you say that someone doesn't suffer fools gladly, what you mean is that the
individual doesn't tolerate stupidity."
"The lady who teaches us English is a wonderful teacher. But she doesn't suffer fools
gladly."
"My uncle is a fair man, but he doesn't suffer fools gladly."
"I don't think anyone does. Anyway, what did your boss tell the accountant?"
"We don't know what exactly he said, but he gave him an earful."
"An earful of what?"
"When you say that you got an earful from someone, you mean that the person spoke to
you angrily for a long time. The teacher gave the students an earful for not doing their
homework."
"When I came home late last week, my mother gave me an earful."
"And if you don't return the Rs. 50 by tomorrow, you will get an earful from me."
"You want your pound of flesh, don't you? You're worse than Shylock."
Sign at a cemetery: "Persons are prohibited from picking flowers from any but their own
graves."
What is the difference between àdvisor' and àdviser'?
There is no difference in meaning between the two words. Both are used to refer to
someone (usually an expert) whose job it is to advise other people. For example, film stars often
consult financial advisers to find out what to do with their money. When they get into trouble,
the stars consult a legal adviser. Most dictionaries that we get in India, list àdviser' as the first
choice, and àdvisor' as the second. This is because in British English the word is spelt
à..d..v..i..s..e..r'; à..d..v..i..s..o..r' is the way Americans spell the word. While surfing the net,
one encounters àdvisor' much more frequently than àdviser'.
What is the meaning of `cross the bridge when you come to it'?
This idiom is used to tell someone not to worry about things that may or may not happen
in the future. Very often, when we come up with what we think is a good proposal, the prophets
of doom in the office give us a detailed account of the things that could possibly go wrong. They
take great delight in telling us why the project will fail, and they come up with all kinds of
imaginary problems. In such a context, if you tell your detractors that you will cross the bridge
when you come to it, what you mean is that you will deal with the various problems as and when
they arise. You are not going to worry about them unnecessarily right now.
*What if we run out of funding? We'll cross the bridge when we come to it.
*Mohan seemed unconcerned. He said that he would cross the bridge when he came to it.
Which is correct? À small percentage of the students is worked up about the fee
hike' or À small percentage of the students are worked up about the fee hike'.
People who are fond of grammar would argue that when the word `percentage' is
preceded by the definite article `the', then the verb is usually singular. It doesn't really matter if
the noun preceding the verb is singular or plural.
*The percentage of students from Delhi is relatively small.
Although the noun (`students') is plural, the verb that follows (ìs') is singular.
*The percentage of people willing to participate keeps decreasing every year.
When you talk about à percentage', on the other hand, it can be followed by a singular or
plural verb. It depends on the noun which follows `percentage'.
*A very small percentage of the students are from Delhi.
*I'm told that a small percentage of Padma's income goes to charity.
What is the origin of the word `nightmare'?
Dreams can be pleasant or unpleasant. Nightmares, on the other hand, are always
unpleasant. A frightening dream is usually called a nightmare. When you've had a nightmare,
you wake up gasping for breath. The `mare' in `nightmare' has nothing to do with a female horse.
The word comes from Old English `mare' meaning ìncubus'. An incubus, people believed, was
an evil spirit which sat on a person's chest while he slept — hence, the feeling of suffocation.
"Children are unpredictable. You never know what inconsistency they're going to catch
you in next."— Franklin P. Jones
July 2006

•What is the meaning of `stuck up'? (20060724)
•What is the meaning of `hornet's nest'? (20060724)
•Can the word `doctor' be used as a verb? (20060724)
•What is the meaning and origin of Ùtopian'? (20060724)
•When we say it's spiting, we mean it is raining very lightly (20060717)
•What is the meaning and origin of `top brass'? (20060710)
•Is it OK to say, Ì am crazy after English'? (20060710)
•How is the word `schism' pronounced? (20060710)
•Why do we say `hue and cry'? (20060710)
•What is the meaning of `mull over'? (20060710)
Know Your English
"How do you pronounce o..k..e..y and d..o..k..e..y?"

"The ò' in the two words is pronounced like the ò' in `go', `no', and `so'."
"The following syllable is pronounced like the word `key', I suppose?"
"You're absolutely right! The stress is on the first syllable of the two words. Òkey dokey'
is a very informal way of saying O.K."
"So when someone says, `Please give me Rs. 50', can I respond by saying, Òkey
dokey'?"
"You certainly can. But remember not to use the expression in formal contexts."
"Okey dokey, I'll remember that! Now then, can you lend me Rs. 100?"
"You're joking, right? You know that I don't... ."
"Joking? Of course, not! I'm being serious. You see, I need the money to buy... ."
"Forget it! I'm not lending you any money."
"Forget it? You're not supposed to say `forget it'. You are supposed to say, Òkey
dokey'."
"Sorry. If it's money you want, ask Geetha. She has money coming out of her ears."
"Money coming out of her ears? How is that possible?"
"When you say that someone has something coming out of his ears, what you mean is
that the person has lots of it. For example, if it is tax forms you want, ask Devidas. He's got
forms coming out of his ears."
"If you want pictures of Brett Lee, ask Ananya. She's got them coming out of her ears."
"She's a big Brett Lee fan, isn't she? If it's an Asterix comic that you want, ask Bala. He's
got them coming out of his ears."
"I'm not interested in anything coming out of a person's ears. Well, since you're not
willing to help me with money, can you help me with this problem in physics, at least?"
"Me? Help you with physics? You must be kidding! Why don't you ask Sujatha?"
"I did! But she said you knew a lot more about the subject than she did."
"Ms. Know-it-all said that? I don't believe it!"
"Ms. Know-it-all? Is that the expression that is used to refer to someone who knows
everything?"
"It's an expression used to talk about someone who thinks he knows everything."
"I know the type. He tries to impress people with his knowledge. Ends up annoying
them."
"That's right! He is the sort... ."
"So when you refer to someone as a `know-it-all', you are not really complimenting the
person?"
"Not at all! You are, in fact, showing your disapproval. For example, I don't wish to
speak to that know-it-all."
"Saraswathi, the know-it-all in our family, told us to invest our funds in the stock
market."
"That doesn't sound like very good advice. It's also possible to say, `know-all'. They both
have the same meaning. For example, nobody really likes Chandra because she is such a
know-all."
"Our class is full of know-alls."
"You know who can help you with your physics problem? Mukund."
"Mukund! He hardly opens his mouth. Gives the impression that he doesn't know
anything."
"Still waters run deep, my friend."
"What are you talking about?"
"It means that a quiet person may not be what he pretends to be. Just because someone
remains quiet, doesn't mean he has no knowledge of the subject matter. He... "
"He could be very knowledgeable or very passionate about the subject."
"Exactly! The quiet person may be thinking important or deep thoughts. Surabhi has been
very quiet of late. You know what they say, still waters run deep."
"It's true that still waters run deep. But I don't think it applies in Janaki's case. She doesn't
say much because she's half asleep most of the time."
"That's a nasty thing to say."
"I know! I'll see if Mukund is at home. See you tomorrow."
"Okey dokey!"
"Do Lipton employees take coffee breaks?" — Steven Wright
What is the meaning of `stuck up'?

This is an informal way of calling someone `snooty' or `snobbish'. A person who is
`stuck-up' thinks he is more important than others, and as a result, is often very unfriendly
towards them.
*What's got into Hamsa? Why is she so stuck-up?
*When I met the star, I was pleasantly surprised. He wasn't at all stuck-up.
What is the meaning of `hornet's nest'?
A hornet is a large insect which has a relatively large sting. When you refer to a problem
as being a hornet's nest, what you mean is that it is one that causes people to become angry.
When you `stir up a hornet's nest', you are asking for trouble; you say or do something
controversial which results in a lot of commotion.
*The teacher's article in the local paper stirred up a hornet's nest.
*The Minister's remarks about the striking students stirred up a hornet's nest.
How is word `cuisine' pronounced? (Durga, Chennai)
The first syllable `cui' is pronounced like the `qui' in `quit', `quiz', and `quick'. The `s' that
follows is like the `z' in `zip' and `zoo'; and the final ìne' is like the èen' in `seen', `teen', and
`keen'. The main stress is on the second syllable. The word comes from French and is mostly
used to talk about a particular style of cooking - the way in which an item is prepared. When you
refer to the cuisine of a restaurant, you are talking about the different varieties of food served
there.
*The new restaurant on M.G Road offers excellent traditional Thai cuisine.
Can the word `doctor' be used as a verb?

Yes, it can. When someone `doctors' something, he makes some changes in it in order to
deceive people. For example, companies, in order to show a huge profit, sometimes change the
figures in their accounts. They do this in the hope that their share prices will go up. This practice
of changing figures dishonestly is called doctoring.
*These reports suggest that it was the Professor who doctored the figures.
*According to the film star, her ex-husband doctored the photographs.
When someone doctors your drink or food, they spice it up with a little bit of poison!
*The police suspect that it was the partner who doctored the drink.
*The dog's food had been doctored.
What is the meaning and origin of Ùtopian'?
The word ùtopia' comes from the Greek òu' and `topos' meaning `nowhere'; in other
words, it is a place that doesn't exist. Utopia is an imaginary island created by Sir Thomas More
in his book written in 1516. The happy inhabitants of this make-believe island enjoyed near
perfect living conditions; they had the perfect social and political systems. Nowadays, when you
say that a person is ùtopian', what you mean is that he always aims for something that is
impossible to achieve. When you dismiss someone's plan as being ùtopian', you are ridiculing it
because you believe that it is unrealistic. Utopian has acquired a negative meaning.
*Padma, like her father, was pursuing a utopian dream of world peace.
*The singer was truly utopian. He believed that countries could exist without borders.
Samuel Butler wrote a novel in 1872 called Èrehwon' in which he made fun of utopian
concepts. Èrehwon' is actually `nowhere' spelt backwards!
"The vanity of teaching doth oft tempt a man to forget that he is a blockhead." — George
Saville
When we say it's spiting, we mean it is raining very lightly
"Hi! Come on in. I'll be almost ready. Do I need to take my umbrella?"

"What for? It's only spitting."
"Spitting? Who is spitting? What are you talking about?"
"I am talking about the rain, of course! When you say it's spitting, what you mean is that
it is raining very lightly."
"I see. Can I say, we managed to complete our game because it was only spitting?"
"You certainly can! Here's another example. When it started spitting just before the
women's singles final, the organisers became somewhat worried."
"Did you watch the game between France and Italy? It was really exciting, wasn't it?"
"Many thought it was a barnburner. But personally, I...."
"Barnburner? What does it mean?"
"When you say that an event was a barnburner, what you mean is that it was excellent or
very exciting."
"In other words, something that is a barnburner arouses a great deal of interest."
"Exactly! I thought that the match between Federer and Nadal would be a barnburner. I
was thoroughly disappointed."
"When India and Pakistan play an ODI, it's always a barnburner."
"Good example."
"Why were you disappointed with the World Cup final? Many of the commentators said
it was a barnburner."
"Frankly, I think it was just lip gloss. I think they were...."
"Lip gloss? Isn't that something that women put on to make their lips shiny?"
"Yes, that's right. When somebody tells you something, and you dismiss it as being lip
gloss, what you mean is that the person is exaggerating. For example, don't believe anything that
the Registrar said during the meeting. His words are just lip gloss."
"Can the term be used to mean to lie or exaggerate?"
"Yes, it certainly can!"
"Then, how about this example? According to Dharmendra, everything Gayathri says is
just lip gloss. The woman is a born liar."
"Sounds good to me. By the way, `lip gloss' like the expression `barnburner' is mostly
used in informal contexts. So be careful about how you use it."
"And you should be careful too! You shouldn't put a curse on other people."
"Me? Put a curse on someone? What are you talking about?"
"Last week you got angry with my Principal and said something...."
"Oh, I remember that! I said I hope the man breaks his leg, or something like that."
"That's right! Well, believe it or not, he slipped in the bathroom yesterday, and broke his
leg."
"What are you trying to do? Send me on a guilt trip of some kind? If you are...."
"Send you on a guilt trip? Are you...."
"When you send someone on...."
"I think I know what the expression means. When you send someone on a guilt trip, you
try to make the person feel very guilty about something. Am I right?"
"One hundred per cent. For example, my parents always try to send me on a guilt trip for
not calling them often enough."
"It is also possible to say, `lay/put a guilt trip on someone'. For example, Madhu put the
guilt trip on all of us for not helping her during her time of need. So, who is going to be the
acting Principal?"
"According to rumours, it's going to be some senior faculty."
"Don't say `senior faculty'. You can either say, à senior faculty member' or à senior
member of the faculty'. But not, `senior faculty'."
"I see. Shall we take a walk in the spitting rain?"
"It's a wise husband who will buy his wife such fine china that she won't trust him to
wash the dishes." — Unknown
What is the meaning and origin of `top brass'?
Many reporters just love this expression; they use it all the time. Any time the top people
of an organisation are present during a press conference, the reporter says/writes that it was
attended by the `top brass'. The expression is considered to be informal, and is mostly used in
British English.
*The minister has said that there will be a reshuffle of the army's top brass.
The expression `top brass' was first used in the Army. `Brass' referred to the gold braid
found on the hats of military officers — it indicated the individual's rank. The word `brass' is
actually a shortened form of `brass hat', and this was the term used by enlisted men in the late
19th century to refer to their commanding officers. It was during World War II that `brass hat'
became `top brass'. As time went by, the expression began to be used in non-military contexts;
important individuals of an organisation began to be called `top brass'. The term `the brass' can
also be used to refer to such people.
Is it OK to say, Ì am crazy after English'?
No, it is not. You are usually `crazy about' something, and not `crazy after' something.
When you are crazy about something, you like it very much. You go after it because you are very
interested in it. It is also possible to say, `mad about' something.
*Most students in my class are mad about cricket.
How is the word `schism' pronounced?
There are different ways of pronouncing the word. Some people pronounce the `sch' like
the `sch' in `school', `scholar', and `scheme'. Others pronounce it like the `s' in `sit', `sip' and `sat'.
The ì' is like the ì' in `bit', `hit' and `sit', and the following `s' is like the `z' in `zip', `zoo', and
`zero'. The sound that follows the `s' is like the à' in `china', and the final `m' is like the `m' in
`monkey' and `money'. The main stress is on the first syllable.
Schism is a word mostly used in formal contexts. In India, we often see political parties
splitting into two. This breaking up of a party or organisation due to differences in beliefs is
referred to as `schism'. The word was originally used to refer to a split within the church.
*This report says that differing views caused a schism among the members.
Why do we say `hue and cry'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of `hue'. The `hu' is like the `hu' in `human' and
`huge', and the vowel that follows is like òo' in `cool', `pool', and `school'. When a politician is
caught with his hands in the cookie jar, people raise a hue and cry about corruption. In other
words, they complain about it rather noisily; sometimes, there is a public protest. This outcry or
noisy protest is referred to as `hue and cry'.
*There was a hue and cry when the Government decided to increase taxes.
Dictionaries define `hue' as colour. What does colour have to do with noise? Nothing.
The `hue' in the expression is from the French `huer' meaning, `to shout after'. `Hue and cry' is a
legal term used in the 13th century to refer to a group of people running after a thief. What do
people do when they run after a thief? They shout and create all kinds of noise to attract
attention!
What is the meaning of `mull over'?
When you `mull over' a problem or plan, you think about it for a long time before
arriving at a decision.
*Shashi has been mulling over the problem for several weeks now.
"I told my mother-in-law that my house was her house, and she said, `Get the hell off my
property'." — Joan Rivers
What is the meaning of `mull over'?
When you `mull over' a problem or plan, you think about it for a long time before
arriving at a decision.
*Shashi has been mulling over the problem for several weeks now.
"I told my mother-in-law that my house was her house, and she said, `Get the hell off my
property'." — Joan Rivers
Know Your English
"You're actually smiling today! What's the reason?"

"I'll soon have Rs. 50 in my pocket."
"Wow, Rs. 50! What are you going to do? Rob a bank?"
"You know you don't have a sense of humour. So stop trying to be funny. I had a bet with
Sujatha. I told her that s..t..o..v..e rhymes with `glove', `love' and ... ."
"You're toast, my friend."
"I'm toast! What does that mean?"
"It means you can kiss your Rs. 50 good bye. When you tell someone that he's toast, what
you mean is that he's in big trouble. For example, when Jai's mother found out that he had broken
her favourite flower vase, he was toast."
"So when somebody says, Ì failed to complete the project', can I respond by saying,
`You're toast, my friend'?"
"You certainly can. The expression is used in informal contexts. Here's another example.
When the Principal walked into the classroom looking really angry, I knew we were toast."
"So tell me, why do you think I'm toast?"
"Because you have lost the bet with Sujatha. The ò' in s..t..o..v..e is not pronounced like
the ò' in `glove' or `love', but like the ò' in `go', `so' and `no'."
"That can't be true. Please tell me you're joking."
"Hey, I don't have a sense of humour, remember? I am afraid you'll have to pay up."
"Maybe I should talk to Sujatha and try to... ."
"Why would you want to get involved in a conversation with her? You know she has a
bad case of verbal diarrhoea."
"Verbal diarrhoea? Does it mean talking too much? Unable to shut up?"
"Exactly. A person who has verbal diarrhoea talks continuously. Talks non-stop. Siddhu
has verbal diarrhea."
"If you ask me, many of our politicians have a serious case of verbal diarrhoea."
"That's a good example. So, what are you going to do?"
"About Sujatha, you mean? I am not really sure. I think I will argue with her... ."
"Listen, no matter how much you argue, at some point you will have to throw in the
towel. You... ."
"Throw in the towel? What are you talking about?"
"When you thrown in the towel, you decide to stop doing what you have been attempting
to. You decide not to pursue the matter. You just give up."
"In other words, you quit doing what you were doing."
"Exactly! Although Nadal lost the first two sets, he didn't throw in the towel."
"How about this example? Amru has been working on the problem for two days now. He
refuses to throw in the towel."
"It is also possible to say, `throw in the sponge'. When things didn't go according to plan,
she threw in the sponge."
"Tell me, where does the idiom `throw in the towel' come from?"
"It comes from the world of boxing. You see during a fight, the boxer's trainer/manager
stays with him. In between rounds, he gives the fighter water, tells him what his opponent is
doing, wipes the sweat and blood off the boxer's face, and... ."
"And he uses a sponge or a towel to do this!"
"That's right! If he feels that his fighter is taking too much punishment, he may decide to
call the fight off."
"This is to prevent any serious injury, I suppose."
"Yes. In order to stop the fight, what the trainer/manager does is to throw the towel or
sponge into the ring. This is a signal to the referee that he wants the fight to be stopped."
"I see. So he actually throws a towel into the ring. Interesting. Do you think you can lend
me Rs. 50?"
"If God wanted us to be brave, why did he give us legs?" — Marvin Kitman
June 2006
•How is the word `poignant' pronounced? (20060626)
•Why is television called the ìdiot box'? (20060626)
•What is the meaning of `buy someone off'? (20060626)
•What's the difference between "How are you?" and "How do you do?" (20060626)
•What is the difference between `shovel down' and `shovel into'? (20060626)
•How is the word `loquacious' pronounced (20060612)
•Is it OK to use `ranker' to mean `top rank in an examination'? (20060612)
•What is the meaning of òut of the box'? (20060612)
•What is the meaning and origin of `hit the sack'? (20060612)
•What is the difference between `password' and `buzzword'? (20060612)
How is the word `poignant' pronounced?
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. When you say that something is `poignant', what you mean is that it affects you
very deeply and makes you feel 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'?
It is not the box which is the idiot, but the people watching it. Have you ever observed
people watching their favourite programme? Their eyes remain glued to the television set, and on
most occasions they have no clue what is going on around them. When you ask them questions,
they either tell you to keep quiet, or don't take the trouble to answer you. The only time they
come alive is during the commercial break; otherwise, they remain passive. They keep staring at
the `box' as if they were a bunch of idiots; the TV turns them into one. By the way, did you know
that the words ìdiot' and ìdiom' 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. For example, whenever it rains heavily, we say, Ìt's
raining cats and dogs'. It doesn't mean that cats and dogs are actually falling from the sky.
What is the meaning of `buy someone off'?
When a policeman stops us for a traffic violation, what is it that we normally do? We try
to talk our way out of paying the fine. Sometimes we plead with the officer, at other times, we
try to bribe him so that we don't have to pay the full penalty. This act of bribing someone so that
he turns a blind eye to the 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?"
In British English, `How do you do?' is normally used when you are introduced to
someone for the first time. It is a way of greeting someone, and the standard response to this
expression is, `How do you do?' You normally use this expression only once with a person. The
next time you meet him, you can say, `How are you?' This expression is used with people you
already know. Unlike `How do you do', `How are you' is intended to find out how the individual
is doing — both emotionally and physically. `How do you do?' does not carry this meaning. Did
you know that the word `hi' is actually from `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 you meet someone and say, `Hi, how are you?', what
you are actually saying is, `How are you? How are you?'.
What is the difference between `shovel down' and `shovel into'?
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
into something 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." — Wilson Mizner
Know Your English
"Hi! Haven't seen you for ten days. Where have you been?"
"Like everybody else, I've been busy watching the World Cup matches. Since I stay up
all night and watch the games, I have a long nap after I return back from school."
"You don't have to say `return back'. Just `return' will do. For example, the Vice
Chancellor will return from Nagpur on Thursday."
"That's a good one. Tell me, how do you manage to stay awake in school? Don't you... ."
"I fall asleep every now and then. So do my classmates. And yesterday, one of my
teachers fell asleep too! That was pretty funny!"
"The same thing is happening in my office. You should just see the place. Things are in
limbo."
"In limbo? What does it mean?"
"It means that things are in an uncertain state. It can also mean that things are in a state of
neglect. For example, unless the Supreme Court gives its verdict, the various projects will
continue to be in limbo."
" How about this example? The Manager kept Lavanya's promotion in limbo for months."
"Sounds good. Listen, have you bought the MP3 player that you were saving up for?"
"Not yet. Devi was saying that the price might go down even further next week."
"Don't wait too long. Bottom fishing may get you into trouble."
"Bottom fishing? Haven't heard that expression before."
"It's a term used in the stock market. When you go bottom fishing, you look for shares
whose prices have dropped very low because of a crash in the market."
" The term has acquired a broader meaning. When you go bottom fishing, you try to buy
something at the cheapest possible price. And in the process are willing to settle for products of
poor quality."
"I have a cousin who thinks that bottom fishing will always get you something of value."
"Not always, I am afraid. Personally, I don't think bottom fishing is always wise. There is
a reason why the seller is willing to sell something at such a low price."
"You have a point there."
"Of course, I do! My cousin who plays the stock market does a lot of bottom fishing."
"Your cousin? Which one? The one who lost a lot of money recently?"
"Yes, that's right! It seems to make no difference to him. Whenever he loses money, he
sponges from his parents."
"Sponges from his parents? What does it mean?"
"When you sponge something from someone, you beg or borrow something from them.
For example, my cousin sponged a thousand rupees from my parents."
"My cousin has been sponging food from her relatives for a year now."
"That's a good example."
"Why don't you tell your cousin's parents not to let their son sponge off them?"
"Unfortunately, my uncle doesn't trust people. He feels that the person advising him is
trying to lead him down the garden path."
"Which garden are you talking about?"
"When you lead someone down the garden path, you are cheating or deceiving the
individual. This is an informal expression commonly used in American English."
"Latha told Pradeep that she loved him. What the fool didn't realise was that she was
leading him down the garden path. She needed help with her project. How does that sound?"
"Good. It is also possible to say, ùp the garden path'. The mechanic led us up the garden
path about the cost — the repairs turned out to be really expensive."
"This is either a forgery or a damn clever original!" — Frank Sullivan
How is the word `loquacious' pronounced?
The ò' in the first syllable and the ìou' in the final syllable are pronounced like the à' in
`china'. The `qu' sounds like the `qu' in `quit', `quiz' and `queen'. The à' that follows is like the
à' in `way', `say', and `bay', and the `c' is like the `sh' in `sheep', `ship', and `sheet'. The stress is
on the second syllable. When you say that someone is `loquacious', what you mean is that the
individual talks a lot. The word is mostly used in formal contexts.
*The normally loquacious Malar chose to remain silent at the meeting.
Is it OK to use `ranker' to mean `top rank in an examination'?
This is a word one frequently encounters in the months of May and June in India. A
student who does well in an entrance exam and gets a decent rank is immediately labelled a
`ranker'. Proud parents distribute sweets claiming that their child is a `ranker', and tutorial
institutions take out ads claiming that they had X number of `rankers' in this year's exam. This
use of the word `ranker' to mean `top in the examination' is Indian. Native speakers of English do
not use the word in this manner. Dictionaries define the word "ranker" as a commissioned officer
who has been promoted from the enlisted status. It has nothing to do with performing well in an
exam.
What is the meaning of òut of the box'?
When you think out of the box, you think creatively, you think in an unconventional
manner. The expression derives from the famous puzzle created by a British mathematician,
Henry Ernest Dudeney. In this puzzle there are nine dots arranged in three rows; each row
containing three dots. The challenge is to connect all nine dots making use of four straight lines,
without taking the pencil off paper.
*Sanjay has always been an out of the box sort of guy.
What is the meaning and origin of `hit the sack'?
When you say that you are going to `hit the sack', you are saying in a rather informal way
that you are going to bed. What does a sack have to do with a bed? During World War II,
American soldiers started referring to their sleeping bags as `sacks'. `Hit the sack' replaced the
earlier expression `hit the hay'. Why hay? In the old days, people who couldn't afford a bed used
to sleep on a sack stuffed with hay. Before they lay down to sleep, they used to keep hitting the
sack till the straw/hay was evenly spread. Hence the expression `hit the hay'.
*I've had a tiring day. I think I am going to hit the sack early today.
*You don't seriously expect me to hit the hay so early, do you?
What is the difference between `password' and `buzzword'?
A `buzzword' can either be a word or a phrase that has suddenly become very popular in
a particular field. Reporters from the various news media pick up on it and constantly use it in
their stories. As a result, the ordinary public becomes familiar with it as well. In recent years,
`biotechnology' has been the buzzword in medicine. Èmpowerment', `paradigm shift' and
`synergy' are the other examples of buzzwords.
A `password', on the other hand, is usually a secret word or phrase that you are expected
to know in order to enter restricted places. It tells the other person who you are. For example, if
you want to check your email, you have to type in your user mail id and your password. If you
forget the password, you will be denied access. Unlike buzzwords, passwords are not usually
new, and are not used frequently by one and all. They are usually kept a secret.
"Originality is the art of concealing your source." — Franklin P. Jones
Know Your English
"What's wrong? You look really depressed."

"With the stock market going south, I have every right to be."
"What are you talking about? How can a market go south?"
"When you say that something has `gone south', what you mean is that it has gone down
in value or quality. For example, when share prices went south, investors panicked."
"How about this example? Sania lost in the first round of the French Open. Her famous
forehand seems to have gone south."
"That's a good one. Tell me, did your friends lose a lot of money because of the crash?"
"No, they sold off many of their stocks a week before the market went south. They must
have got wind of the crash. That's probably why they sold off their shares."
"Got wind of? What does it mean?"
"You come to know about something which others are trying to keep a secret. For
example, Jai got wind of the fact that I was taking Sarita to a movie."
"I am sure he didn't like it one bit. How about this one? My father wanted to throw a
surprise party for my sister. He made sure no one got wind of it."
"Good. Tell me, how did your friends get wind of the fact that the market was going to
crash?"
"No clue. Wish they had told me though. I would have sold off some of the shares at
least."
"Where does the idiom `get wind of' come from? Any idea?"
"Animals smell the wind to figure out which other animals are nearby."
"The wind carries the scent of the other animals. Is that what you're saying?"
"That's right! How is the bike that your uncle gave you on your birthday?"
"It's okay. But I sure wish that he had got another colour. This one is ... ."
"You know what they say. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth? What does that mean?"
"It means that when someone gives you a gift, don't go about finding fault with it. Accept
it for what it's worth."
"I see. My friend is leaving for the U.S for six months. She said that I could stay in her
flat for free. Though there are several things wrong with the flat, I've decided not to look a gift
horse in the mouth."
"Excellent example. Tell me, what is the connection between a gift horse and its mouth? I
mean... ."
"People can tell how old a horse is by looking at its teeth. The longer the teeth, the older
the horse is. So,... ."
"When someone gifts you a horse, don't open its mouth to find out how young or old it is.
If it is old, don't complain about it. After all, the horse is a gift."
"Exactly! Accept the gift for what it's worth."
"According to me, people should never complain about... ."
"How many times have I told you about according to... ."
"I don't know why, but I always keep forgetting. You cannot say, àccording to me'. It's
always according to someone else. According to my uncle I am brilliant."
"Has your uncle actually said that to you?"
"No, but I understand that he told my cousin... ."
"Then it's just hearsay."
"Hearsay? What does it mean?"
"Things that one has heard from other people. They may or may not be true."
"It's like a rumour, then?"
"Kind of! A lot of things reported in this article are based on hearsay."
"In our factory, we make lipstick. In our advertising, we sell hope." — Charles Revson
May 2006
•What is the meaning and origin of `busman's holiday'? (20060529)

•How is the word `leitmotiv' pronounced? (20060529)
•What is the meaning of `to stonewall'? (20060529)
•Is there a difference between `re-count' and `recount'? (20060529)
•`Down to the wire' (20060522)
•What is the meaning and origin of `Monday morning blues'? (20060515)
•How is the word èsoteric' pronounced? (20060515)
•What is the meaning of `cul de sac'? (20060515)
•What is the difference between Ònly Ram can play tennis' and `Ram can only play tennis'?
(20060515)
•What is the difference between `psych out' and `psych someone out'? (20060515)
•Is it `confidant' or `confidante'? Which is the correct spelling? (20060508)
•How is the word `content' pronounced? (20060508)
•Which is correct? `Waiting in the wings' or `waiting on the wings'? (20060508)
•What is the difference between `lonely' and àlone'? (20060508)
What is the meaning and origin of `busman's holiday'?
If you get a day off and you end up spending it doing what you normally do on any
working day, then you call it a `busman's holiday'. Instead of going out and enjoying yourself,
you spend the day as if it were any other working day — doing office work. By the way, the à'
in `man' is pronounced like the à' in `china'.
The expression comes from the time when buses in London were pulled by horses. Every
driver was given his own team of horses, and man and animal worked together every day. As it
usually happens in such circumstances, a close relationship developed between the driver and his
team. Whenever the driver went on leave, a substitute was hired to `drive' the bus. Very often the
regular driver would sit in his bus all day as a passenger just to make sure that his horses were
being properly treated by the substitute. Since the driver ended up doing what he normally did on
any working day, these rides began to be called `busman's holiday'.
*I thought I would make it a busman's holiday and finish writing the report.
How is the word `leitmotiv' pronounced?
The first syllable is pronounced like the word `light'; the following ò' is like the ò' in
`so', `no', and `go'. The ì' sounds like the èe' in `breeze', `freeze', and `sneeze'. The final `v' is
like the `f' in `fish', `feel', and `full', and the stress is on the first syllable. `Leitmotiv' is a German
word meaning `leading motive' or `leading theme'. The word, which comes from the world of
music, can also be spelt `leitmotif'. In some movies, for example, whenever a particular character
appears on the screen, he is always accompanied by the same piece of music. In the old days,
whenever a wicked person made his or her appearance, you always had the snake charmer's
music playing in the background; it was the director's way of telling the audience that the
character was evil. This is an example of leitmotif. Nowadays the term is used to refer to any
dominant theme that appears repeatedly in something — book, movie and talk.
*The title of his latest movie could serve as the leitmotif for the actor's life.
What is the meaning of `to stonewall'?

The word is normally used to show disapproval. When you accuse someone of
`stonewalling' what you mean is that the individual is being obstructive, uncooperative or
evasive. The person is delaying taking a decision about something or refusing to answer your
questions because there is something he wishes to hide.
*The principal stonewalled when the reporter asked him about the scandal on campus.
Since walls made of stones were difficult to break through, the word `stonewall' began to
be used to refer to anything that presented a formidable obstacle.
The term is also used in cricket. When a batsman `stonewalls', he spends a lot of time at
the crease without really attempting to score runs.
Is there a difference between `re-count' and `recount'?
Yes, there is. The inclusion of the hyphen brings about a change in the meaning of the
word. The word `re-count' means `to count again' or à further count'. Here are a few examples.
*Both candidates demanded a re-count.
It must be mentioned here that not everyone uses the hyphen nowadays. The è' in the
first syllable is pronounced like the èe' in `seed', `feed', and `need'.
The word `recount', on the other hand, means to narrate. In this case, the è' is like the ì'
in `sit', `bit', and `hit', and the stress is on `count'.
*The students recounted their adventures in the Himalayas.
"Childhood is that wonderful time of life when all you need to do to lose weight is take a
bath." — Richard Zena
`Down to the wire'

"Did you watch the exciting game last night?"
"It went down to the wire, didn't it?"
"Wire? I am talking about the first ODI between India and... ."
"I am talking about the cricket match as well. When you say that the game went down to
the wire, what you mean is, it was not possible to predict the outcome till the very end."
"When something goes down to the wire, it is full of suspense. Is that what you're
saying?"
"That's right! The expression is usually used to mean àt the very last minute' or àt the
very end'. For example, the two teams are good. I have a feeling that the game will go down to
the wire."
"How about this example? Remember the assignment that I had to submit last week? I
really went down to the wire on that one."
"Meaning that you submitted it at the very last minute. Sounds good."
"Tell me, where does the expression come from?"
"It comes from the world of horse racing. You see in the old days, it was common
practice to stretch a metal wire across the finishing line. And... ."
"The first horse that crossed the wire was declared the winner!"
"Exactly! So when you say `down to the wire', what you actually mean is ùp to the
finishing line'. The race was exciting right up to the finishing line."
"That makes sense. Tell me, have you decided whether you are going to buy that
beautiful flat you saw last week?"
"I have decided not to."
"But why? You liked the flat so much. Why have... ."
"The builder wants me to pay 60 per cent of the amount immediately. I don't have that
kind of money right now. I told him that I would be able to pay the advance in dribs and drabs,
but he... ."
"Dribs and drabs? What does that mean?"
"What do you think it means?"
"It probably means in small amounts. You told the builder that you couldn't pay 60 per
cent of the money at one go. But you would be willing to pay him in small amounts over a period
of time."
"Exactly! For example. Not all the students were allowed to enter the museum at the
same time. The children were let into the main hall in dribs and drabs."
"How about this example? The striking miners returned to work in dribs and drabs."
"Sounds good. "
"But tell me, where does the word `dribs' come from?"
"It's the short form of `driblet', which in the 17th Century meant à drop' or `tiny
quantity'. Some believe it comes from `dribble' meaning `trickle'. Do you know what trickle
means?"
"Of course, I do! It means to flow out very slowly and in small quantity."
"Well done! The word `drab' was used in the early 1800s to refer to a small sum of
money."
"A small amount of money trickling down at irregular intervals. Hence, dribs and drabs."
"It can be a small amount of something or a small number of something."
"Tell me, how do you pronounce l..a..t..i..n..o?"
"Well, the à' in the first syllable is like the à' in `cat', `bat' and `hat', and the following ì'
is like the èe' in `fees', `bees', and `knees'."
"And I guess the final `no' is pronounced like the word `no'."
"Exactly! The main stress is on the ... ."
"It must be on the first syllable."
"Sorry, no. It's on the second syllable `ti'. Do you know what `Latino' means?"
"I have no idea."
"A `Latino' is someone from Latin America who has settled down in the U.S. It's a term
mostly used in American English."
"My wife is suffering from sickness and as I am her only husband at home, I may be
granted leave." — Unknown
What is the meaning and origin of `Monday morning blues'?
Monday is not a day that many people look forward to. In fact, most people get up feeling
rather depressed on this day. Reason? They know they have to work for another five or six days
before they get some time off. The `blues' referred to in the idiom has nothing to do with the
colour. According to some scholars, it refers to the type of music made popular by African
Americans. The `blues music' deals with rather sad themes, and as a result leaves the listener
feeling sad. This is the reason why the expressions `to have the blues' and `feeling blue' mean
feeling sad or depressed.
How is the word èsoteric' pronounced?
The first syllable is pronounced like the letter `s' and the following ò' is like the à' in
`china'. The è' is like the è' in `set', `pet', and `bet', and the final `ric' is like the `ric' in èlectric',
èccentric', and `metric'. The main stress is on the third syllable `ter'. This is how the Americans
pronounce the word. The British, on the other hand, pronounce the è' in the first syllable like the
èe' in `bee', `fees', and `geese', and the following ò' like the ò' in `so', `go' and `no'.. Any idea
what the word means? When you say that something is èsoteric', what you are implying is that it
can be understood and appreciated by only a few people. The word is usually used in formal
contexts.
Venkat takes interest in esoteric subjects.
What is the meaning of `cul de sac'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The ù' in `cul' is like the ù' in `cut', `but', and
`hut'; the è' in `de' is like the ì' in ìt', `bit', and `hit'. The final word is pronounced like the word
`sack'. The main stress is on the first syllable. A cul de sac is a short road which is blocked off at
one end. In other words, it's a dead end.
*Rahul lives in a beautiful house in a quiet cul de sac.
What is the difference between Ònly Ram can play tennis' and `Ram can only play
tennis'?
The first sentence means that no person other than Ram can play tennis. You may have
many friends who play games, but none of them, except Ram, can play tennis. They may play
other games, but not tennis. The second sentence, on the other hand, means that tennis is the only
game that Ram can play. He cannot play any other game. Your other friends may play cricket,
table tennis, badminton, etc, but Ram cannot play any of these. Here are a few more examples.
*Only Geetha likes the Physics teacher. (No other student likes the teacher.)
*Geetha likes only the Physics teacher. (She doesn't like any other teacher.)
What is the difference between `psych out' and `psych someone out'?
Both are expressions used in informal contexts. When you `psych out' you become
terribly excited about something. You get so excited that in the process you sometimes lose your
ability to think clearly.
*When my brother saw the new car I had bought, he psyched out.
When you `psyche someone out' you get them very excited and make them lose control
of their mental ability.
*Watching their children spending money recklessly psyched out the parents.
The expression can also be used to mean `to figure someone out'. When you `psyche
someone out' you begin to understand how his mind works.
*After having been married for twenty years, I still haven't psyched out my wife.
"The trouble with children is that they are not returnable." — Quentin Crisp
Is it `confidant' or `confidante'? Which is the correct spelling?
Both are correct. A `confidant' is someone you confide in. You trust this person implicitly
and you tell him everything that is going on in your life. In other words, you pour your heart out
to him. A `confidante', on the other hand, is a woman whom you tell your problems to. There are
a few words in English where the addition of the letter è' changes the gender: blond (man) and
blonde (woman) is one such example.
*Shruthi was her uncle's only confidante.

Both words are pronounced the same way. The first two syllables are pronounced like the
first two syllables of `confidence'. The à' in `dant' is like the à' in `pants', ànts', and àpple'.
While some people put the stress on the first syllable, others put it on the final syllable.
"There are a few things more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their
own." — Doug Larson
How is the word `content' pronounced?
It can be pronounced in two different ways, and the pronunciation depends on how the
word is used. If you use the word as a noun, then the stress is on the first syllable. For example,
if you are talking about the `contents' of a suitcase or a book, then the ò' is pronounced like the
ò' in `con', `continent' and `confidence'. The second syllable is pronounced like the word `tent';
the stress is on the first syllable. If, on the other hand, you use the word either as an adjective or a
verb, then the stress is on the second syllable. For example, if you are talking about how happy
or content you are with life, then the ò' in the first syllable is like the à' in `china'. The
following syllable is pronounced like the word `tent'.
*There was no content (CONtent) in any of the presentations the students made.
*The students were content (conTENT) to sleep in the veranda.
*Mariam contented (conTENTed) herself eating peanuts and drinking milk.
Which is correct? `Waiting in the wings' or `waiting on the wings'?
The correct expression is `waiting in the wings'. The `wings' in this idiom has nothing to
do with the wings of a bird. The idiom comes from the world of theatre. The word `wings' refers
to the sides of the stage, which are usually hidden from the audience by the curtain. Actors
normally wait here before they walk onto the stage. When you say that someone is waiting in the
wings, what you mean is that the person is ready to perform; all he needs is an opportunity.
*We must give him an opportunity. He's been waiting in the wings for too long.
What is the difference between `lonely' and àlone'?
If you are sitting all alone in the dining hall, there is no else with you in the room. You
are the only person present, the sole occupant. Loneliness, on the other hand, is a state of mind.
When you say that you feel lonely, what it implies is that you feel unhappy because you don't
have any friends or anyone to talk to; you feel isolated. When you are in the company of people
you are not alone, but you can be lonely. You might feel that you don't really belong with the
group of people. Since you have nothing in common with them, you cannot relate to them. When
people go abroad, they might be in the midst of a lot of people, but they still feel very lonely. On
the other hand, people may be all alone, but they may not feel lonely.
*Thinking of his life back home made him feel extremely lonely.
Know your English
"When you meet someone at eleven o'clock in the night, how do you greet him? Do you
say, `Good evening' or `Good night'?"
"You normally say...."
"Sujatha says it's `Good evening' and I say ...."
"She is right. You say, `Good evening'. You see...."
"But I'm seeing this person late in the night."
"That's true. But what you should remember is that `Good evening' is another way of
saying, `hello'. Good night is not used to greet people. When you say `Good night' to someone..."
"You are saying `Good bye'. Is that the point you're making?"
"Exactly! Which is why when you walk into a restaurant late in the evening, the waiter
wishes you `Good evening', and when you leave, he says, `Good night'."
"I lose to Sujatha again! Hey, did you ask your boss for a raise?"
"Yes, I did. The Scrooge said, `No way'."
"What did you call him?"
"S..c..r..o..o..g..e. The `scroo' is pronounced like the word `screw', and the final `ge'
sounds like the `j' in `jam', `jump', and ...."
"Job!"
"You're bang on! Do you know what the word means?"
"Well, whenever we talk about your boss, you usually say how tight fisted he is. So a
Scrooge must be someone who hates spending money. He must be a miser. Just like Uncle
Scrooge in the Donald Duck comics!"
"Excellent. Scrooge is actually a character in Charles Dickens's À Christmas Carol'.
When I was growing up, I thought my uncle was a bit of a Scrooge. But he was very generous
compared to my boss."
"If you ask me, Sujatha is a real Scrooge. But tell me, why is your boss refusing to give
you a raise? It's long overdue, isn't it?"
"I don't know. Maybe he just wants me to jump through hoops for him."
"Jump through what?"
"Hoops. When you jump through hoops, you do everything that the other person wants
you to."
"In other words, you bend over backwards to please the individual."
"Exactly! Here's an example. I don't get along with Radha. She wants all her friends to
jump through hoops for her. Something that I am not willing to do."
" You can also say, `jump through a hoop'. For example, I am not willing to jump through
a hoop for you."
"I don't expect a Scrooge like you to...."
"Me? A Scrooge! I've lent you more than 500 rupees. Fork it over."
"Fork it over! What are you talking about?"
"When you ask someone to fork something over, you want him to hand it over to you.
The expression is used in informal contexts and is usually used with money."
"You borrowed money from me last week. Fork it over. How does it sound?"
"Good. Now about that money you borrowed...."
"Do you think the bank will fork over more money to help us...."
"I don't think so. Tell me, how was the movie that you were planning to see yesterday?"
"I didn't go. You see, it was so hot yesterday that I decided to stay indoor and watch TV
instead."
"You decided to stay indoors not indoor."
"How do you use ìndoor' then?"
"Table tennis is an indoor game."
"There are many hotels which have an indoor swimming pool."
"Good example. Most gyms are indoors. Now coming back to the five hundred rupees!
When are you going to fork it over?"
"My! My! Just look at the time. It's getting late! Good night Scrooge!"
"Children really brighten up a household. They never turn the lights off." — Ralph Bus
April 2006
•"How do you pronounce s..p..i..e..l?" (20060424)

•What is the meaning of `metrosexual'? (20060417)
•What is the meaning of `gun-shy'? (20060417)
•How is the word `bourgeois' pronounced? (20060417)
•What is the meaning of `the boot is on the other foot'? (20060417)
•What is the difference between `shout at' and `shout to'? (20060417)
•What is the meaning of `what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander'? (20060410)
•Is it okay to refer to a girl as being `homely'? (20060410)
•What is the difference between `semblance' and `resemblance'? (20060410)
•What is the meaning of `nuts and bolts'? (20060410)
•What's the difference between Ì am giving an exam' and Ì'm taking an exam'? (20060410)
•What is the difference between `slap on the back' and `slap on the wrist'? (20060403)
•What is the meaning of `to make waves'? (20060403)
•Why do we say, `the U.N', but not `the UNESCO'? (20060403)
•How is the word `demise' pronounced? (20060403)
•Which of the following sentences is correct? `The majority of the applicants is not qualified' or
`The majority of the applicants are not qualified'? (20060403)
"How do you pronounce s..p..i..e..l?"
"The `s' sounds like the `sh' in `shoot', `should', and `ship', and the following `piel' is
pronounced like the word `peel'."
"I see. Is it OK to pronounce the `sp' like the `sp' in `spool', `spill', and `sport'?"
"Yes, that's another way of pronouncing the word."
"Tell me, what does `spiel' mean?"
"A spiel is a well rehearsed speech that a person gives very often... ."
"You mean it's something like what salespersons do? They have a well prepared speech,
and they give it whenever a customer asks them a question or... ."
"It's not just salesmen who give spiels. Lots of other people do too."
"Politicians do it all the time!"'
"Exactly! Spiels are usually given in order to persuade people. Prabhakar gave us a spiel
on why we should invest in his company."
"When my boss started his spiel on how difficult things were when he started the
company, most of us groaned."
"He gives that spiel whenever someone asks for a raise, doesn't he?"
"You're bang on! You see... ."
"Bang on? Does it mean èxactly right' or something like that?"
"Very good. That's exactly what it means. Achala's criticism of her friend's essay was
bang on."
"For a change, many of your boss' predictions about the stock market were bang on. Did
your company make a lot of money?"
"Financially, our company is in fantabulous shape. Yet,... "
"Fantabulous! Never heard that word before."
"It's a combination of `fantastic' and `fabulous'. The word means `great' or èxcellent'. For
example, our captain scored a fantabulous century in the last match."
"How about this example? The movie was fantabulous."
"Sounds good. The word is normally used in informal contexts."
"If the company is doing really well, why is your boss unwilling to give you a raise?"
"Why don't you go ask the worrywart?"
"The who?"
"The worrywart. A worrywart is someone who worries excessively. He worries even
when there is no reason to. When I went to the library, I ran into that worrywart, Harish."
"I hate meeting worrywarts. Ten minutes after being with one, you end up feeling
depressed."
"That's true. Just imagine how I feel after spending half an hour with you."
"I may make you feel depressed every now and then, but I am certainly not a worrywart."
"You have a point there. I was just trying to needle you."
"Needle me? Does it mean that you were trying to irritate me?"
"Yes, that's right. When you needle someone, you are trying to annoy or irritate him/her
by making unkind remarks. Raju enjoys needling his neighbour about her accent."
"How about this example? The students succeeded in needling the new teacher."
"Sounds good. Maybe I should keep needling my boss till he gives me a raise."
"I seriously doubt if you will get one by needling him. Anyway, how is work? Enjoying
it?"
"Spinning my wheels. That's all."
"Spinning your wheels? What are you talking about?"
"When you say that all you're doing is spinning your wheels, what you mean is that you
are wasting your time. I think I need to find another job. Something more challenging. I feel that
I am just spinning my wheels here."
"Lots of students spend their three years in college spinning their wheels."
"Everyone has a purpose in life. Perhaps yours is watching television."— David
Letterman
What is the meaning of `metrosexual'?

The term is used to refer to men living in cities ("metros") who consider themselves to be
`sensitive' and `romantic'. These people are always immaculately dressed and spend a lot of time
in front of the mirror to make sure that they are looking their best. Unlike the ordinary `guy', a
metrosexual is not afraid of showing his feminine side; he may come to office with his
fingernails painted. He is usually fairly well to do, loves to shop and spends a lot of time and
money on clothes. A metrosexual may or may not be gay. Mark Simpson coined the word in
1994.
What is the meaning of `gun-shy'?
The word `shy' is often added to nouns like `camera', `gun' and `publicity' to mean that
that an individual is not particularly fond of that thing. For example, a person who is
`camera-shy' does not like standing before cameras; he/she doesn't like getting his/her picture
taken. Similarly, a person who is `publicity-shy' will do anything to avoid publicity. He doesn't
want his name mentioned in the media. A person who is `gun-shy' is afraid of guns and tries to
keep away from them. Guns and the noise they make, make him nervous. Nowadays, the
expression `gun-shy' has taken on a wider meaning. When you say that someone is `gun-shy',
what you mean is that the individual is very timid and afraid to take risks.
*After their last bridge collapsed, the company is gun-shy to build any new ones.
How is the word `bourgeois' pronounced?

The òur' is like the ùre' in `pure', `sure' and `cure'; the `g' sounds like the `s' in
`pleasure', `measure' and `leisure'. The sound that follows is like the `w' in `what', `why' and
`wait'. The final vowels sound like the àr' in `bar', `par' and `car'. The `s' is silent and the stress is
on the first syllable. This is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word. The French pronounce
the word rather differently. `Bourgeois' is often used disapprovingly to refer to the middle class
people who are only interested in material possessions.
*Karthick has become rather bourgeois since he returned from the States.
What is the meaning of `the boot is on the other foot'?
In many of our movies, in the beginning, the hero is shown as a very weak individual.
The villain constantly beats him up. But in the course of the movie, the situation slowly begins to
change; and by the end, the roles are reversed. It's the hero who is in a dominant position, and the
villain in a weak one. When you say that the boot is on the other foot, you mean that the situation
is the opposite of what it was earlier. In other words, the tables have turned. Americans tend to
say, `the shoe is on the other foot'.
*The Americans are realising that they can't get other countries to do what they want
them to. The boot is on the other foot now.
What is the difference between `shout at' and `shout to'?

When you become angry with someone, you sometimes end up `shouting at' them. You
say whatever it is you want to say in a loud and angry voice. In this case, you are being
aggressive.
*The coach shouted at the players when they turned up late for practice.
When you `shout to' someone, you are calling out to the person. The person is probably
far away and therefore you use a loud voice to get his attention.
*Jai shouted to us to come and join him on the boat.
"You know your children are growing up when they stop asking you where they came
from and refuse to tell you where they're going." —
P.J. O'Rourke
What is the meaning of `what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander'?
Some parents treat their sons and daughters differently; they do not have the same set of
rules for the two. For example, they may allow their sons to go out with their friends on Friday
evenings, but may not allow their daughters to do so. As far as they are concerned, it is not okay
for girls to go out. Such parents do not believe that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the
gander. In other words, they don't think that what is appropriate for one person, is appropriate for
another. It's also possible to say, `what's good for the goose is good for the gander'. The
expression has been around for several centuries, and is considered rather old fashioned.
*If you're going to punish me for watching too much television, then you should punish
Geetha, too. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Is it okay to refer to a girl as being `homely'?
If she is not much to look at, then you can call her `homely'. When you refer to a girl as
being homely, what you are suggesting is that she is rather plain or ugly. The word can be used
with animals as well.
*Her daughters are very intelligent, but rather homely.
When you refer to a chair as being `homely', what you mean is that it is not elegant to
look at, but comfortable to sit on.
What is the difference between `semblance' and `resemblance'?
When you say that two objects or people `resemble' each other, you are saying that they
look a lot like each other. Resemblance between two objects suggests that there is a likeness
between them. In this case, the similarity is there to be seen.
*There is a marked resemblance between you and your cousin, Sridhar.
`Semblance' is a word that is normally used in formal contexts. If you say that there was a
semblance of order at the meeting, what you are suggesting is that outwardly, things appeared to
be in order. This appearance of everything being under control, however, is false. `Semblance' is
generally used to suggest a contrast between outward appearance and inner reality. When
someone puts on a semblance of cheerfulness at a party, he is only pretending to be cheerful. It is
only a show; he is faking it.
*After the riots, it took a week for some semblance of order to return.
`Semblance' can also be used to suggest a likeness between two objects.
*The clouds took on the semblance of a small elephant.
What is the meaning of `nuts and bolts'?
When someone talks about the nuts and bolts of a job, he gives a brief summary of what
the job entails. In other words, he gives you the basic information about the job. When you say
that someone knows the nuts and bolts of a subject, he knows the basic things about the subject.
*They tell me that Mohan is familiar with the nuts and bolts of television scripting.
What's the difference between Ì am giving an exam' and Ì'm taking an exam'?
When you say that you are `taking' an exam, it means that you are going to be writing
one. In other words, you are going to be a candidate, an examinee. When you say that you are
going to be `giving' an exam, it means that you are going to give someone else an exam; you are
the examiner. You are probably a teacher and you are going to give your students an exam. In
India, this distinction is not always maintained.
"The best way to keep children at home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant - and
let the air out of their tires." — Dorothy Parker
What is the difference between `slap on the back' and `slap on the wrist'?
As a child, whenever you did something wrong, you invariably got punished for it.
Sometimes the punishment wasn't as severe as you had expected it to be; in fact, it turned out to
be pretty mild. When you get slapped on the wrist for doing something wrong, you receive
punishment which is not as severe as it might have been.
People who drive without a license shouldn't get off with a slap on the wrist. They should
be put in jail.
*The children got a slap on the wrist for not doing their homework.
The expression `get your wrist slapped' has the same meaning as `slap on the wrist'.
*We got our wrists slapped for not drinking the milk.
You normally hit someone on the back when you are proud of what he/she has done. The
idiom `slap on the back' is used to show approval. It has the same meaning as `pat on the back'.
*We should give Rahul a slap on the back for helping us organise the cultural
programme.
What is the meaning of `to make waves'?
When you make waves, you are bringing about changes in a situation; changes that not
all people are happy with. The changes usually cause problems, and leave many people rather
unhappy.
*Anand is a good choice. He is diffident and is unlikely to make waves.
Why do we say, `the U.N', but not `the UNESCO'?
When you use the abbreviated form of a well-known organisation and you pronounce
each letter separately, then you use `the'. In the case of Ù.N', for example, you pronounce the ù'
as well as the `n' separately. Other famous organisations which have to be preceded by `the' are
`BBC', `CBI', `FBI' and ÈC". In the case of UNESCO, the letters are not pronounced
individually. You put them together and say it as a word. When the abbreviated form of an
organisation is pronounced as a word, then you need not put `the' before it. In the case of
ÒPEC', ÙNICEF', and `NATO', there is no need for the definite article `the'.
How is the word `demise' pronounced?

The first syllable is like the word `dim' and the second is pronounced like the word èyes'.
The stress is on the second syllable. The death of someone or something is referred to as the
demise of the person or thing. The word is normally used in formal contexts.
*If we don't get enough support, it'll result in the demise of the bill.
Which of the following sentences is correct? `The majority of the applicants is not
qualified' or `The majority of the applicants are not qualified'?
The second sentence is grammatically correct. `Majority of' is invariably followed by a

plural noun. For example, we say, `majority of students', `majority of young mothers' and
`majority of cases'. Since the noun in all the examples is plural, the verb that follows must also
be plural.
*The majority of students are unwilling to take part in the strike.
When `the majority' is not followed by òf', then the verb that follows can be either
singular or plural. For example,
*The majority is of the opinion that we must go on strike.
*The majority feel threatened by the possible changes.
"The phrase `working mother' is redundant." — Jane Sellman
March 2006
•What is the meaning of `cook the books'? (20060327)

•Which is correct? `How are the team?' or `How is the team?' (20060327)
•What is the meaning of `demonology'? (20060327)
•Which is correct? Ònce for all' or ònce and for all'? (20060327)
•What is the meaning of `join the majority'? (20060327)
•What is the difference between a `medical shop' and a `chemist'? (20060327)
•How is the word `dilettante' pronounced? (20060320)
•What is the meaning of `wherewithal'? (20060320)
•Why is South America called `Latin America'? (20060320)
•What is the meaning and origin of `rule of thumb'? (20060320)
•What is the meaning of `nous'? (20060320)
•What is the difference between àfflict' and ìnflict'? (20060320)
•What is the difference between `dispatch' and `despatch'? (20060320)
•Which is correct "My house is opposite to the railway station" or "My house is opposite the
railway station"? (20060313)
•What is the meaning of `dies non'? (20060313)
•Cricket commentators talk about `the rub of the green... ' What does it mean? (20060313)
•What is the difference between àmple' and ènough'? (20060313)
•What is the meaning of `mouse journalism'? (20060313)
What is the meaning of `cook the books'?
This is an expression mainly used in informal contexts. When you say that an accountant
has cooked the company's books, what you mean is that he has changed the figures in the ledger
in order to cheat or deceive people. Companies, which are in the red, often resort to this, in order
to show that they are in good financial position. When you cook the books, you falsify the
accounts. The Chairman said, "Cook the books. I want it done before the annual shareholder's
meeting."
*Vijay was asked to resign because he refused to cook the books.
Which is correct? `How are the team?' or `How is the team?'
I understand that in British English both are acceptable. If you wish to think of the team
as a single unit, then you use the singular ìs'. On the other hand, if you think of the team as
consisting of distinct individuals, then you use the plural verb àre'. There are many nouns in
English which can be followed by either the singular verb or the plural verb: government, family,
team, firm, and people. These are just a few.
*The family is/are of the opinion that you should stop teaching.
text ignored
*The Government wants/want to sell off some of the public sector units.
What is the meaning of `demonology'?
Demonology is an orthodox branch of theology and it started off as the study of the devil,
witches, and other spirits thought to be evil. Nowadays, the term is being used to refer to the
people or groups of people we hate. As human beings we like a certain group of people and hate
others. For example, as far as the communists are concerned, all capitalists are evil because they
are only interested in exploiting the working class. College students, on the other hand, view the
administration with suspicion. This list of enemies that each of us has can also be referred to as
demonology. For example, you can say, the journal's demonology expanded to include
politicians, government officials, and communists.
Which is correct? Ònce for all' or ònce and for all'?
The dictionaries list only ònce and for all'. The expression is used to mean `now and for
the last time'. When you do something once and for all, you finish doing it so that you don't have
to worry about it again.
*After she completes the project, Seetha plans to return to France once and for all.
What is the meaning of `join the majority'?
When you join the majority, you die. It is also possible to say, `join the great majority',
`go over to the great majority' and `death joins us to the great majority'. Other idioms which have
more or less the same meaning are, `give up the ghost', `go the way of all flesh', and `kick the
bucket'.
What is the difference between a `medical shop' and a `chemist'?
In both shops, you can buy medicine manufactured by well-known pharmaceutical

companies. At the chemist's however, it is possible for you to have your medicine prepared. The
shop usually has someone who is well trained or qualified to prepare whatever it is you need.
"Advertising is legalized lying." — H. G. Wells
How is the word `dilettante' pronounced?
The ì' in the first syllable and the è' in the final syllable are like the ì' in `pit', `bit' and
`sit'. The vowel in the second syllable sounds like the à' in `china'. The following à' is like the
à' in ànt', àpple', and `sat', and the main stress is on `tant'. This is one way of pronouncing the
word. `Dilettante' is mostly used in formal contexts and it is used to refer to a person who shows
interest in the arts; his knowledge of the subject matter, however, is usually minimal. He is an
amateur and very often shows interest in a subject because he wishes to look fashionable. The
word is usually used to show disapproval.
*Dilip is a bit of a dilettante as far as Hindustani music is concerned.
What is the meaning of `wherewithal'?

If you say that you have the wherewithal to buy a house, what you are saying is that you
have the means to do it. In other words, you have the money to buy one. In most cases, the word
is used to refer to funds. The stress is on the first syllable.
*The wherewithal was sent to our factory in Hyderabad to produce spurious drugs.
Why is South America called `Latin America'?
The majority of people who live in this region speak either Spanish or Portuguese. Both
these languages, unlike English, have descended from Latin. Hence South America is called
`Latin America', and the people who live there are called `Latinos' or Latin Americans.
What is the meaning and origin of `rule of thumb'?
The idiom has been around for over three centuries. When we wish to measure the length
or width of an object and we don't have a tape or ruler at hand, we sometimes make use of our
thumb to do it. This way of calculating the length/breadth of something, will not give us the
exact measurement, only an approximate one. So when you say that you are doing something by
rule of thumb, you mean that what you are doing is based on experience or instinct, and not on
exact calculation.
*A good rule of thumb is to make three chapathis per guest.
What is the meaning of `nous'?
`Nous' rhymes with `house', `mouse', and `louse'. The word is used in British English to
mean ìntelligence' or `common sense'. It is usually used to show approval.
*The children had the nous not to turn on the lights when they smelt gas.
What is the difference between àfflict' and ìnflict'?
Very often people deliberately go out of their way to cause pain or problems to others.
When they do this, they are inflicting pain on them; they are doing things that they hope will
make others experience something unpleasant.
*The General wanted his troops to inflict pain on the prisoners.
When you are afflicted with pain or illness, you suffer; the pain affects you badly, and it
causes severe problems. You may suffer either physically or mentally.
*Many countries in Africa are afflicted by civil war.
What is the difference between `dispatch' and `despatch'?
As far as the meaning is concerned, there is no difference. The preferred spelling

nowadays seems to be `dispatch'.
"Some kids want to know why the teachers get paid when it's the kids who do all the
work."
— Milton Berle
Which is correct "My house is opposite to the railway station" or "My house is
opposite the railway station"?
You normally say that the house is opposite the railway station, and not òpposite to'.
When you use the word òpposite' in this manner, you are suggesting that there is something
separating the two objects. In this case, it could be that the railway station and your house are
separated by a road or a street. Opposite implies that the two buildings are on different sides of
the road/street. Similarly, when you say, "Divya's room is opposite Puja's", what you are
suggesting is that the two rooms are facing each other; there is a corridor between them.
*The nearest supermarket is opposite the hospital.
*The people who live opposite Anand's house are slightly crazy.
What is the meaning of `dies non'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The `di' is pronounced like the word `die' and the
following ès' is like the word èase'. The second word, which has the main stress, is pronounced
like the word `non'. `Dies non' is the shortened form of the Latin expression `dies non juridicus'.
`Dies' means `day', `non' means `not' and `juridicus' means `judicial'. As you have probably
guessed by now, this expression is mostly used in legal contexts to mean a day on which the
court doesn't work; a non-judicial day. Sundays, for example, are non-judicial days. Those who
have filed a case in court know that it takes years for it to appear. As far as these people are
concerned, the judiciary seldom works! Most days are `dies non juridicus'!
Cricket commentators talk about `the rub of the green... ' What does it mean?
This is an expression that is mostly used in the context of sports. In the first test match,
for example, England had the rub of the green on the fourth day. The Indians fielded poorly and
dropped a few catches. Even some of the umpiring decisions went England's way. The visitor's
seemed to have all the luck. When you say that someone has the rub of the green, what you are
implying is that everything is going their way — they have dame luck on their side.
*Ananya hasn't had the rub of the green in the last few tournaments.
What is the difference between àmple' and ènough'?
The word ènough' suggests sufficient or adequate. For example, when you say that you
had enough chairs for the guests, it means that you had sufficient number of chairs for people to
sit on. The chairs met your requirements; they were adequate. When you say that you had ample
money to go on the trip, it suggests you had more than enough money. Ample is larger in degree
and quantity when compared to ènough'. If you have ample evidence to put a guilty man away,
you have more than adequate or sufficient evidence to put him away for good. In other words,
you have plenty of evidence.
What is the meaning of `mouse journalism'?
The war in Iraq has given rise to a new sort of journalism — mouse journalism. This is a
term coined by Robert Fisk, a correspondent of the Independent. He said that the situation in Iraq
is so dangerous for journalists, that mouse journalism is the best way for correspondents to stay
alive. In this sort of journalism, the reporter goes to the scene of the event, gathers news as
quickly as possible (usually about ten minutes), and leaves before "men with guns arrive."
`Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.' — A
child.
Know Your English
"You can't be serious. What does Rama plan to do?"

"If worse comes to the worse, she plans on quitting her job."
"That's sad. I didn't know things were that bad. By the way, it's not `worse comes to the
worse'. The standard expression is, ìf the worst comes to the worst'."
"I see. If the worst comes to the worst, you could always borrow money from me."
"From you? Fat chance of that happening! If the worst comes to the worst, the couple will
have to postpone their wedding."
"We could always sell our house and move to another city, if the worst comes to the
worst."
"Americans tend to say, ìf worst comes to worst'. For example, if worst comes to worst,
we'll have to replace the captain."
"If worst comes to worst, we'll have to cancel our trip to Arunachal Pradesh."
"Good example. What's that colourful thing next to you?"
"It's my new cap. I bought it yesterday."
"Put it on for me, will you? Put on your thinking cap."
"Not very funny. You know there are days... ."
"Do you know what `put on your thinking cap' means?"
"Of course, I know what it means! When someone tells you to put on your thinking cap,
what they want you to do is to start thinking seriously about some problem."
"Exactly! They want you to come up with a solution. Sujatha put her thinking cap on and
came up with an answer."
"Tell me, where did the expression come from?"
"I understand that in the old days a judge used to put on a cap before he sentenced
someone."
"And this cap was called a thinking cap?"
"That's right."
"Tell me, how do you pronounce a..l..b..e..i..t?"
"That's a word I haven't come across in a while. The first syllable is like the word àll',
and the second is pronounced like the word `bee'. As for the final syllable, it's... ."
"It's probably pronounced like the word ìt', right?"
"Exactly! The main stress is on the second syllable. Any idea what the word means?"
"The character in this book says, `The Government was making progress, albeit, slowly.'
My guess is, it means àlthough'."
"Very good! That's exactly what it means. It's mostly used in formal contexts."
"I guessed as much. How about this example? Renu tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to jog 20
miles."
"Sounds good. But if I were you, I would avoid the word. It's considered rather old
fashioned. Your teacher might frown on it."
"No way! Haven't you heard? Our teachers are on strike. Isn't that great?"
"For you, maybe. But why are they on strike?"
"I think they want more money. The good news is that all the faculties are on strike. And
they will be on strike for at least a week."
"You mean the faculty is on strike, don't you?"
"I am talking about all the teachers from our college. So shouldn't it be faculties?"
"No, the entire teaching staff is usually referred to as `faculty'. Not faculties."
"I see. The faculty agreed to work on a Sunday. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good. Here's another example. Our faculty will be on strike all of next week."
"Let's forget about `faculty' for the time being. Tell me, what does `faculties' mean? The
word exists, doesn't it?"
"Of course, it does. The word `faculties' is used to refer to the power of the mind or
body."
"In other words, you are talking about an individual's physical and mental abilities."
"That's right. Here's an example. The man is nearly 95 years old. You can't possibly
expect him to be in possession of all of his faculties."
"The man was drunk. He definitely wasn't in control of his faculties."
"Are you in control of your faculties?"
"We're going to have the best educated American people in the world." — George W.
Bush
February 2006
•What is the meaning of `step up to the plate'? (20060227)

•What is the difference between `sparse' and `scarce'? (20060227)
•What is the meaning of `sting operation'? (20060227)
•How is the word `hoi polloi' pronounced? (20060227)
•Is it okay to say, "Every day they have wada and dosa during the midday?" (20060227)
What is the meaning of `step up to the plate'?
This is an expression that comes from the world of baseball. The `plate' refers to `home
plate'; the base a batter stands next to, as he gets ready to receive his first pitch. When a batter
steps up to the plate, he is ready to deal with whatever the pitcher may decide to throw at him. In
other words, he is ready for the challenges in store.
*I don't think there is anyone among you who would willingly step up to the plate.
*When it came to crunch time, Sujatha really stepped up to the plate.
What is the difference between `sparse' and `scarce'?
When you say that something is `sparse' what you mean is that there is very little of it and
what little there is, is unevenly distributed. For example, when you talk about sparse vegetation,
you are saying that the vegetation is thin, not thick, and this thin vegetation is distributed over a
relatively large area. There is vegetation in some places, but not in all.
*Thanks to the sparse traffic, we managed to cover the distance in two hours.
*Why he wastes so much time on his sparse hair is beyond me.
`Scarce', on the other hand, suggests that the shortage of the commodity is temporary. It
is not permanent. Scarcity can be man made as well. For example, usually in our country, the day
before the budget, petrol becomes scarce.
*I understand that during the Second World War, chocolates became scarce.
What is the meaning of `sting operation'?
Whenever we turn on the TV these days, we hear that some news channel has carried out
a `sting operation' on an unsuspecting politician. The word `sting' has many different meanings.
A well thought out scheme or plan used to trap criminals is called a sting. Using hidden cameras,
news channels have succeeded in getting some of our not-so-beloved politicians to talk about
how they use their official cars to carry drugs and how much they charge to raise question in
Parliament.
*The CBI came up with a well-planned sting and managed to nab many of the drug
peddlers.
The word `sting' also means to `cheat' or `swindle' — something that our politicians excel
in doing. Isn't it only fair that after having cheated us, they get stung in return? You know what
they say, what goes around, comes around!
How is the word `hoi polloi' pronounced?
The òi' in the two words is pronounced like the òi' in òil', `boil', and `toil'. The ò' in the
first syllable of `polloi' is like the à' in `china'. Both `hoi' and `loi' are stressed. In Greek `hoi'
means `the' and `polloi' means `many'. The term is normally used to refer to the common people
— the working class. We are not thinking of the rich, or the highly educated class when we talk
about the hoi polloi. Some people find this term offensive. Since the word `hoi' means `the',
people who have studied Greek argue that we shouldn't say `the hoi polloi'. But `the hoi polloi'
has become firmly established in English.
*The entry fee was kept very high to keep the hoi polloi out.
Is it okay to say, "Every day they have wada and dosa during the midday?"
We know when we say `midday', we mean 12 o'clock in the afternoon. Since we are
referring to a specific time in the afternoon, we should use àt' and not `during'. We should say,
"They have wada and dosai" at midday. If you would like to use `during', then use `middle' rather
than `midday'.
*The clerk told us that the forms would be distributed at midday.
*You'd better take a cap. It gets really hot during the middle of the day.
"Please excuse Ronald from P.T for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and
misplaced his hip." — Note from a mother
Know Your English
"Guess what? We have a new science teacher in school."

"Yes, I heard about your Johnnie-come-lately. How is he?"
"Johnnie-come-lately! What are you talking about? His name is not John."
"I know that. A Johnnie-come-lately is someone who is new to a situation or position. It's
an expression used mostly in informal contexts. For example, we have a Johnnie-come-lately in
the finance department. He has no idea what the company does."
"Well, our Johnnie-come-lately is a very nice man. And he seems to know how to handle
students. He's very different from our principal."
"One less person for you to complain about, I guess."
"That's true. I'm sure you're relieved. Hey, I heard that you finally went to see the hit
movie yesterday. What did you think of it? It was very moving, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was a moving experience. It made me move out of my seat and... . out of the
theatre."
"You must be joking."
"I'm not. I walked out after half an hour."
"You mean to say that you didn't like the movie? I thought it was great."
"You thought it was great. I thought it was syrupy."
"Syrupy? What is that supposed to mean?"
"When you say that something is syrupy, what you mean is that it is too sweet. It is rather
sentimental. In other words, you dislike it."
"The word is mostly used to show disapproval then?"
"That's right. For example, girls generally go gaga over syrupy love stories."
"No, they don't. Not nowadays, anyway. How about this example? I hate it when they
make books into movies. The movie always turns out to be syrupy."
"You have a point there. You know what they say. The book is always better than the
movie."
"The lyrics of this song are rather syrupy."
"That's another good example. Now before we go any further, let's ... ."
"Wait, wait. There's one thing that I've been meaning to ask you. What's the difference
between `farther' and `further'?"
"In some cases there is no difference."
"Are you sure?"
"Well, if you are thinking about distance, the two words can be used synonymously."
"So, in a sentence like, `We need to drive ten miles further to reach our destination', we
can use `farther' as well?"
"Yes, that's right. Here's another example. The injured man walked a little further/farther
along the path before he found someone who could help him."
"They tell me that Vijayawada is further/farther away than Hyderabad."
"What are you talking about? I just ... ."
"It was just an example. That's all. So are you saying there is no difference between
farther and further? None at all?"
"Of course, there is a difference. The word `further' can be used to mean ìn addition' or
`more'. `Farther' cannot be used in this way."
"If you wish to have further discussions, please meet me in my office."
"That's a good example. In such a context, you cannot use `farther'. The floods caused
further damage to the old bridge."
"I don't think we should discuss this matter any further."
"Hey, that's a nice shirt. Where did you get it?"
"Thanks. Cost me two hundred and fifty."
"Two hundred and fifty rupees! That's a rip-off!"
"Rip-off? You mean the shirt is torn somewhere?"
"No, no! I mean to say that you were cheated. Rip-off is a term used in informal contexts
to mean `deceive' or `cheat'.
"If you are not careful, you'll get ripped off."
"I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up — they have no holidays."
- Henry Youngman
Know Your English
"What are you reading?"

"An article about the Minister's press conference. How do you pronounce s..t..y..m..i..e?"
"The first syllable rhymes with `my' and `by'. The ìe' in the second syllable is like the ì'
in `bin', `fin', and `tin'. The main stress is on the first syllable."
"So it's pronounced STYmie?"
"That's right. Any idea what the word means?"
"Well, in this article the reporter says that the Minister was stymied by the question."
"So what do you think it means? Guess."
"The Minister was unable to answer the question. He was stumped by it. He was put in an
awkward or difficult situation."
"Very good. It means all those things. When you are stymied, you are put in an awkward
position and you find it difficult to continue to do what you are doing. It's a word that is mostly
used in informal contexts."
"I see. Can I say... ."
"Do you know where the word `stymie' comes from?"
"Haven't a clue."
"It's a term that is used in golf. When you are stymied, you really don't know what to do
because your opponent's ball is between yours and the hole."
"In other words, it is blocking your shot?"
"That's right."
"It's a pretty awkward position to be in, I guess. How about this example? The students'
plans to have a rock concert were stymied when the principal refused allow outsiders into the
campus."
"Why do you always have to make the principal the villain in your examples?"
"Well, someone has to be the villain. So, why not the principal?"
"Raju was stymied when Satish refused to help him when he had money problems."
"Why should he have been stymied? After all, when Satish had problems, Raju never
helped him. You cannot expect someone... ."
"You take everything too seriously. You need to lighten up."
"Lighten up? Do you mean to say that I am putting on weight?"
"No, no! It has nothing to do with weight. When you tell someone to lighten up, you are
asking them to relax."
"In other words, you are telling them to take it easy. To calm down."
"Exactly! You don't have to shout at her so much. All she did was ask you an innocent
question. You need to lighten up."
"I'll tell you who needs to lighten up. Promod!"
"You have a point there! He gets upset about everything doesn't he? But who is going to
tell him to lighten up? Everyone is scared of him."
"Well, that's true. What was it that stymied the Minister? Has someone found evidence
that his colleagues have been lining their pockets?"
"Lining their pockets? Hey, I have come across that expression before. Doesn't it mean to
make money in an illegal manner or something like that?"
"Exactly!"
"Politicians taking money is not considered news in India. We expect them to. The
problem is many of our politicians are more interested in lining their pockets than in serving the
people."
"You can't really blame them for wanting to line their pockets. After all, they spend lots
of money trying to become a minister."
"That's true. And as soon as they become public servants, they begin to treat the public
like servants!"
"You have a point there! I just read somewhere that some of the top executives in a well
known company were more interested in lining their pockets than in looking after the welfare of
their employees."
"Nothing new in that. Happens all the time."
"You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance."
—
Franklin P. Jones
Know Your English
"So, what did you think of the new restaurant?"

"The food was just great. Loved their paper masala dosa."
"It was huge, wasn't it? My friend and I couldn't eat the whole thing."
"My friend Vinod, on the other hand, had no problem at all. He made short work of it."
"Short work of a masala dosa? What do you mean by that?"
"When you make short work of something, you deal with it very quickly. It's an
expression that is mostly used in informal contexts"
"How about this example? We made short work of the problems that the physics teacher
had given us."
"You making short work of a problem in physics! That's very hard to believe."
"In that case, how about this example? I made short work of the biscuits that my mother
baked on my birthday."
"It sounds more like you. You are a bit of a cookie monster!"
"Not very funny."
"It is also possible to make short work of someone. The challenger made short work of
the former champion."
"By the way, how was your meeting with the principal?"
"Not very good, I'm afraid. He was in a bad mood and he wouldn't let us say our
opinions."
"You cannot say that. It is not..."
"Of course, I can say it. You don't know my principal..."
"What I am trying to tell you is, `say our opinion' is wrong. You can `give your opinion',
èxpress your opinion', and `state your opinion'. But you cannot `say your opinion'."
"I see. The teacher refused to give her opinion on the matter."
"The author expresses his opinion about the cricket team in this article."
"Do I really have to give my opinion? I don't feel like doing so."
"Tell me, why didn't the principal allow the students to talk?"
"He was angry that we entered his room without permission."
"You should have waited. What was..."
"Waited? We waited for half an hour before entering his room."
"The principal must have sensed that you people were angry about something. That's the
reason why he was letting you cool your heels."
"Cool our heels? What are you talking about?"
"When you let someone cool his heels, you make him wait for some time."
""But by making people wait, you only succeed in increasing their anger. While he was
having dinner, he made his clients cool their heels in the lobby of the hotel."
"That's not a nice thing to do. Whenever my secretary gets angry about something, I
never ask her to come and see me immediately. I let her cool her heels for a while before talking
to her about it."
"Government officials make it a habit of making people cool their heels."
"That's probably because many of the people who work in government offices think they
are the cat's whiskers."
"Cat's whiskers? What does it mean?"
"When you say that you are the cat's whiskers, what you are suggesting is that you are
better than those around you. You are the most outstanding."
"In other words, the others are beneath you."
"I guess you could say that. For example..."
"Let me try. Cinderella probably thought that she was the cat's whiskers in her new
dress."
"Many of our film stars think that they are the cat's whiskers."
"That's probably because everyone keeps running after them. Not even in government
offices are they made to cool their heels."
"Sad, but true."
"However far your travels take you, you will never find the girl who smiles out at you
from the travel brochure." — Unknown
January 2006

•Which is correct? `Blind in one eye' or `blind to one eye'? (20060123)
•What is the meaning and origin of `touch wood'? (20060123)
•What is the difference between `He is my best friend' and `He is a close friend'? (20060123)
•What is the meaning of èt al'? (20060123)
•How is the word `hegemony' pronounced? (20060123)
•What's the difference between `see through someone' and `look through someone'? (20060123)
•Is it OK to say, `He was given an yellow card'? (20060123)
•What is the meaning of `Beltway politics'? (20060102)
•What is the meaning and origin of `get someone's goat'? (20060102)
•What is the origin of `quiz'? (20060102)
•What is the difference between `nevertheless' and `however'? (20060102)
•Is it OK to say, `Yesterday night'? (20060102)
•What is the difference between `sell' and `sell out'? (20060102)
Know your English
"Hey, come on in! How are things?"

"Not very good, I'm afraid. My neighbour has been complaining to my dad about the
noise we make when we play cricket."
"I don't think your dad should take him very seriously. Your neighbour gripes about the
kids in your building all the time."
"Gripes about kids? Don't think I've heard that expression before. What does it mean?"
"When you `gripe about something to someone' you complain constantly in an annoying
sort of way. For example, Geetha is always griping to me about the lack of civic sense in our
country."
"So if my friend complains constantly, can I say, `Don't gripe to me about it. Tell the
principal how you feel about the matter."
"That's a good example. If Saurav hadn't griped about the coach to the media, he would
have remained the captain of the Indian team."
"You have a point there. Talking about captains, has your boss told you where the annual
conference will be this year?"
"No, our usual Friday meeting went on longer than expected. Most people were too tired
to decide on a place. The matter was left up in the air for..."
"Left up in the air? What does it mean?"
"When you leave some matter up in the air, you leave it undecided."
"I see. How about this example? My father can't take decisions very quickly. He leaves
matters up in the air for months. It drives my mother crazy."
"That's a good example. My boss, on the other hand, likes people to take quick decisions.
Employees are discouraged from leaving something hanging in the air."
"Hanging in the air? I thought you said... "
"It has the same meaning as `leave something up in the air'."
"I see. Take a decision now. I don't want you to leave it hanging in the air."
"Good example."
"O.K. Tell me, is it also possible to leave someone up in the air?"
"Yes, it is. When you leave someone up in the air, you leave the person waiting for a
decision. You don't tell him whether it's a `yes' or a `no'. For example, what do you mean you
haven't taken a decision about my promotion? How long do you plan to leave me up in the air
like this?"
"The Vice Chancellor said that he hadn't taken a decision about the demands. He left the
students up in the air."
"That's a good example. Don't do this to me, please. Don't leave me up in the air like
this."
"That's the kind of treatment we get in most government offices. Whenever we go to the
municipal office, for example, we are usually left hanging. Most of the time you won't find
anyone at the table."
"That's true. If we had those kind of people in our office, my boss would ask them to
either shape up or ship out."
"Shape up or ship out? Does it mean behave yourself or just leave?"
"That's right. When you tell someone to shape up or ship out, you are warning them that
if they don't behave themselves, you will ask them to leave. In other words, you want them to
meet your expectations. Here's an example. Nandini, you're constantly handing in your
assignments late. Shape up or ship out."
"This is the third time this month that our new driver has been involved in an accident.
Tell him that he either shapes up or ships out."
"I am sorry to say that your performance hasn't been up to the mark. Either you shape up
or ship out."
"You sound like my principal. He is such a... "
"Stop griping to me about your principal."
"Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what
you are doing, but no one else does." — Stewart Henderson Britt
Which is correct? `Blind in one eye' or `blind to one eye'?
When an individual has no vision in one eye, you say that he is blind in one eye. A
person can be 'blind to something', but not 'blind to one eye'. When you say that someone is
'blind to something' what you mean is that he is unable or unwilling to accept the truth. The
person does not see what is obvious to most other people.
*For some reason, Thiru is completely blind to his Principal's faults.
What is the meaning and origin of `touch wood'?
When after making a remark, you say `touch wood', you are hoping that the good fortune
that you have had so far continues. The expression has the same meaning as `knock on wood'.
*Our wicket keeper hasn't dropped a single catch all summer. Touch wood.
*The second hand scooter I bought recently hasn't given me any trouble. Knock on wood.
There are several explanations as to the origin of this expression. According to some
scholars, it comes from an old superstitious belief that knocking on a tree (wood) helped to drive
away evil spirits. Another explanation is that `touch wood' was the name of a tag game that
children played. The aim of the game was to run after your opponents and catch them. But if an
individual was touching a tree (wood), then he was safe; he couldn't be `captured'.
What is the difference between `He is my best friend' and `He is a close friend'?
It is possible for you to have several `close' friends. When you say, `He is my best friend',
it suggests that he is the individual who is the closest to you; it's this person with whom your
share your most intimate thoughts.
What is the meaning of èt al'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The èt' is like the èt' in `set', `bet', and `pet'; the
à' in àl' is like the à' in ànt', àpple', and `hat'. The main stress is on àl'. Èt al' comes from
Latin and it is the abbreviated form of èt alia' meaning other people or other things. The
expression is used after a name or a list of names to indicate that others are also involved. It is
normally used to refer to books and articles written by more than one person.
*For your next class, I would like you to read the article written by Balagopal et al.
How is the word `hegemony' pronounced?
The è' in the first syllable and the `y' in the final syllable are like ì' in `hit', `bit', and
`pit'. The `gem' in the second is pronounced like the word `gem'. The ò' is like the à' in `china'
and the main stress is on the second syllable. This is one way of pronouncing the word.
`Hegemony' is a formal word and is used to refer to a situation in which one group has more
control or power than others.
What's the difference between `see through someone' and `look through someone'?
When you look through someone, you see the person, but pretend not to. As far as you
are concerned he is not there, he doesn't exist. When you see through someone, you are able to
figure out what the individual is up to. In other words, you understand what he is planning to do;
what his intentions are even though the individual is trying his best to hide them.
*Harish was able to see through Narender's scheme right from the beginning.
Is it OK to say, `He was given an yellow card'?
No, it is not. Players are shown à' yellow card, and not àn' yellow one. Many words
beginning with the letter `y' are preceded by 'a'. For example, you say, à young man', à yard',
and à year'.
"One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work
is terribly important." — Bertrand Russell
Know Your English
"What's the matter with you? You don't look too happy."
"It's our friend Sujatha again. I said `Hi' and she didn't even bother to respond."
"She looked right through you, eh?"
"Looked through me? How can she do that? She's not Superman, you know!"
"In her case, Superwoman! When you look through someone, you ignore the person
completely. You pretend as if he or she doesn't exist. It could be that you are thinking about
something else and fail to notice the person in front of you."
"I see. The last time I saw my cable operator, he looked right through me."
"That's because you constantly complain about how poor the transmission is. When I
attend weddings, some of my cousins look through me."
"I can understand that. Who would want a cousin like you? But why should Sujatha look
through me?"
"Oh, don't worry about it. Ever since she won the first prize for her short story, she's been
acting a bit strange. Someone must tell her to get off her high horse."
"Get off her high horse? Does it mean to stop acting proud?"
"Something like that. When you tell someone to get off his high horse, you are asking
him to stop behaving or talking as if he were better than other people."
"I see. So can I tell Sujatha, `Listen, we've been friends for a long time. Get off your high
horse and talk to me'?"
"You certainly can. But I seriously doubt... ."
"Tell me, what is the connection between a horse and being proud?"
"In the old days a person's status was determined by the size of the horse he rode. Tall
horses were ridden by royalty and noblemen. So are you going to tell Sujatha to get off her high
horse?"
"No, I am very scared of her. Aren't you?"
"No, I am not! And frankly, I don't give a hoot whether she talks to me or not."
"Not give a hoot! I think I've heard that expression before. Doesn't it mean not care one
bit or something like that?"
"Wow, you're in excellent form today! When you don't give a hoot about something, you
don't care about it at all. I don't give a hoot whether the star is sent to jail or not."
"The teacher doesn't give a hoot whether we come to class or not."
"That's not being a very responsible teacher! Here's another example. My friend Ganpat
gives a hoot whether our team does well or not in the tournament."
"Your friend Ganpat is pretty strange. How is his new business doing?"
"Not very well, I am afraid. Straight arrows like Ganpat never make good businessmen."
"A straight arrow? What does it mean?"
"When you refer to someone as being a straight arrow what you mean is that he is an
honest person. Someone who follows all the laws."
"If you want to run a business, you can't be a straight arrow."
"Exactly! Your friend Raja is not a straight arrow. I just don't trust him."
"What are you talking about? He is... ."
"Relax, I was just giving an example. The expression `straight shooter' has the same
meaning as `straight arrow'. Both are normally used in informal contexts."
"I see. How about this example? We need to elect a straight shooter to office this time.
This person needs to help us and not himself."
"Straight shooters don't make good politicians."
"Sad, but true. Most political parties avoid straight arrows."
"Most politicians look right through them."
"I'd much rather be a woman than a man. Women can cry, they can wear cute clothes,
and they are the first to be rescued off sinking ships." — Gilda Radner
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH
"Why did you have to go? Your boss wasn't ordering you to."
"What you don't understand is that sometimes my boss' request is tantamount to a
command."
"Tantamount? Don't think I have heard that word before. What does it mean?"
"When you say that one thing is `tantamount' to another, you mean that the two are
equivalent. They are ... "
"So what you are saying is that your boss' request is equivalent to a command!"
"Yes, that's right! There is no difference between the two."
"How about this example? The superstar's statement was tantamount to saying that actors
and politicians are above the law."
"In India they are, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are. Met Sujatha on my way here, and as usual we had a fight."
"What was it about?"
"It was about the word `timings'. She said that it doesn't exist. I told her she was crazy."
"She may be crazy, but she is right. You see... ."
"What are you talking about? We talk about Òffice timings' all the time."
"True. But it's an Indianism. Native speakers would say, `working hours' or òffice hours'.
Anyway, what else did you and Sujatha talk about?"
"About how dangerous train travel has become these days."
"I guess the Railway Minister wants to make train travel as exciting as living in Bihar.
You never know what is going to happen next."
"That's exactly what Sujatha and I were discussing about. You see, when ... ."
"You cannot say `discuss about'. You can `talk about something', but you `discuss
something'. You do not `discuss about something'."
"I see. Can we discuss this matter tomorrow? How does it sound?"
"Sounds great! Here's another example. I am afraid you are all too tired to discuss the
matter now. Let's wait till tomorrow. Tell me, why were the two of you talking about travelling
by train?"
"Because Sujatha is going to Patna next week. Official work, she said."
"Take a train to Patna! She should sleep on it. You see, it ... ."
"Sleep on it? Sleep on what? What are you talking about?"
"When you tell someone to sleep on something, what you want him to do is to give the
matter some thought before taking a decision."
"I see. How about this example? I don't want you to give an answer right now. Sleep on
it, and let me know tomorrow."
"Good example. Chandu proposed to Malathi. She didn't give an answer immediately.
She said that she would like to sleep on it."
"I think I understand how the expression `sleep on' is used. Tell me, we have `sleep on'.
Do we have the expression `sleep in' as well?"
"Yes, we do! The expression has several different meanings. When you `sleep in' you
oversleep. For example, we have all slept in one time or the other."
"My father missed the early morning flight because he slept in."
"We were late for the appointment because the CEO slept in."
"Well, if the CEO slept in, then I guess he can't blame anybody else. Anyway, what is the
other meaning of `sleep in'?"
"The expression can also be used to mean to get up late on purpose. For example, we
completed our project at 3: 00 a.m on Friday. The members of the team decided to sleep in on
Saturday."
"Meaning that they will be getting up very late on Saturday?"
"That's right! They may decide to spend most of the day sleeping."
"That's what I would like to do. I would like to sleep in all weekend. Unfortunately, my
parents think I should study."
"A hair in the head is worth two in the brush." — Don Herold
What is the meaning of `Beltway politics'?
In American English the word `beltway' is used to refer to a road which goes around a
city or town — what we in India call a `ring road'. The `beltway' referred to in your question is
the road that goes around Washington D. C., the capital of the United States. Beltway politics is
normally used to talk about the dirty politics that goes on in Washington.
What is the meaning and origin of `get someone's goat'?
When you get someone's goat, you succeed in annoying the individual or in making him
rather angry.
*Sometimes, Raja comes to work in jeans and a T-shirt. That really gets my goat.
*Mohan's constant whining gets my goat.
This idiom comes from the world of horse racing. I understand that horses are highly
temperamental creatures. In order to keep their prized possession calm and relaxed, trainers often
kept a goat as a stable companion for the horse. Goats do not get flustered very easily, and their
presence in the stable had a calming influence on the horse. Since the goat was a constant
companion, the horse became rather attached to the animal. In order to ensure that a particular
horse didn't perform well in a big race, stable boys working for rival owners sometimes stole the
goat the night before the big event. The absence of the goat made the horse moody, and as a
result it didn't perform well in the race. So when you say that someone has got your goat, you are
comparing yourself to the horse, and not the goat.
What is the origin of `quiz'?
According to one theory, this word was coined and popularised overnight. The story goes
that a theatre manager in Dublin by the name of James Daly took a bet with his friend that he
could coin a new word and have everyone in the city using it or talking about it within
twenty-four hours. Daly hired street children, gave them a stick of chalk each, and told them to
write the word `quiz' (which didn't exist then) on any surface they could find. The children spent
the night writing the word on walls and on roads. When the people of Dublin woke up the next
morning, they found the word written everywhere. People began to talk about it and they all
wanted to know what it meant. Of course, not everyone believes this to be the true origin of the
word.
What is the difference between `nevertheless' and `however'?
As far as the meaning is concerned, there is not much of a difference. The two can be
used interchangeably in many contexts; `nevertheless' is considered to be more formal than
`however'. Both words are used when you wish to emphasise that the second point you are
making contrasts with the first.
*He was very ugly to look at. However/nevertheless most girls wanted to marry him.
*It was pouring; nevertheless/however our teacher made us walk all the way to the
farmhouse.
Is it OK to say, `Yesterday night'?
We find a lot of Indians saying, Ì met him yesterday night.' Native speakers of English
would probably frown upon this. It's okay to say, `yesterday morning/afternoon', but not
`yesterday night'. You normally say, `last night'. For example, I met Dravid at the party last
night.
What is the difference between `sell' and `sell out'?
`Sell' is the opposite of `buy'. When you sell, you give something that you own in return
for money. For example, you have individuals selling vegetables, audiotapes, and real estate.
When you `sell out' something, you succeed in selling everything.
*All the chairs and tables have been sold out.
*Do you believe this? The tickets have been sold out.
The expression `sell out' has other meanings as well. When you `sell someone out' you
betray the individual.
*I think some of our politicians are selling our country out.
*I certainly don't wish to sell you out.
Òkay, so God made man first. But doesn't everyone make a rough draft before they make
a masterpiece?' — Courtney Huston
December 2005
•What is the meaning of `catch as catch can'? (20051226)

•Why is 26 December called `Boxing Day'? (20051226)
•What is the meaning of `period' in the following sentence? `He is an intelligent man. Period.'
(20051226)
•What is the meaning of `kowtow'? How is it pronounced? (20051226)
•What it the difference between `curriculum vitae' and `resume'? (20051226)
•Outside marriage halls, we see signs that say, `Bride marries Bridegroom'. Some read,
`Bridegroom marries Bride'. Which is correct? (20051226)
•What is the meaning and origin of àbove board'? (20051219)
•What is the meaning of `parochial'? How is the word pronounced? (20051219)
•Is it OK to say, `The President Abdul Kalam visited Chennai last week'? (20051219)
•Why do we call the place where the police work a `station'? (20051219)
•How is the word `fragile' pronounced? (20051219)
•What is the meaning and origin of `to eat out of one's hand'? (20051212)
•What is the difference between èat like a horse' and èat like a pig'? (20051212)
•What is the meaning of `tryst'? (20051212)
•How is the word ìdiosyncrasy' pronounced? (20051212)
•What is the difference between `defence' and `defense'? (20051212)
•I don't find `bitter gourd' in the dictionary. Does the vegetable have another name? (20051212)
•What is the meaning of `da bomb'? (20051212)
•What is the meaning of `go the whole hog'? (20051205)
•How is the word òbsequious' pronounced? (20051205)
•What is the difference between àmbience' and àmbiance'? (20051205)
•What is the origin of `nit picking'? (20051205)
What is the meaning of `catch as catch can'?
Sometimes in order to achieve something or complete a task, you resort to any method
available to you. You are not too worried about whether what you are doing is ethical or not; you
are intent on achieving your goal. As a result, you end up doing things in an unplanned and an
unsystematic manner. This is what `catch as catch can' means. The idiom has more or less the
same meaning as `no holds barred'.
*When his former partner complained that he was taking away his clients, Rahul told him
that in business it was a case of catch as catch can.
Are you a fan of WWF wrestling? If you are, then you will understand what the word
`catch' refers to. In freestyle wrestling, there are no restrictions on how you can hold your
opponent. You can `catch' or hold him/her in any way you can.
Why is 26 December called `Boxing Day'?
The word `boxing' has nothing to do with the sport; it has to do with boxes in which you
put things. During the Christmas season a lot of people attend church and while they are there,
they donate money and other goodies to the poor. The money and gifts are put in a box, and this
is called a Christmas box. The boxes are opened by a priest the day after Christmas, and he in
turn distributes the contents to the needy. This is why 26 December is called Boxing Day. For
most cricket fans in India, `Boxing Day' is always associated with the first day of a test match in
Australia.
What is the meaning of `period' in the following sentence? `He is an intelligent man.
Period.'
Very often people use the word `period' after they have made a statement or stated an
opinion. What they mean by this is that they are very sure about what they have said, and do not
wish to discuss the matter. Your sentence suggests that the speaker is very certain that the person
is very intelligent, and the matter needn't be discussed any further.
*There is no way that I am going to help Shashi. Period.
What is the meaning of `kowtow'? How is it pronounced?
The first syllable is pronounced like the word `cow' and the second rhymes with `cow',
`how', and `now'. When you `kowtow' to someone, you are very eager to please the individual in
power. You do whatever he asks you to do. The word is used to show disapproval.
*Poor Indu. All that kowtowing didn't help her get the promotion.
*One thing that I don't want you to do is to kowtow to those in power.
What it the difference between `curriculum vitae' and `resume'?
Curriculum Vitae comes from Latin, and it means `course of life'; a CV therefore
provides a concise autobiography of an individual. Since it is meant to provide a detailed account
of an individual's achievements, a C.V. tends to be lengthier (2-8 pages) than the normally crisp
resume (usually, not more than two pages). According to some people, the term CV should be
used only in the context of academics; in all other cases, resume should be used. This distinction
is seldom maintained, and there is a tendency to use the two words interchangeably nowadays.
The main aim of writing a CV or a resume is to get the person reading it to call you for an
interview.
Outside marriage halls, we see signs that say, `Bride marries Bridegroom'. Some
read, `Bridegroom marries Bride'. Which is correct?
How does it matter? Either way it leads to unhappiness! Here's my question. Why do you
need this sign? Who else is the bride going to marry? She has to marry the groom; she can't
possibly marry the `best man'!
`Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters
fight?'
— George Carlin
What is the meaning and origin of àbove board'?
When you say that a particular deal was above board, what you are implying is that there
was no hanky panky involved. In other words, it was honest and legal. The kind of deal that you
don't generally associate with our politicians.
If a politician is involved in a deal, you can be pretty sure that it is not above board.
Raju is straight as they come. All his dealings are above board.
There are several explanations for the origin of this idiom. According to one, the `board'
refers to a table. Therefore when you say that a deal was àbove board', what you mean is that it
was done in an open manner — the hands of the participants involved in the deal were out in the
open. There was no underhand dealing involved. Another explanation has to do with the
smuggling of goods on ships. In the old days, people who smuggled things always kept them
hidden below deck. The legal cargo would be placed in plain sight on the deck. In other words,
anything that was placed on the deck was considered àbove board'!
What is the meaning of `parochial'? How is the word pronounced?
The à' is like the à' in `china', and the following ò' sounds like the ò' in `go', `so' and
`no'. The `ch' is like the `k' in `king', `kiss', and `kit', and the final ìal' is like the ìal' in
`matrimonial' and `ceremonial'.. The main stress is on the second syllable. Did you watch the
one-day match between India and South Africa played in Kolkata? People in the crowd were
booing the Indian players because the so-called `Prince of Kolkata' had been left out of the
Indian team. The crowd was parochial in its outlook. When you say that someone is parochial,
what you mean is that he is very narrow minded. In the one-day match, the spectators gave the
impression that they were more interested in the fortunes of their `dada', rather than that of the
Indian team. The word has a negative connotation.
Kim has a very parochial attitude. I don't want him as a team member.
Many of the political parties are very parochial in their outlook.
Is it OK to say, `The President Abdul Kalam visited Chennai last week'?
If you want to include an individual's name with titles like `Queen', `King', `Prime
Minister' and `President', then you normally don't use the definite article `the'. For example, we
do not say, `The Queen Elizabeth drank coffee'. We can either say, `The Queen drank coffee' or
`Queen Elizabeth drank coffee'. Your sentence is therefore wrong. You can either say, `The
President visited Chennai last week' or `President Abdul Kalam visited Chennai last week.'
Why do we call the place where the police work a `station'?

A `station' is a place where some service is organised and provided. This is one of the
meanings of the word. Since policemen and firemen provide service for the common man, the
place where they work is called a `station'.
How is the word `fragile' pronounced?
The Americans and British pronounce this word very differently. The British pronounce
the ì' like the `y' in `my' and `by'. The Americans, on the other hand, pronounce it like the à' in
`china'. In both cases, the final è' is silent, and the main stress is on the first syllable.
"Never learn to do anything: If you don't learn, you'll always find someone else who'll do
it for you." — Mark Twain
What is the meaning and origin of `to eat out of one's hand'?
When you have someone èating out of your hand', you succeed in getting him to do
whatever you want. The individual becomes very submissive.
*Within no time, the former film star had all the office employees eating out of her hand.
*As a young man, he dreamed that he would have his wife eating out of his hand.
The expression comes from the world of animal training. You know that a wild animal
has been tamed when you succeed in getting it to eat something off your hands, without getting
bitten.
What is the difference between èat like a horse' and èat like a pig'?
Horses and pigs are known to have good appetites. Therefore when you say that someone
eats like a horse or a pig, what you are implying is that the individual consumes a lot of food.
Careful users of the language maintain a subtle distinction between the two expressions. When
you say that someone eats like a pig, it has a negative connotation. Pigs are supposed to be rather
noisy eaters. They slurp, grunt, and drool when they eat. I am sure other animals do the same
thing, but unfortunately for the pig, it is always associated with these things. Therefore when you
say, `He eats like a pig', what you mean is that he eats a lot, and has very bad table manners.
What is the meaning of `tryst'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. There are two ways of pronouncing this word.
Some people pronounce the `y' is like the ì' in `sit', `bit', and `fit', while others pronounce it like
the `y' in `my' and `by'. The meeting of two lovers at an appointed time is called a `tryst'; the
word is considered literary. There is a tendency nowadays to use the word to mean
àppointment'.
*Rahul, if you don't hurry you'll be late for the tryst. Never keep a girl waiting.
*"Ladies and gentleman, we have a tryst with destiny", said the speaker.
How is the word ìdiosyncrasy' pronounced?

The first ì' and the final `y' are pronounced like the ì' in `knit', `kit', and `kiss'; the `dio'
is like the `dio' in `radio'. The `sync' is pronounced like the word `sink', and the following à'
sounds like the à' in `china'. The main stress is on the fourth syllable `sync'. The word can be
spelt ìdiosyncracy' or ìdiosyncrasy' and it is normally used to refer to an individual's
peculiarities or habits. The word can be used with objects as well.
*One of his idiosyncrasies was to smell his socks before putting them on.
What is the difference between `defence' and `defense'?
We know that when it comes to spelling, there is some difference between American and
British English. This pair is another example. The British spell it `defence' and the Americans
spell it `defense'. Donald Rumsfeld, for example, is the `Secretary of Defense'. There are many
pairs of words in English which are spelt both with a `c' and an `s'. For example, advice, advise
and practice, practise. In the two examples, the noun form of the word is spelt with a `c' and the
verb form is spelt with an `s'.
I don't find `bitter gourd' in the dictionary. Does the vegetable have another name?
I understand that the vegetable is also called `balsam apple' and `balsam pear'.
What is the meaning of `da bomb'?
This is a slang expression of recent origin and is normally used to talk about a person or a
thing. When you refer to an individual as being `da bomb' or `the bomb' what you mean is that
he/she is outstanding. The expression is mostly used in American English.
*You should see the movie. I tell you, it is da bomb.
*You are taking a course with Jai? I am told when it comes to teaching, he is da bomb.
"There are three ways to get something done: 1) Do it yourself; 2) Hire someone to do it
for you; 3) Forbid your kids to do it." — Unknown
What is the meaning of `go the whole hog'?
This is an expression mostly used in informal contexts. When you `go the whole hog',
you do something thoroughly; you do not compromise in any way. It has the same meaning as
`go all the way'. Americans tend to say `go whole hog'.
*When the mechanic told me how much it would cost to repair the old car, I decided to
go whole hog and buy a new one instead.
*Gayathri went the whole hog and bought matching slippers and earrings to go with her
new dress.
According to one theory, the `hog' in the idiom doesn't refer to a pig, but to money. In the
18th Century, the word `hog' was a slang term for `shilling'. So when you went the whole hog,
you spent the entire shilling at once. The expression became popular in the United States when
Andrew Jackson ran for President in 1828. This gave rise to the expression `whole hogger' to
mean someone who would see a matter through, come what may!
How is the word òbsequious' pronounced?
The ò' is like the à' in `china' and the following `se' is pronounced like `see'. The `qui' is
like the `qui' in `quit', `quiz', and `quid', and the final òus' sounds like the òus' in `dangerous',
`furious', and `curious'. The main stress is on the second syllable `se'. The word has a negative
connotation. When you are òbsequious' to someone, you do whatever he tells you to do in the
hope that you will be suitably rewarded for doing all the work. In other words, you suck up to the
person.
*I think it's about time that you stopped being so obsequious to your boss.
*The obsequious mechanic walked in wearing a fake smile on his face.
The word comes from the Latin root `sequi' meaning `to follow'. Other words which are
derived from this root are `consequence' (something which follows), `sequel', and `non sequitur'.
What is the difference between àmbience' and àmbiance'?
The French spell it àmbiance', while most people in the U.S. spell it àmbience'. As far
as the meaning is concerned, there is no difference between the two words. The à' in àmbience'
is like the à' in `cat', act', and `bat', while the following ì' is like the ì' in `pit', `bit', and `fit'. The
è' in the third syllable sounds like the à' in `china' and the final è' is silent. The main stress is
on the first syllable. This is one way of pronouncing the word. Àmbience/ambiance' is normally
used to refer to the atmosphere of a place.
*The ambiance/ambience in the new restaurant was fantastic.
*The ambience of their new apartment is anything but cosy.
What is the origin of `nit picking'?
Monkeys and gorillas do this all the time. Among human beings, mothers perform this
duty once in a while. Any idea what a nit is? Most of us have come home with this unwanted
visitor on a few occasions. Nits are the eggs of lice or any other parasitic insects. When our head
becomes infested with lice, what is it that our mothers do? They run a special comb through our
hair and then peer intently at the comb. Whenever they spot a louse, they proceed to squash the
insect; they pick them off one by one. Getting rid of these small, but irritating insects from one's
head can be an overwhelming task. Every inch of the head has to be carefully examined and you
spend a lot of time looking for them. The original meaning of nitpicking was therefore looking
for lice and their eggs. With the passage of time, however, the expression acquired another
meaning. It began to be used to refer to someone who looks at the trivial details and finds faults
with them.
*There was a lot of nitpicking going on as to what type of bouquet should be given to the
chief guest.
*Let's stop with the nitpicking. Tell me what you think of the plan.
`There's a way of transferring funds that is even faster than electronic banking. It's called
marriage.' — James Holt McGavran
November 2005
•What is the difference between `fatal' and `fateful'? (20051128)

•What is the meaning of `face in the crowd'? (20051128)
•What is the meaning and origin of `pleased as Punch'? (20051128)
•What is the meaning of `sine qua non'? (20051128)
•Is it OK to say, Òn the lights, please!' (20051128)
•How is the word `beau' pronounced? (20051128)
•What is the difference between ànyway' and ànyways'? (20051121)
•How is the word ènnui' pronounced? (20051121)
•What is the meaning and origin of `wearing one's heart on one's sleeve'? (20051121)
•What is the difference between `speak English' and `speak in English'? (20051121)
•What does `pari passu' mean? (20051121)
•Which is correct? `He's a teacher of English' or `He's an English teacher'? (20051121)
•When somebody says `Sorry', we usually respond by saying `Never mind'. Are there any other
alternatives? (20051121)
•What is the difference between èxtempore' and ìmpromptu'? (20051114)
•What is the meaning of `sexing up a document'? (20051114)
•How is the word `disparage' pronounced? (20051114)
•Some men grow their hair long in order to cover their bald spots. Is there a word for this?
(20051114)
•What is the meaning of `stay the course'? (20051114)
•What is the difference between `learned' and `learnt'? (20051107)
•Which is correct `Petrol station' or `petrol bunk'? (20051107)
•What is the meaning of ìnter alia'? (20051107)
•Is it okay to say, `Heartfelt congratulations!'? (20051107)
•What is the meaning of èating someone's lunch'? (20051107)
•What is the meaning and origin of `taking the wind out of one's sails'? (20051107)
What is the difference between `fatal' and `fateful'?
Sometimes it is reported in newspapers that a man involved in a fatal accident was

admitted to the local hospital. You wonder why because anything that is fatal always results in
the death of an individual.
*Dilip's decision to walk across the frozen lake proved fatal.
The sentence suggests that Dilip drowned in the lake. `Fatal' can be used with abstract
things as well. For example, one can say, "The sloppy manner in which Akshay did the project
proved fatal to his career." "The article in the tabloids about the star's wild parties proved fatal to
his marriage." In both these sentences, the word is used to mean disastrous or destructive.
Fateful is related to fate. When you talk about a fateful day, you mean that it was a day
that changed your future or your destiny — the outcome is usually bad.
*Ganguly will always remember the fateful day he went to the press to complain about
his new coach.
What is the meaning of `face in the crowd'?

When there are a lot of people around you and there is nothing about you which makes
you stand out, then you say that you are just a face in the crowd. You go unnoticed by most
individuals. It is what happens to most of us when we go to the stadium to watch a one-day
international; we become a face in the crowd.
*Narender hates attending big parties. He doesn't like being a face in the crowd.
What is the meaning and origin of `pleased as Punch'?
This idiom, which Ravi Shastri uses quite frequently while commentating, has been
around for over 400 years. Someone who is pleased as Punch is extremely happy; he/she is
elated.
*Devidas was pleased as Punch when he got his promotion.
The `Punch' in the idiom has nothing to do with the drink or the blow that villains seem
to receive from our film heroes. It refers to a character in a 17th Century puppet show called
`Punch and Judy'. The main character, Punch, was a very content person who sang cheerfully all
the time. Hence the expression, pleased as Punch.
What is the meaning of `sine qua non'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The ì' in `sine' is like the ì' in `sit', `pit', and `hit',
while the following è' is pronounced like the ày' in `pay', `bay', and `day'. The `qu' is like the
`qu' in `quart', `quiz', and `quick'; the following à' sounds like the à' in àsk', `flask', and `task'.
The final word, which has the main stress, is pronounced like `known'. If you say that something
is `sine qua non' what you mean is that it is absolutely necessary. The expression like most Latin
expressions is mainly used in formal contexts.
*Perseverance is the sine qua non for all aspiring actors.
*Thick woollen jackets are a sine qua non for the trek.
Is it OK to say, Òn the lights, please!'
This is an expression which is commonly heard in India. We ask people to òn the lights',
òn the TV', òn the tap' and òn the heater'. Native speakers of English will not ask you to òn'
any of these things. Instead they will ask you to `switch' or `turn something on'. For example:
*Could you turn on the TV, please!
*Would you like me to turn on/switch on the fan?
By the way, you do not say, `switch on/turn on the tap'. It's always òpen/close the tap'.
How is the word `beau' pronounced?
It's pronounced like the word `bow' — the weapon you use to shoot arrows with. When a
woman refers to a man as her `beau', what she means is that the man is her boyfriend or her
lover. The word is considered old fashioned.
*The fashion model made a grand entrance hand-in-hand with her latest beau.
`Weather forecast for tonight: dark.' — George Cavlin
What is the difference between ànyway' and ànyways'?
As far as the meaning is concerned, there is no difference between the two words.
Ànyways' is mostly used in American English and is considered non-standard. If you use it in
informal contexts in your speech, you could probably get away with it. The word will not be
accepted in writing. The word ànyhow' has the same meaning as ànyway'.
*Ashwini says that she doesn't want to get married. Not now, anyway/anyhow.
How is the word ènnui' pronounced?
The first syllable èn' is pronounced like the word òn'; the following ùi' is like the `we'
in `weep', `weed', and `week'. The main stress is on the first syllable. The word is considered
literary, and is mostly used in formal contexts to mean `feeling of boredom'.
*Since returning home, Ram has experienced a profound sense of ennui.
What is the meaning and origin of `wearing one's heart on one's sleeve'?
This is an idiom that has been around for several centuries. When you wear your heart on
your sleeve, you make your feelings clear to everyone; in other words, you don't hide your
emotions. If you are in love with someone, you make it known to everyone that you are crazy
about this person.
*It's difficult to know what Asha is thinking. She doesn't wear her heart on her sleeve.
During the Middle Ages, when knights fought each other, they would dedicate their
performance to a woman of the court — usually someone they were in love with or cared for. To
let everyone know who they were in love with, the knights used to pin onto their sleeves a hanky
or a scarf belonging to the woman.
What is the difference between `speak English' and `speak in English'?
When you ask someone to `speak in English', what you want him to do is to use the
English language. Perhaps he is speaking in a language that you don't understand, and therefore
you want him to talk to you in English. This is the language that you want him to use on this
particular occasion. When you say that he `speaks English', what you mean is that the individual
knows and has the ability to use the language. In India, for example, many of us can speak two or
more languages, and depending on the context we choose to speak in a particular language.
*The CEO speaks five languages. At the press conference, he spoke in English.
What does `pari passu' mean?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The à' in `pari' is like à' in àsk', `task', and
ànswer'; the following ì' is pronounced like the èe' in `fee', `bee', and `knee'. The à' in `passu'
is like the à' in àct', `fact' and `bat'; and the following ù' is like the òo' in `cool', `pool', and
`fool'. The main stress is on the first syllable of `passu'. This is a Latin expression which literally
means `with equal footing'. When you say that two things are `pari passu', you mean that they are
travelling at the same pace, and hence are side by side. The expression is also used to mean,
`without partiality'.
*According to this report, inflation and interest rates increased pari passu last year.
Which is correct? `He's a teacher of English' or `He's an English teacher'?
Grammatically both are correct, but their meanings are somewhat different. When you
say that someone is a teacher of English what you mean is that the subject the individual teaches
is English. The sentence, `He is an English teacher' is rather ambiguous. It could mean that the
man teaches English. It could also mean that the teacher is English — in other words, the teacher
is an Englishman.
When somebody says `Sorry', we usually respond by saying `Never mind'. Are there
any other alternatives?
Yes, there are. It's very common to hear people say, Ìt's all right', Ìt's OK', `No
problem', `No big deal', and `Don't worry about it'. These are just a few of the alternatives.
"Always go to other people's funerals. Otherwise they won't come to yours." — Yogi
Berra
What is the difference between èxtempore' and ìmpromptu'?
Most people use the two words interchangeably to mean `spontaneously'. Careful users of
the language, however, maintain a distinction between the two. The word èxtempore' is
normally associated with public speaking. When you give a speech extempore, you give it with
no notes. There is no memorisation involved either. You stand before the audience and talk, but
this doesn't mean that you haven't given the subject matter any thought. You may have been
given your topic a month in advance, and you come so well prepared that you choose to speak
without notes. The word ìmpromptu' is normally used with musical performances. In this case,
the performer does not play a piece that he has rehearsed; instead, he creates the music as he
goes along. When the word is used in relation to public speaking, it suggests that there is no
planning or premeditation involved. An impromptu speech is one when you are asked to speak
all of a sudden, without any prior warning. In this case, you have little or no time to prepare; you
make up your speech as you go along. Many people do not maintain this subtle distinction
between the two words nowadays.
What is the meaning of `sexing up a document'?
Though this expression has been around for some time, it became popular when Dr. Kelly
accused the Blair Government of having "sexed up" its report on Iraq's Weapons of Mass
Destruction. When you `sex up' a document you make changes in it so that the content is much
more interesting or exciting to read. In other words, things are hyped up or spiced up. The
expression has a negative connotation.
* My boss wants me to sex up the document for the media.
How is the word `disparage' pronounced?

The ì' in the first syllable and the à' in the final syllable are like the ì' in `his', `miss',
and `fish'; the following à' is like the à' in àct', `pact', and `fact'. The final `ge' is like the `j' in
`jam', `juice', and `jute'. The main stress is on the second syllable. When you `disparage'
someone, you ridicule him; you speak of the individual in a manner that makes it plain to the
listener that you don't think very highly of him. The word is mostly used in formal contexts.
* I would like to submit my resignation now. I have no wish to be disparaged by the
Board.
* Please refrain from making disparaging comments about my favourite teacher.
Some men grow their hair long in order to cover their bald spots. Is there a word for
this?
Yes, there is — `combover'. It's called a combover because what these men usually do is
to allow the hair on one side of their head to grow long and then they proceed to comb it over the
top of their head to hide their baldness. The billionaire Donald Trump, the man you see in the
series "The Apprentice", has a combover.
What is the meaning of `stay the course'?
When President Bush talks about the situation in Iraq, one of the sentences that he repeats
very often is, "We must stay the course". When you stay the course, you continue to do what you
have been doing all along. No matter how difficult or time consuming the task may be, you keep
at it till you complete it. You stand firm in pursuing your goal. So what the American President
is saying that the U.S. must stay in Iraq till there is some semblance of peace in the country.
*Listen Rajesh! Giving up smoking is not going to be easy. You must stay the course.
*The diet my wife has put me on is killing me. But I need to lose weight. So I have
decided to stay the course.
According to some scholars, the `course' refers to the racetrack. In this case, it's the horse
that stands firm to reach the finish line — hopefully in a winning position!
"How can he already have a headache? I just got here!" — Dennis the Menace
What is the difference between `learned' and `learnt'?
There are many verbs like this: dreamed, dreamt; spoiled, spoilt; kneeled, knelt, etc.
When used as a verb, both `learnt' and `learned' have the same meaning. You can say:
* I have learned/learnt a lot from Ganesh this semester.
* Our new bowler has learned/learnt to bowl the `doosra'.
According to some scholars, `learned' is more common in American English, while
`learnt' is used frequently in British English. When `learned' is used as a verb, it is monosyllabic.
In fact, some people pronounce it like the word `learnt'. Others pronounce the final èd' like the
`d' in `dip', `deep', and `do'. When the word `learned' is used as an adjective to mean `scholarly',
it is pronounced as a word with two syllables. The final èd' is pronounced like the èd' in
`wanted', `grounded', and `hated'.
* As expected, the learned professor bored the poor students to death.
Which is correct `Petrol station' or `petrol bunk'?
The term `petrol bunk' is mostly used by Indians. Native speakers of English do not use
it. An Englishman would take his car to the `petrol pump' or the `petrol station' to get it filled. An
American, on the other hand, would take his vehicle to the `gas station' in order to `fill her up'.
What is the meaning of ìnter alia'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation of àlia'. The à' in the first syllable is like the ày'
in `pay', `say', and `day'. The ìa' is like the èa' in `dear', `fear' and `near'; the stress is on the first
à'. Ìnter alia' is a Latin expression which is mostly used in formal contexts to mean àmong
other things'. Like most Latin expressions, it is considered pedantic, and therefore is best
avoided.
* Raju is a collector who has, inter alia, 2000 rare stamps, 500 cricket cards and 5000 rare
coins.
It is advisable not to use this expression when you are talking about people. For example,
do not say, Àt the party, there were, inter alia, Shalini, Geetha, and Sampath.' In such a
sentence, use àmong other people' instead.
Is it okay to say, `Heartfelt congratulations!'?
I asked several people about this, and all of them said, `No'. But according to the Oxford
Collocations Dictionary, it is all right to say, `heartfelt congratulations'. You should remember,
however, the word `heartfelt' meaning `sincere' is used when we are deeply stirred or moved by
something. It is usually associated with emotions linked with sadness. One can talk about
`heartfelt sympathies', `heartfelt condolences', etc. But it is also possible to say, `heartfelt thanks'
and `heartfelt joy'. `Hearty', on the other hand, suggests high spiritedness, vigour and energy.
You can talk about `hearty laughter', `hearty appetite', etc. You cannot say `hearty condolences'.
What is the meaning of èating someone's lunch'?
This is an expression which is used in management. When a company èats the lunch' of
another company, it aggressively markets its products and succeeds in making inroads into the
other company's market share.
What is the meaning and origin of `taking the wind out of one's sails'?
When you take the wind out of someone's sails, you succeed in denting his confidence.
You achieve this by doing or saying something that the individual does not expect.
* Usha was really angry with her husband. But when he came home with flowers and a
saree, it took the wind out of her sails.
You have to remember that in the old days, ships depended on the wind to get from one
place to another. If you were to rob a ship that is sailing next to you of the wind, what would
happen? The wind would be taken out of its sails and as a result, the ship would stall.
`When I was a boy, the Dead Sea was only sick.' — George Burns
October 2005
•What is the difference between àmong' and àmongst'? (20051031)

•What is the difference between `too' and `very'? (20051031)
•What are the Siamese twins of the English language? (20051031)
•What is the origin of the word `duffer'? (20051031)
•How is the word `soliloquy' pronounced? (20051031)
•How is the word `niche' pronounced? (20051024)
•What is the meaning of `heartsink patient'? (20051024)
•What is the meaning and origin of `like a cat on a hot tin roof'? (20051024)
•Is it OK to say, `None of them have... '? (20051024)
•What is the difference between àvocation' and `vocation'? (20051024)
•What is the meaning of `pink press'? (20051024)
•Is it OK to say, `Boarding and lodging'? (20051024)
•What is the meaning and origin of `keep your powder dry'? (20051017)
•What is the difference between `traveller' and `passenger'? (20051017)
•An unmarried man is called a `bachelor'. What is an unmarried woman called? (20051017)
•How is the word `pizza' pronounced? (20051017)
•Does one `propose to' or `propose' a girl? (20051017)
•What is the difference between `wake up at 7' and `wake up by 7'? (20051017)
•What is the difference between "He died" and "He was killed"? (20051003)
•How is the word `nincompoop' pronounced? (20051003)
•What is the meaning of the word `schmuck'? (20051003)
•How does one address a divorced woman? (20051003)
•What is the meaning and origin of `chimera'? (20051003)
•Is it okay to say, `You can contact him in 25435439 (telephone no)'? (20051003)
What is the difference between àmong' and àmongst'?
As far as the meaning is concerned, there is no difference between the two words, and
very often the two are used interchangeably. When you are among/amongst a group of people,
you are surrounded by them. Some people argue that àmongst' is rather old fashioned and
should not be used. Careful users of the language maintain that àmongst', when used, should
come at the beginning of sentences. When it occurs in the middle, it should be used before words
beginning with vowels.
What is the difference between `too' and `very'?
If someone were to say to you, `You are very short', he is merely stating a fact. He is
telling you that you are rather short. Perhaps you are only five feet tall. He is not comparing you
with anyone or anything. If he says, `You are too short', it suggests that you are shorter than
necessary for something. Perhaps what the person is trying to tell you is that you are too short to
play basketball. You may be five feet ten inches, but you are not tall enough to play basketball.
You do not have the adequate height to play the game. The word `too' carries with it the meaning
`more than enough', `more than wanted' and `more than necessary'. After an interview, if you
were to say, `The questions were very difficult', what you mean is that the questions were
extremely hard, but perhaps you did manage to answer them. On the other hand, if you were to
say, `The questions were too difficult', what you mean is that the questions were so difficult that
you couldn't answer them.
*Though it was very hot, the kids played cricket all day long.
*It was too hot to play cricket. The kids stayed home and watched TV.
*Your daughter is very intelligent. She will do well in the exam.
*Your son is too intelligent for this class. I think he needs to be moved up.
What are the Siamese twins of the English language?
Expressions like `to and fro', `safe and sound', `take it or leave it', and `rhyme or reason'
are some of the Siamese twins of the English language. They are usually expressions joined
together by ànd' or òr'. Like the twins, the two words in these expressions are inseparable; their
order is fixed and they have only one meaning. You cannot say, `sound and safe' or `leave it or
take it'.
What is the origin of the word `duffer'?
We use the word `duffer' nowadays to refer to someone who is stupid or someone who is
very bad at doing something. The word is considered to be rather old fashioned.
*Reema told me that Ganesh was a duffer at football.
*Please, not Sita! I don't want that duffer in my team.
When the word was first used, it had nothing to do with people who had little or no
intelligence. In fact, the original duffer was someone who sold spurious goods. He was a cheat, a
no good peddler of very low morals. With the passage of time, however, the meaning `no good'
shifted from the seller to the naďve buyer. He was `no good' because he was stupid enough to be
easily tricked into buying something questionable. In the late 19th Century, the word began to be
used to refer to someone who was really bad at golf!
How is the word `soliloquy' pronounced?

The ò' in the first and third syllable is pronounced like the à' in `china'. The ì' is like the
ì' in `pit', `kit', and `hit', and the final `quy' is like the `qui' in `quit', `quiz', and `quick'. The main
stress is on the second syllable. The tragedies of Shakespeare are famous for their soliloquies. A
soliloquy is when a character in a play talks to himself or herself and in the process talks directly
to the audience. In this case, the lines are meant for the audience and not for any of the other
characters in the play.
"Oh no! I overslept! I'm late for my nap." — Garfield
How is the word `niche' pronounced?
The word consists of only one syllable and it rhymes with `pitch', `ditch', and `stitch'.
This is how some people pronounce the word. Others, however, pronounce the ì' like the èe' in
`see', `bee', and `fee', and the following `che' like the `sh' in `sheep', `she' and `sheet'. The word
has many different meanings, and one of them is finding a job or activity that is perfect for you.
*Ganeshan is extremely unhappy because he has been unable to find a niche for himself.
What is the meaning of `heartsink patient'?
This is not a patient with a heart problem; in fact, he is one who creates problems for the
poor doctor. We have all met individuals who constantly complain about their health. They may
not have any problem at all, but every time they see us, they buttonhole us and give us a long
lecture about their imaginary ailments. These individuals not only bore us, but also their
unfortunate doctors; they visit the poor man repeatedly and complain persistently about their
unidentifiable ailments. Whenever the doctor sees one such patient walking into his office, how
do you think he feels? Pretty depressed, right? His heart sinks on seeing him. Hence the
expression, `heartsink patient'.
What is the meaning and origin of `like a cat on a hot tin roof'?
How do you think a cat is likely to react when it lands on a tin roof that is pretty hot? It's
going to be pretty jumpy, right? The poor animal will probably jump from one spot to another,
trying to find a cool place to stand. When you say that an individual is like a cat on a hot tin roof,
what you mean is that he looks very nervous; he is unable to sit or stand still in one place.
*You should have seen Surendran before the interview. He was like a cat on a hot tin
roof.
*What's wrong with Hema? She is like a cat on a hot tin roof.
Is it OK to say, `None of them have... '?
People who love their grammar would argue that the sentence is wrong. They would want
`none' to be followed by the singular verb `has'. In informal contexts, however, there is a
tendency, even among native speakers of English, to use the plural `have'. In American English,
it is very common for people to say, `None of the movies were a hit' and `None of the guys were
good looking'.
What is the difference between àvocation' and `vocation'?

Some people refer to their job as their `vocation'. What they mean by this is that they
have found the job that they are particularly suited for. They believe it is their calling, and they
take it up because they wish to help other people.
*I am told that his vocation is banking.
An àvocation' is a hobby. It is an activity that you enjoy doing, but it's not the thing that
puts bread on the table. The word is considered formal.
*Shailaja told me that her avocation is painting.
*You'd better decide whether you want to make golf your vocation or avocation.
What is the meaning of `pink press'?
When Hitler came to power in Germany, he set up a special division in the dreaded
Gestapo; its job was to investigate suspected gays. If you were thought to be gay, your name was
put on the infamous `pink list', and then you were sent off to a concentration camp. In most
western countries, the colour pink is associated with people who are gay. So the `pink press'
refers to newspapers and magazines which deal with themes and stories that gay people would be
interested in.
Is it OK to say, `Boarding and lodging'?
In India it is because most hotels inform us that they have both `boarding and lodging'.
Native
speakers of English talk about `board and lodging'.
`When I was born, I was so surprised I couldn't talk for a year and a half.' — Gracie
Allen
What is the meaning and origin of `keep your powder dry'?
The powder in the idiom refers to gunpowder and not talcum powder — not the
`gunpowder' that we eat with our idlis either! This is the real thing. In the old days, gunpowder
and a steel ball had to be pushed down the barrel of a gun, before it could be fired. The powder
had to remain dry for the gun to fire. If it got wet, the gun couldn't be fired. People carrying guns
took precautions to keep the powder dry. When you tell someone to keep his powder dry, you are
asking him to remain calm and be ready for action. Sir Oliver Cromwell is believed to have
coined this expression. Before crossing a river to attack his enemy, he told his troops: "Put your
trust in God, but be sure to keep your powder dry."
*The soldiers were asked to keep their powder dry and await orders.
*Don't panic, you understand? All I am asking you to do is to keep your powder dry.
What is the difference between `traveller' and `passenger'?
A traveller is someone who goes from one place to another. This could be from one city
to another or from one country to another. An individual moving about the city in which he lives
cannot be called a traveller. A traveller can get from one place to another by different means —
an aeroplane, a ship, a car, a bullock cart, a horse, etc. The traveller may even choose to walk
from one place to another all alone; after all, that's how a lot of people travelled in the old days.
A passenger, on the other hand, is someone who is never alone; he always travels in the company
of others. Furthermore, a passenger never walks; he is always in something that is manmade —
car, plane, train, ship, cart, etc. Two people sitting on a horse cannot be called passengers; they
are both riders. But two people sitting in a coach being pulled by horses can be called
`passengers'. When you say that someone is the passenger, what it implies is that the individual
is not the driver. You can be a passenger in your hometown.
An unmarried man is called a `bachelor'. What is an unmarried woman called?
A woman who is young and still single is called a `bachelorette'. In fact, there was a
reality show in the United States by that name. You will not find this word in most dictionaries.
The word `spinster' is used to refer to a middle aged or an old woman who has never married.
Unlike `spinster', `bachelorette' does not have a negative connotation.
How is the word `pizza' pronounced?
The ì' in the first syllable is like the èe' in `feel', `peel', and `kneel'. The `zz' is
pronounced like the `ts' in `beats', `sheets', and `meets', and the final à' is like the à' in `china'.
The main stress is on the first syllable.
Does one `propose to' or `propose' a girl?

You usually `propose' something. For example, I propose that we cancel tomorrow's
meeting. Dravid proposed that the fees be hiked. When you ask a girl to marry you, you propose
`to' her. It's about time you proposed to Shyamala. Poor Vimal, he proposed to three girls last
semester, and all of them turned him down.
What is the difference between `wake up at 7' and `wake up by 7'?
When you wake up àt' seven, you get out of bed at exactly seven o'clock. Not before or
after seven, but exactly at seven. When you wake up `by' seven o'clock, you get out of bed at
seven or a few minutes before seven.
*I told my mother that I would be home by 6:00 o'clock.
*Ganesh said he'd be back home by 7: 00 o'clock. He returned at 10: 00 o'clock
"I speak twelve languages. English is the bestest."- Stefan Bergman
Know Your English
"Hi! Come on in. You look a mess. What happened?"

"It's my scooter. I was... ."
"The poor thing finally gave out, eh?"
"Gave out? It didn't give anything out! What are you ... ."
"When you say that something `gave out', what you mean is that it has become old and
has stopped working."
"I see. In other words, you are saying it has worn out."
"Correct. That's one of the meanings, anyway. For example, my neighbour's car finally
gave out when he was taking his wife to the hospital."
"I am sure the wife wasn't very happy about it. Can I say, your sandals look as though
they are ready to give out?"
"That's a good one! My motorcycle will probably give out in another six months."
"You've had that bike for nearly twenty years. It's about time you got yourself a new
one."
"I am planning on getting a preloved one."
"A preloved motorcycle? What does it mean?"
"Nowadays the word `preloved' is being used instead of `second hand'."
"Really? Revathi said that she would never buy a preloved car."
"Good example! I bought some preloved books last week."
" I think you should get yourself a new bike. Not a preloved one."
"We'll talk about it later. You wash up first. You look a mess."
"I am a mess? Just look at your house. What have you been up to?"
"I combed for a document all morning. But unfortunately, I couldn't... ."
"What are you talking about? How can anyone comb a document?"
"I didn't comb a document. I combed for one. When you say that you combed for
something, it means that you searched everywhere hoping to find it."
"I see. How about this example? The film star combed the entire house for the missing
diamond necklace that her husband had given her."
"That's an excellent example. It is also possible to comb for an individual. The police
combed the neighbourhood for the escaped convicts."
"Everyone combed the temple for the missing children."
"Why would anyone do that?"
"That was just an example. What is this document that you were looking for?"
"It's something that the queer fish Ravindran gave me."
"Queer fish? Does it mean someone strange?"
"Very good! That's exactly what it means. When you refer to someone as being a queer
fish, what you mean is that he/she is strange. The person tends to be aloof."
"In other words, a queer fish is a bit of a loner?"
"That's right. If I were you, I would stay away from Prema. She is a queer fish."
"A lot of people say that your friend Jai is a queer fish. What do you think?"
"No way! Jai is not a queer fish. He is shy, that's all."
"Remember the speech he made on Independence Day? It was ... ."
"Who can forget that? The poor guy was laughed down by everyone in the audience."
"Laughed down? What does it mean?"
"When you laugh someone down, you cause someone to quit something he is doing. You
force him to give up ... ."
"You do it by laughing at the individual. In other words, you ridicule the poor guy."
"Yes, that's right. Hari gave up the idea of becoming a singer after his audience laughed
him down."
"How about this example? The little children laughed down the magician's act."
"The performance was that bad, eh? Teja gave up the idea of becoming an actor when her
performance was laughed down by her own family members."
"Ouch! That must have hurt."
"My husband was so ugly, he used to stand outside the doctor's office and make people
sick." — Jackie Mabley
What is the difference between "He died" and "He was killed"?
Both refer to the fact that the individual has stopped living. It's the manner in which this
event happened that differentiates the meaning of the two words. `Killed' suggests that the death
was not due to natural causes. For example, when you say, `The minister was killed in her sleep',
it suggests the person was murdered while she was asleep. Someone did something that resulted
in the minister's death - maybe the person stabbed/shot/smothered the minister while she was
sleeping. `Kill' suggests that the death was caused by some external agency — it was not natural.
When you say that someone `died', what you are implying is that the individual's death
was due to natural causes - there was no hanky-panky involved. No one was the cause of his/her
death. `Died' is not as strong as `killed'.
How is the word `nincompoop' pronounced?
The ìn' in the first syllable is like the ìng' in `ring', `sing', and `bring'; the following ò' is
like the à' in `china'. The òo' in the final syllable is pronounced like the òo' in `cool', `pool',
and `fool', and the stress is on the first syllable. The word is mostly used in informal contexts to
refer to a foolish person. Some scholars think that the word comes from the Latin `non compos
mentis' meaning `not of sound mind'.
*Who is the nincompoop who forgot to put the butter back in the fridge?
*Tell that nincompoop that I want three and not two plates of dosas.
What is the meaning of the word `schmuck'?

First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The `sch' is like the `sh' in `she', `sheep' and `ship',
and the `muck' rhymes with `luck', `duck', and `suck'. This slang word is of Yiddish rigin and is
used to refer to a man who arouses disgust in you; you find this individual repulsive. This is just
one of the meanings of the word. It's a rude term of address, and therefore you should use this
word with caution.
*I can't believe that she is going to marry a schmuck like him.
*Who is the schmuck standing there in pink pants?
How does one address a divorced woman?
How you address her is going to depend on the woman. If she chooses to retain her
married name, then you address her `Mrs.' so and so. If on the other hand, she chooses to go back
to her maiden name, then you call her `Ms.' so and so. If you are unsure, use one of the titles and
she will correct you if you are in the wrong.
What is the meaning and origin of `chimera'?
This is a formal word and it is used to refer to a crazy or a wild idea; something that is
extremely unlikely to come true. The `ch' is like the `k' in `king', `key', and `kiss', and the
following ì' is like the ìe' in `tie', `pie', and `die'. The è' is like èa' in `fear', `dear' and èar'; the
final à' is like the à' in `china'. The main stress is on the second syllable. This is one of the ways
of pronouncing the word.
*The idea that cricket is a gentleman's game is just a chimera.
*Expecting honesty from our politicians continues to be as much a chimera as ever.
The original `chimera' was a fire-breathing monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and
a snake's tail. Now do you understand why the word means a fanciful or crazy idea?
Is it okay to say, `You can contact him in 25435439 (telephone no)'?

No, it isn't. You usually contact someone àt' a number. "If it's an emergency, you can
contact me at 22009988". "I tried to contact him at 22009988, but the line was busy."
"Opinions are like feet. Everybody's got a couple, and they usually stink." — Jim
Slattery
September 2005

•What is the meaning and origin of "wool-gathering"? (20050919)
•What is the difference between "impel" and "compel"? (20050919)
•What is the meaning of "reminisce"? How is the word pronounced? (20050919)
•What is the meaning of "himbo"? (20050919)
•Is it okay to say, "The words she uses are unintelligible for me?" (20050919)
•What is the meaning of "out of my hair"? (20050912)
•How is the word "carte blanche" pronounced? (20050912)
•What is the difference between "graceful" and "gracious"? (20050912)
•Should "lest" be followed by "would" or "should"? (20050912)
•What is the meaning of the word "doozy"? (20050912)
•What is the difference between "wedding" and "marriage"? (20050905)
•What is the meaning and origin of "jaywalking"? (20050905)
•How is the word "puerile" pronounced? (20050905)
•What is the meaning of "Big Apple"? (20050905)
•Is it okay to say, "Sandhya always prefers to pay by cash"? (20050905)
Know your English
`Hi! Haven't seen you in a while. Were you out of town?'

`No, I have been here all along.'
`Really? Oh, I remember now. You said something about a new project. How is it coming
along?' `Spinning its wheels.'
`Wheels? What are you talking about? I asked you about the project. Not about your car.'
Ì was talking about the project. You know that I don't have a car. When you say
something has been spinning its wheels, what you mean is that it has remained in the same
position. Neither moving forward nor back.'
Ìn other words, it's stationary. I guess it's like pedalling a bicycle while it is on its stand.
The wheel keeps turning, but you go nowhere. You remain where you are.'
Èxactly! Here's an example. You know that the main roads are being widened. But since
it's a government project, you can expect it to spin its wheels for six months at least.'
Ìt'll probably be spinning its wheels till the end of winter at least.'
`The expression can be used with people as well. When you say that someone has been
spinning his wheels, what you mean is that he has been wasting his time.'
`How about this example? Some of our employees have been spinning their wheels all
morning.'
`That's what government employees do all the time. My friend and I had a lot of things
planned for the weekend. But we ended up spinning our wheels.'
`Pradeep thinks that it's good to... .'
`Pradeep? Are you referring to the eye candy that Sujatha likes so much?'
Èye candy? Is the expression used to refer to a handsome man?'
`The expression is used to talk about anything that is pleasing to the eye. It could be a
beautiful woman, a handsome man, or a beautiful object. For example, many people think that
Madhuri is just eye candy. What they don't realise is that she is one smart cookie.'
Ì agree with you there. If I were you, I would buy the basic model. I don't think it's worth
paying five thousand rupees extra for eye candy.'
`That's a very good example. Now, here's another... .'
`We have eye candy, do we have èar candy' as well?'
`Yes, we do. You can use it to refer to anything you enjoy listening to. It could be your
favourite kind of music. It can also be used to refer to a voice or an accent.'
Ì see. My father thinks that Richard Burton's voice is ear candy.'
Ì agree with him completely. How about this example? The songs by the Beatles are ear
candy.'
`Sounds good. Of late, I have fallen in love with Jamaican English. It's ear candy.'
`Really? I enjoy listening to Michael Holding.'
Òh yeah, he is a crackerjack commentator.'
`Crackerjack commentator! Does crackerjack mean èxcellent' by any chance?'
Èxactly! When you say that someone is `crackerjack' what you mean is that he is very
industrious and very good at what he does. The word is considered slang. Here's an example. His
students say that Sanjay is a crackerjack teacher. But I heard that he is looking for a job that will
pay him a better salary.'
Ì understand that Medini is a crackerjack batswoman. Her parents, however, don't want
her to take up cricket as a profession.'
Ì think Prem will make a crackerjack accountant.'
`He'll probably do a better job than the guy you have right now. Your present accountant
is not only rude, but an eye sore. Prem, on the other hand, is eye candy.'
Ànd unlike the present one, he wont be spinning his wheels.'
Ì am not so sure about that.'
Ì have trouble reconciling my net income with my gross habits.' - Errol Flynn
What is the meaning and origin of "wool-gathering"?
When someone says that you have been wool-gathering, what he means is that you
haven't been concentrating on your work; you have been daydreaming.
*The professor's talk was really boring. I found myself wool-gathering.

*Divya, your exams start the day after tomorrow. Stop wool-gathering.
This is an expression that has been around for several centuries. As for its origin, it comes
from the world of sheep farming. In the old days, when farmers allowed their sheep to graze,
they always sent a couple of women or children along with the animals. When sheep grazed,
sometimes tufts of wool got caught in the bushes and on the branches of trees. It was the job of
the women/children to gather the wool and hand it over to the farmer. The original `wool
gatherers' were actually gathering wool! Since the job of wool gathering didn't require much
concentration, it was possible for the individual to let his mind wander — in other words, he
could afford to daydream! Hence, the activity of `wool-gathering' became associated with
daydreaming!
What is the difference between "impel" and "compel"?
When you compel someone to do something, you force him to do it. The individual has
no choice about the matter. Whether he likes it or not, he has to do it.
*Ravindran's parents compelled him to take English literature.
*The children were compelled to return by five o'clock.

When you are "impelled" to do something, you feel that you have to do it. In this case,
the desire to take action comes from within. No one is forcing you to do it.
*The detective felt impelled to investigate further.
*Looking at him, I felt impelled to offer him more money.
What is the meaning of "reminisce"? How is the word pronounced?
The "e" in the first syllable sounds like the "e" in "set", "bet" and "met". The "i" in the
second and third syllable is pronounced like the "i" in "hit", "sit", and "knit". The final "sce" is
like the "s" in "sit", "sip", and "sat", and the main stress is on the third syllable. When you
reminisce you dwell on your past; your focus is on the good times you had. You talk or write
about them with great pleasure. The word is generally used in formal contexts.
*When the two friends met, they reminisced about their college days.
*Sarita says that she doesn't like to reminisce because it makes her feel old.
What is the meaning of "himbo"?
The word "himbo" was coined in the 1980s; it is a combination of two words — "him"
and "bimbo". The word "bimbo" has been around for a long time and it is normally used to refer
to a beautiful woman who has little or no intelligence. A "himbo" is the opposite of a "bimbo". It
refers to a good-looking guy who has little or nothing upstairs. Other than his looks, this
individual has no quality worth mentioning. By the way, did you know that the word "bimbo"
was originally used to refer to men?
*How could Savitri leave Bala for a himbo like Kapil?
*They are the ideal couple. He's a himbo and she's a bimbo.
Is it okay to say, "The words she uses are unintelligible for me?"
No, it isn't. Something is intelligible or unintelligible "to" and not "for" someone. When
you say that something is unintelligible, what you mean is that it is incomprehensible; it is
difficult to understand. The word has nothing to do with intelligence.
*The teacher used a lot of jargon which was unintelligible to the students.
*What Chandu said was intelligible to the audience.
"Coffee in England always tastes like a chemistry experiment." — Agatha Christie
How is the word "carte blanche" pronounced?
The first word is pronounced like the word "cart"; the "a" in "blanche" is like the "o" in
"lot", "got", and "pot". The final "che" is pronounced like the "sh" in "ship", "sheep", and
"sheet". When you give someone "carte blanche" you are giving the individual the authority or
unrestricted freedom to do whatever he thinks is right. It has the same meaning as "blank check".
*Lavanya was given carte blanche with the remodelling of the house.
*The captain was not given carte blanche to choose the players he wanted.
"Carte blanche" comes from French and it literally means, "white card". The term was
first used in the military. When two armies fought and one of them surrendered unconditionally,
the commander of the losing army was made to sign on a blank sheet of paper. The commander
of the victorious army would then proceed to write whatever he wanted; he dictated his own
terms. By signing the blank paper, the losing commander was giving the victorious army the
freedom to dictate the terms of surrender.
What is the difference between "graceful" and "gracious"?
The word "graceful" is normally used to refer to a person's movement; the individual
moves in a way that is attractive to watch.
*The young dancer moved gracefully across the stage.
*For someone who was terribly overweight, Eshwar was surprisingly graceful.
The word can also be used to talk about an object which is pleasing to looking at.
*He had a graceful little cottage in the countryside.
"Gracious", on the other hand, refers to people who are pleasant and polite. It is
considered formal.
*Janaki is the gracious lady you met last week.
Should "lest" be followed by "would" or "should"?
"Lest" is a considered a formal word and is normally used with "should". When you do
something lest something bad should happen, you do it to prevent the bad thing from happening.
The word means "for fear that" or "in order that". Here are a few examples.
*Hamsa was afraid to say anything lest her boss should scream at her.
*Uma refused to run away lest the police should think that she had committed the crime.
What is the meaning of the word "doozy"?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The "oo" in the first syllable is like the "oo" in
"cool", "fool", and "pool" and the "y" is like the "i" in "pit", "hit", and "fit". The word can also be
spelt "doosie"; the pronunciation is the same as "doozy". When you refer to something as being a
"doozy" what you mean is that it is extraordinarily good or bad.
*The annual day programme was a real doozy this year.
*You should see Vikram's black eye. It's a real doozy.
"If your baby is `beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and
burps on demand, an angel all the time,' you're the grandma." — Theresa Bloomingdale
What is the difference between "wedding" and "marriage"?
Both words are used to refer to acts — religious or civil — by which a man and a woman
become husband and wife. Of the two, "marriage" is more common. It can be used to refer to the
actual ceremony that takes place or the spiritual union entered upon by the two individuals.
*The two have had a long and happy marriage.
*I am sorry to say that I can't be present at your marriage.
"Wedding" is used to refer to the ceremony and the festivities which follow it. Unlike
"marriage", it cannot be used to talk about the relationship between the married couple. A
"wedding" may last only an hour, but you can remain married for 40 years.
*Vinita's wedding is today. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it.
*Please don't invite too many people to the wedding.
What is the meaning and origin of "jaywalking"?
Jaywalking is something that we Indians specialise in. We cross the road wherever we
like; it's a tricky business, but most of the time we manage to negotiate the traffic. The word
"jay" is a slang term coined in the U.S. in the early 20th Century to refer to rustics — people
living in the country. When "jays" visited cities, they had a tough time crossing streets because
of the presence of automobiles. These cars which could run at an incredible speed of 15 miles an
hour scared the living daylights out of the "jays". Hence, whenever these individuals crossed the
street, they did so very erratically, seldom bothering to look at the traffic signals.
How is the word "puerile" pronounced?
The first syllable is pronounced like the word "pure" and the second rhymes with the
words "file", "pile" and "mile". The main stress is on the first syllable. The word has a negative
connotation. If you refer to someone as being "puerile", you mean that the individual is being
silly or childish. The word can also be used to talk about an individual's action.
*The newspapers said that the plot of the new movie was puerile.
*The participants didn't laugh at my joke. They said it was puerile.
What is the meaning of "Big Apple"?
The term "Big Apple" has been used to refer to the city of New York since the 1920s.
There are many theories as to how the city got this name. Here is one. It is believed that African
American stable boys working in the racetracks of New Orleans were the first to refer to New
York as "Big Apple". Many of the important horse races were held in New York and it was the
dream of most jockeys and boys working in stables to get there. If you managed to make it to
New York city, you had arrived; you had made it "big". A sports reporter, John Fitzgerald, liked
the term so much that he called his popular racing column, "Around the Big Apple". In his
introduction to the column on 18 February, 1924, he wrote, "The Big Apple. The dream of every
lad that ever threw a leg over a thoroughbred and the goal of all horsemen. There's only one Big
Apple. That's New York."
Is it okay to say, "Sandhya always prefers to pay by cash"?

Whenever you buy something, you usually pay "in cash" and not "by cash". For example,
*Since Mala paid in cash, she got a big discount.
*Sorry, we don't accept cheques. You need to pay in cash.
It is also possible to say, "to pay cash".
*Since Mala paid cash, she got a big discount.
The expression "pay by" is normally used with credit cards and cheques.
*If you don't mind, I'd prefer that you pay by credit card.
*Sorry, you can't pay by cheque. You'll have to pay cash.
"I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years." — Sam Kinison
August 2005
•What is the difference between "sometime", "sometimes" and "some time"? (20050829)
•Is there a substitute for "him/her" which is commonly used in formal texts? (20050829)
•What is the meaning of "Billingsgate"? (20050829)
•What is the meaning of "dumbsize"? (20050829)
•What is the meaning of the expression "to see which way the cat jumps"? (20050829)
•How is the word "pigeon" pronounced? (20050829)
•What is the difference between "I just love that movie" and "I love that movie"? (20050822)
•What is the meaning of "numero uno"? (20050822)
•Why are the hottest days of the year called "dog days"? (20050822)
•What is the difference between "adhesive" and "cohesive"? (20050822)
•How is the word "chutzpah" pronounced? What does it mean? (20050822)
•Is it OK to say, "staffs"? (20050822)
•"How was your trip to Hyderabad?" (20050815)
•What is the difference between "chew at" and "chew out"? (20050808)
•What is the meaning and origin of "Catch 22"? (20050808)
•How is the word "aisle" pronounced? (20050808)
•When a serial ends, can we say, "to be concluded"? (20050808)
•Is it OK to say, "We must invest money on industry"? (20050808)
•What is the meaning of "graveyard shift"? (20050808)
What is the difference between "sometime", "sometimes" and "some time"?

The word "sometimes" has the stress on the first syllable, and is used to mean
"occasionally" or "once in a while".
*The boys sometimes go to their favourite restaurant for masala dosas.
*Sometimes, the students sit in the canteen and do their homework.
In the case of "some time", both words are stressed. It means "a lot of time".
*I am afraid it will take us some time to find a replacement for this part.
Like the word "sometimes", "sometime" has the stress on the first syllable, and is often
used to mean "one day". It refers to an unspecified period of time in the future or the past.
*I told Sadanand that I would meet him sometime next week.
The word can also be used with people. When you refer to someone as a "sometime
CEO", what you mean is that the individual held the position of a CEO in the past. He is not a
CEO now.
*Divya, the sometime Director of Cultural Academy visited me last week.
Is there a substitute for "him/her" which is commonly used in formal texts?
Yes, there is. There is a tendency nowadays among native speakers to replace "him/her"
with the plural pronouns "they", "their", and `them".
*If anyone is interested in going, they can get in touch with Bala.
*If anyone calls, tell them I am not in town.
Grammar pundits would argue that both these sentences are wrong because "anyone" is
singular and therefore should be followed by "him/her" — it should not be followed by the plural
"they" or "them". Native speakers of English feel that the use of "him/her" makes the
construction look clumsy and therefore should be avoided.
What is the meaning of "Billingsgate"?
Billingsgate was the name of a fish market in London. I believe it was very close to
London Bridge. During its time, the place was well known for two things - the smell of fish and
the abusive language used by the people doing business there. Believe it or not, the people using
the filthy language were mostly women! The fishwives who conducted business in Billingsgate
were famous not only for their salted fish, but also their salty language! It is for this reason that
Billingsgate means "abusive or foul language".
*The workers hurled more billingsgate at their boss after his speech.
What is the meaning of "dumbsize"?
This word was coined in the 1990s. We all know what "downsize" means. When a
company downsizes, it reduces the number of workers. When too many people have been let go
and the remaining staff finds it difficult to carry out the work, it is called "dumbsizing". In other
words, the management was "dumb" to get rid of too many people!
What is the meaning of the expression "to see which way the cat jumps"?
Some people refuse to take risks. They wait to see what is going to happen before they
pass an opinion or take a decision about something. This refusal to commit oneself to a course of
action until one is sure of what is going to happen is called "to see which way the cat jumps".
Another expression which has more or less the same meaning is "to see which way the wind
blows".
*The couple waited to see which way the cat jumped before they started investing in the
company.
How is the word "pigeon" pronounced?
The "g" is like the "j" in "jam", "juice" and "jeep", and the following "eo" is like the "i" in
"sit", "pit", and "hit". The main stress is on the first syllable.
"Raising kids is part joy and part guerrilla warfare."
— Ed Asner
What is the difference between "I just love that movie" and "I love that movie"?
In terms of meaning, the first sentence is much stronger than the second. The word "just"
is used to emphasise the fact that you "love" the movie very much. It's another way of saying, "I
simply/really love that movie". "Just" is often used in speech to mean "there is no other word for
it".
*The young heroine in the new movie was just beautiful.
What is the meaning of "numero uno"?
This is an expression that comes from Spanish, and it means "number one" or "the best".
*If you ask me, the coffee that my mother makes is numero uno.
The term can also be used to refer to oneself.
*Sure, I will help you. But tell me, what's in it for numero uno?
Why are the hottest days of the year called "dog days"?
The hottest days in Europe mostly occur in the month of July. According to an old
superstition, this was also the period when dogs had a tendency to go mad. The expression "dog
days" is a translation of the Latin "caniculares dies" and it has been around since the times of the
ancient Romans. But contrary to popular belief, "dog days" has nothing to do with dogs on earth;
it has more to do with the dog in the sky! In this case, it refers to Sirius, the Dog Star. During the
height of summer, the Dog Star, Sirius, rises along with the Sun. The ancient Romans believed
that this star added to the heat of the Sun, and in the process caused the weather to become
unbearably hot.
What is the difference between "adhesive" and "cohesive"?
An adhesive is any substance that is used to stick two objects together. Glue, for example,
is an adhesive. When you say that something is cohesive, what you mean is that it consists of
numerous parts which fit together perfectly.
*After several months of training, the team finally became a cohesive unit.
What is the difference between "adhesive" and "cohesive"?
An adhesive is any substance that is used to stick two objects together. Glue, for example,
is an adhesive. When you say that something is cohesive, what you mean is that it consists of
numerous parts which fit together perfectly.
*After several months of training, the team finally became a cohesive unit.
How is the word "chutzpah" pronounced? What does it mean?
The "ch" is like the "h" in "hat", "have", and "hand"; the following "u" is like the "u" in
"pull", "full", and "bull". The "z" is pronounced like the "s" in "sit", "sip", and "so", and the final
"ah" is like the "a" in "china". The main stress is on the first syllable "chutz". This word comes
from Yiddish, and is normally used to suggest admiration. When you say that someone has
"chutzpah" what you mean is that you admire the individual because he is arrogantly self
confident; he is not afraid to do or say what he wants to. It is also possible to spell the word
"hutzpah".
*Keshav had the chutzpah to tell his boss to stop interfering in his work.
Is it OK to say, "staffs"?
If you are using the word to refer to people who work in the same organisation, then, you
generally use "staff" and not "staffs". The word "staff" can be followed by a singular or a plural
verb.
*The staff have decided not to accept the offer made by the government.
*I understand that the staff is terribly worried about the on-going strike.
An individual who works for an organisation is referred to as "member of staff".
*Atul expects every member of staff to be present at the meeting.
The word "staffs" is being used both in British and American English to refer to more
than one group of people — individuals working for different organisations.
*The minister and his staff were present at the meeting.
*The two ministers and their staffs were present at the meeting.
"The pistol of a flower is its only protection against insects." — A student
"How was your trip to Hyderabad?"
"Hyderabad! They should rename the city `Manholebad'. They leave the manholes open
during the monsoon season."
"Yes, I read about that. Tell me, is something bothering you? Why is it you look so
angry?
"I don't know if I should talk about it. You will probably think... ."
"Come on! Spit it out!"
"Spit it out? There's nothing to spit out. I have nothing in my mouth."
"You know that's not what I meant. When you tell someone, `spit it out', what you want
the person to do is talk. You want the person to tell you what is on his mind."
"I see. It's another way of saying, `tell me' or `say it'."
"Exactly! The expression is mostly used in informal contexts."
"How does this sound? What's your problem? Don't just stand there looking angry. Spit it
out."
"Sounds great! Here's another example. Come on Satish, you don't need to be shy. Spit it
out."
"Why is it that you don't want to marry me? Tell me the truth. Spit it out."
"What kind of an example is that? Anyway, tell me what is bothering you. Don't just sit
there looking sad. It's driving me bonkers."
"Driving me bonkers! Does it mean the same thing as `driving me crazy'?"
"Yes, it does. Someone who is `bonkers' acts in a silly or crazy fashion. The new rule that
has been introduced in the club is driving everyone bonkers."
"Sulochana's kids are hyperactive. Whenever they visit us, they drive my mom bonkers."
"Venu was bonkers to ask for such a big raise."
"How about this example? The children went bonkers when they saw the cake and the ice
cream."
"That's a good example. It is also possible to say, `nuts'. It has the same meaning as
`bonkers'."
"The way people drive in our city. It drives me nuts."
"Hey, this city is full of nuts. It's not surprising they drive you bonkers!"
"I wish they'd... ."
"Is that the reason you are in a blue funk? Because this city... .."
"Blue funk? What are you talking about?"
"When you say that someone is in a blue funk, what you mean is that he or she is looking
sad or depressed."
"I see. Does it mean the same thing as `feeling blue'?"
"I guess you could say that. Here's an example. Listen to me Suman, you'd better start
working on your project. Don't be in a blue funk. I assure you, things will get better."
"When India lost in the World Cup final, I was in a blue funk for nearly two months."
"That's a good example. Why are you in a blue funk now? Is it because the Sri Lankans
tanked us again? Or is it... ."
"Tanked us again? Does `tanked' mean `defeated'?"
"Yes, that's right. In informal contexts `tanked' is used to mean `defeated'. It's one of the
meanings of the word. When a team tanks you, they score more than you. For example, the
moment I walked onto the field, I knew that our team would get tanked today."
"Did you think that Sri Lanka would tank India in the final?"
"Listen, the West Indies, without their star players, almost tanked us. So, it didn't really
surprise me that ... ."
"That we lost to Sri Lanka in the final. I thought under a new coach, we would do much
better."
"You were nuts to think that. But hey, cheer up. We play Zimbabwe next. I am sure our
overpaid underachievers will tank them."
"If they don't, the entire nation will be in a blue funk."
"I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law." — David
Dinkins
What is the difference between "chew at" and "chew out"?
What do puppies do when they get hold of an old shoe or slipper? They keep chewing at
it. Babies, when they are teething, keep chewing at things. When you chew at something, you
gnaw at it. In other words, you keep biting the object for a long period of time.
*The little animal kept chewing at the leather jeans all night.
*While the parents were busy watching TV, the baby was chewing at the belt.
"Chew out", unlike "chew at" is mostly used in informal contexts because it is considered
slang. When you "chew someone out" what you are doing is scolding him.
*I told Usha that I'd be late, and as expected she chewed me out.
*Vinita gave the new students a good chewing-out.
What is the meaning and origin of "Catch 22"?
Sometimes it so happens that the two candidates contesting for the same parliamentary
seat are both crooks. No matter whom you vote for, it isn't going to matter; either way, you are
going to elect an individual of questionable integrity. Though it seems that you have a choice,
you really don't have one. A Catch 22 situation is a no win situation. No matter what you do, you
end up on the losing side.
*The companies didn't want to hire Velu because he didn't have any experience. But he
wasn't going to get any experience unless someone hired him. It was a real Catch 22 situation.
The expression comes from the title of a novel written by Joseph Heller in 1961. Many
people consider this work of fiction set during the Second World War a classic. In the story, the
only way that air force pilots could get out of doing combat duty was by pleading insanity. In
order to be discharged these individuals had to claim that they were insane. But the catch was
that only a sane person would know that going on bombing missions was dangerous. Therefore
when an individual pleaded insanity, he was doing what any sane person would! Asking to be
certified was the act of a perfectly sane man! Since he was acting rationally, he wasn't insane.
Result? No discharge.
How is the word "aisle" pronounced?
The "ai" is pronounced like the word "I"; the "s" and the "e" that follow are silent. In
other words, "aisle" is pronounced the same way as "I'll" and "isle".
When a serial ends, can we say, "to be concluded"?
When the words "to be concluded" appear at the end of your favourite show, what it
implies is that there is more to come — this is not the end of the series. There is one or more than
one episode to follow.
Is it OK to say, "We must invest money on industry"?
No, it isn't. One usually "invests in" something, not "on". For example,
*The government should invest a lot more money in education.
*We would like you to invest in our hotel.
What is the meaning of "graveyard shift"?
This is an expression mainly used in American English. When you say that you are
working the graveyard shift in a factory, what you mean is that you are working the late night
shift — you usually work from midnight to eight in the morning.
*We have to cancel our plans. I am working the graveyard shift next week.
This expression became popular in the U.S. during World War II. It was a time when
many factories worked 24 hours a day. The people who worked the graveyard shift worked at a
time when everyone else was fast asleep; when everything in town was very quiet and as still as
a graveyard!
"My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn't pay the bill, he gave me six
months more." — Walter Matthau
Know Your English
"I keep telling Anand that he shouldn't be doing those things, but he just won't listen... ."
"Given his circumstances, it's understandable. Ever since he lost his job, the poor guy
hasn't been playing with a full deck."
"Playing with a full deck? I don't believe this. Here I am trying to tell you that Anand is
going slightly crazy, and you are talking about playing cards!"
"Relax, we are talking about the same thing! When you say that someone is not playing
with a full deck, what you mean is that he is not mentally sound."
"Really? I haven't come across the expression before."
"It's considered slang, and is mostly used in informal contexts. Here's an example. After
talking to Kunthala, I was fairly convinced that she wasn't playing with a full deck."
"Are you playing with a full deck? Sometimes, I wonder."
"I do too! Anyway, what makes you think Anand is going crazy?"
"He is constantly creating problems wherever he goes. He gets people fighting. He tells
one person one thing and the exact opposite to someone else."
"He is playing both ends against the middle, is he?"
"What are you talking about?"
"When you play both ends against the middle, you do or say something which causes two
individuals or parties to quarrel. In other words, you are doing the same thing that Anand is. Atul
is the consummate politician. He will tell you one thing and the exact opposite to someone else.
He plays both ends against the middle."
"If Anand continues to play both ends against the middle the way he has, he is not going
to have any friends left."
"He doesn't have too many friends, does he?"
"No, he doesn't. I think people feel sorry for him and... ."
"That's the problem. People feel sorry for him. Instead of playing hardball with him, we...
."
"Play hardball? I have come across that expression before, but I don't know what it
means."
"When you play hardball with an individual, you get tough with him. You become
aggressive and no longer handle him with kid gloves."
"I see. How about this example? When things became a little tough, the Prime Minister
decided to play hardball with the Opposition."
"That's a wonderful example. Bush tried to play hardball with Sadaam and got himself
into a terrible mess in Iraq. You have to remember though that this expression is mostly used in
informal contexts."
"I think you should think twice before playing hardball with Anand. He might decide to
play hardball himself."
"Then he will be playing right into my hands, won't he?"
"Oh, I know what that means. When you `play into someone's hands' you do what the
person has planned for you to do. In other words, you react the way he expects you to. By
sneaking the information to her colleagues, Maya played right into the principal's hands."
"Excellent example! By playing defensive on the last day of the test match, India played
into the opposition's hands."
"That's what happened in the test against Pakistan, didn't it? Tell me, what is the
difference between `play hardball' and `play ball'?"
"When you play ball with someone you are cooperating with the individual. The
members of the Opposition decided to play ball with the Prime Minister on the issue."
"The students decided not to play ball with the Principal."
"If you want to get your promotion, you'd better play ball with me."
"Why would I play ball with someone who doesn't play with a full deck!"
"Don't steal! The government hates competition." — Bumper sticker
July 2005
•What is the meaning and origin of "beyond the pale"? (20050725)

•How is the word "obdurate" pronounced? (20050725)
•What is the difference between "odour" and "smell"? (20050725)
•Is the following sentence grammatically correct? "What I wish to know is that whether the
government is aware of the problem." (20050725)
•What is the meaning of "blogging"? (20050725)
•What is the difference between "drop out" and "dropout"? (20050718)
•What is the meaning of "dickens" in "Who the dickens are you?" (20050718)
•How is the word "alumnae" pronounced? (20050718)
•What is the meaning of "Page 3"? (20050718)
•Which is correct? "Grandson of the late" or "grandson of late"? (20050718)
What is the meaning and origin of "beyond the pale"?

When someone behaves in an unacceptable or an uncivilised manner, you can say that his
behaviour was "beyond the pale". The idiom can also be used to refer to people's actions.
*Rajagopal's behaviour at the meeting was beyond the pale.
*Sushmita is never invited to parties because her behaviour is considered beyond the
pale.
The word "pale" in the idiom has nothing to do with colour. The word in this case comes
from the Latin "palus", meaning, "stake". In the old days "stakes" or wooden poles were used to
mark one's territory. Everything that was within the "pale" or the wooden fence belonged to you,
and the land that was outside it, belonged to someone else. The expression "beyond the pale"
began to be used in the 14th century when parts of Ireland came under the English rule.
Territories that were "within the pale" belonged to the English; those that were outside it,
belonged to the Irish. The English, as you may expect, didn't have a very good opinion of their
neighbours. They thought that the Irish were crude; people who didn't know how to behave in a
civilised manner. So when someone says your behaviour is beyond the pale, what he means is
that you are behaving like an Irishman!
How is the word "obdurate" pronounced?
The first syllable is like the "ob" in "sob", "mob", and "lob". The following "u" is
pronounced like the "u" in "pull" and "full". The "a" is like the "a" in "china", and the final "e" is
silent. The main stress is on the first syllable. When you say that someone is obdurate, you are
implying that he/she is very stubborn. The word is mostly used in formal contexts.
The minister found it difficult to implement changes because his department heads were
obdurate defenders of the old policies.
*Raju's obdurate refusal to speak in his mother tongue worried his parents.
What is the difference between "odour" and "smell"?
Tell your significant other that you like his/her "odour" and see how he/she reacts!
Chances are the person will never speak to you again. The word "odour" has a negative
connotation; it means foul smell. An odour can never smell good; it's always bad.
*The odour of rotting fish almost made me vomit.
*The odour from his dirty socks was disgusting.
A smell, on the other hand, can be either good or bad. You can talk about the smell of
rotten eggs and the smell of perfume.
Is the following sentence grammatically correct? "What I wish to know is that

whether the government is aware of the problem."
No, it is not. In this case, you do not need "that". Avoid using "that" and "whether"
together.
*What I want to know is whether you can come to the party.
*Ayesha wanted to know whether she had been admitted to the programme.
What is the meaning of "blogging"?
One of the meanings of "log" is to write an official account of an event. In ships for
example, captains keep an official written account of what happens each day — this is called the
captain's log. In the old days, logs were maintained in ledgers; nowadays, they are saved on
computers. "Blogging" is actually the short form of "web logging". Like a diary, a blog may
include anything — personal opinion, comments and experiences. Unlike a diary, however, a
blog is written for others to read and comment on. You upload whatever material you have
written onto the web, and you keep updating it on a regular basis. A person who writes blogs is
called a "blogger".
"There are well-dressed foolish ideas just as there are well-dressed fools." — Nicholas
Chamfort
What is the difference between "drop out" and "dropout"?
Parents nowadays want their kids to learn a lot of things. They want them to excel not
only in their studies, but also in sports. Very often they sign up their kids for tennis lessons,
karate lessons, etc. After some time, the poor child finds it difficult to cope with both his studies
and his extracurricular activities. What does he do? He stops attending the karate and tennis
classes. That's what the expression "drop out" means - to discontinue. When a person who has
been attending college decides to "drop out", he takes the decision to stop going to college. This
person does not graduate.
In villages, parents often force their children to drop out of school.
An individual who has dropped out of school or college is called a "dropout".
We have many high school dropouts in our family.
What is the meaning of "dickens" in "Who the dickens are you?"
If you are a great fan of the Victorian novelist Charles Dickens, let me put your mind at
rest by saying that the "dickens" that you find in the expression has nothing to do with the
author. "What the dickens" has been around for over five centuries. In the old days, people
refrained from using words like "hell", "devil", and "Satan" in their speech. They felt that if these
words were uttered, their souls would immediately go to hell; as a result, they coined
euphemisms for these words. "Dickens" was one of the words they came up with.
The expression "what the dickens" has the same meaning as "what the hell?" and "what
the devil?" So when someone says, "Who the dickens are you?" what he is saying is, "Who the
hell/devil are you?" According to some scholars "dickens" refers to Satan. One of the terms used
to refer to the devil is "Old Nick". Since "dick" rhymes with "Nick", the word began to be used
to refer to the devil. There are a number of expressions in the English language with the word
"dickens". Some are, "go to the dickens", "raise the dickens", "play the dickens" and "the dickens
take you".
How is the word "alumnae" pronounced?
This is a word which is mostly used in American English. The "a" in the first syllable is
like the "a" in "china"; the following "u" sounds like the "u" in "cut", "hut", and "but". The final
"ae" is pronounced like the "ee" in "see", "knee", and "bee". The main stress is on the second
syllable. "Alumnae" is the plural of "alumna". A former female student of a
school/college/university is referred to as an "alumna".
What is the meaning of "Page 3"?
"Page 3" became famous when Rupert Murdoch bought over the Sun in 1969. The
following year, every edition of the paper carried a picture of a topless woman on page 3; and as
you may expect, the circulation went up dramatically. The bare breasted women began to be
called "page 3 girls" and many of them became famous. So the original page 3 contained pictures
of naked women. Nowadays, the meaning of the expression has changed somewhat. In addition
to including some pictures of questionable taste, the page also informs the reader as to what is
happening on the social scene — it tells you who is going out with whom and who is throwing
the next big party. It provides the local gossip.
Which is correct? "Grandson of the late" or "grandson of late"?
We usually find this in wedding invitations. Karthick, grandson of the late Jayaraman,
etc. When you want to refer to someone who is no more, you generally use "the" before "late".
*Padma, the daughter of the late Ganesh, is building a house.
*The late President was known for his sense of humour.
"A man who has never made a woman angry is a failure in life." — Christopher Morley
June 2005
•What is the difference between "met" and "visited"? (20050627)
•What is the meaning of "tongue-in-cheek"? (20050627)
•Does the word "regift" exist? (20050627)
•How is the word "ensemble" pronounced? (20050627)
•What is the meaning of "armchair critic"? (20050627)
•What is the difference between "enough" and "enough of"? (20050620)
•Is it OK to say, "My cousin divorced last month"? (20050620)
•What is the meaning of "erudite"? (20050620)
•What is the meaning of "diddly-squat"? (20050620)
•Why are people who are left-handed called "southpaws"? (20050620)
•What is the difference between "hoard" and "horde"? (20050613)
•What is the meaning and origin of "Barkis is willing"? (20050613)
•What does "bells and whistles" mean? (20050613)
•How is the word "idyll" pronounced? (20050613)
•What is the meaning of "keypal"? (20050613)
What is the difference between "met" and "visited"?
A meeting can be planned or unplanned. You can ring someone up and ask him to meet
you somewhere at a particular time. It is also possible for you to meet someone quite
accidentally. For example, you decide to go shopping. Your friend also decides to go shopping
and you end up meeting him. In this case, the meeting is not planned; the two of you run into
each other quite accidentally.
*We met in the library as planned.
*The last time the two of us met was in London.
The word "visit" suggests a longer meeting. In other words, you are going to spend some
time with the individual. You visit someone's house. A visit is usually planned; the people you
are going to meet usually know that you are coming.
*During the holidays, he visited his cousin in Pune. There, he met many of his old
friends.
What is the meaning of "tongue-in-cheek"?

When you make a tongue-in-cheek remark, you do not expect your listener to take you
seriously. Although you may look serious, the intention is to be humorous. What you say is
meant as a joke.
*Was Vijay speaking with tongue-in-cheek when he referred to Sania as the heartthrob of
India?
*"We all know that Raju is an intellectual", Bala said tongue in cheek.
Does the word "regift" exist?
Yes, it does. When you get married you usually get a lot of gifts. Sometimes two or three
people end up giving you the same thing. For example, you may end up getting three or four
clocks. What are you going to do with so many clocks? If you are sensible, then what you would
do is to wait for one of your friends to get married. When he/she does, you give one of the extra
clocks as a gift. This is what we mean by "regifting".
*Geetha is planning to regift the ugly vase that she got from Bala.
How is the word "ensemble" pronounced?
The "e" in the first and second syllable is pronounced like the "o" in "pot", "hot", and
"cot". The final "e" is usually silent and the main stress is on the second syllable. Musicians,
actors and dancers who always perform together can be referred to as an "ensemble".
*Rahul is a member of a jazz singing ensemble in Hyderabad.
Things that combine well together can also be called an ensemble.
*Prithi bought the whole ensemble — the dress, the matching earnings, and the shoes.
What is the meaning of "armchair critic"?
There are plenty of people in our country who have never played cricket in their life, but
who are capable of giving a lengthy lecture on the subject. They can tell you why Sachin should
start using a lighter bat, and what was wrong with Ganguly's field placement during a particular
match. They seem to be very knowledgeable about the subject of cricket; but what they know is
based on one of two things — they have either gathered the information from books or by
listening to people who know about the subject. In other words, armchair critics are people who
have little or no practical experience. They have become knowledgeable by sitting in their
favourite armchair and reading.
*If you want words of wisdom from an armchair critic, you can go to Laxman.
*I want someone who has dealt with this problem, not some armchair critic.
People who learn a lot about places by reading about them are called "armchair
travellers".
"A fine is a tax for doing something wrong. A tax is a fine for doing something right." —
Unknown
What is the difference between "enough" and "enough of"?
When you say that you have had "enough ice cream" what you mean is that you have had
sufficient ice cream, you don't want any more for the time being. Even though you like the stuff,
you do not intend to eat any more even if it were offered to you.
*I have had enough grammar for today.
*I think she has had enough practice for today.
"Enough of" carries with it a negative connotation. When you have had "enough of"
something you have had an excess of it. In other words, you have had too much of it, and as a
result you are fed up of it. If you were to say that you have had enough of ice cream, what it
suggests is that you are sick of eating ice cream.
*I have had enough of grammar.
*I have had enough of Ganguly and his antics.
Is it OK to say, "My cousin divorced last month"?
The sentence is grammatically incorrect. You usually divorce someone; the word
"divorced" is usually followed by a noun or a pronoun.
*After twenty years of marriage, Rama decided to divorce Govind.
*My cousin divorced his wife last month.
It is also possible to say, "to get a divorce". For example,
*They are planning to get a divorce soon.
*My cousin got divorced last month.
What is the meaning of "erudite"?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The "e" is like the "e" in "set", "pet", and "met",
and the following "u" sounds like the "u" in "put", "pull" and "full". The final syllable rhymes
with "might", "kite", and "fight", and the main stress is on the first syllable.
When you say that someone is "erudite" what you mean is that he/she is well learned; he
or she sounds scholarly. The word is invariably used in formal contexts.
*Sekhar is very different from my other cousins. He is very erudite and well informed.
*The old professors were stunned when the young man gave an erudite lecture.
What is the meaning of "diddly-squat"?

This is a slang expression meaning "nothing". When you say that someone knows
diddly-squat about chemistry, what you mean is that the individual doesn't know anything about
the subject.
*After all the work I did, I got paid diddly-squat.
*The property that we bought ten years ago is now worth diddly-squat.
Why are people who are left-handed called "southpaws"?
According to many sports enthusiasts, the word "southpaw" began to be used to refer to
lefthanders in the late 19th Century. Some believe that the sports columnist Finley Peter Dunne
coined the word. "Southpaw" comes to us from the world of baseball.
This popular American game is usually played in the summer; professional games are
played either in the afternoons or in the evenings. In most stadiums, the "home plate" or the
batter's box is placed in such a manner that it faces east. This is done to ensure that the batter
doesn't have the afternoon or evening sun in his eyes when he bats.
The pitcher throws the ball facing west. This being the case, when a left-handed pitcher
winds up for his delivery, his throwing arm is facing south. Hence the term "southpaw". The
"paw" refers to the hand of the pitcher.
Grammarian's definition of "kiss": noun, though often used as a conjunction. It is never
declined; it is more common than proper; and it is used in the plural and agrees with all genders.
What is the difference between "hoard" and "horde"?
Both words are pronounced the same way. They rhyme with "board", "ford", and
"sword". "Hoard" is normally used to describe the accumulation of something for future use.
When you hoard something, you generally store it as a precautionary measure. The thing that is
hoarded could be money, food, etc. The important thing to remember about hoarding is that it is
done in secret. Not many people are aware of the fact that you are putting something away. The
use of "hoard" shows disapproval; it often suggests miserliness. The word comes from the Old
English "hord" meaning "a secret store". A person who hoards is called a hoarder.
*Merchants who were caught hoarding rice were sent to prison.
*The police found the miser's hoard and distributed it among the poor.
In informal contexts, the word "hoards" can be used to mean "a very large amount."
*We have hoards of time to complete the project.
The word "horde" was first used to refer to nomads — i.e., wandering tribes. Gypsies, for
instance, were referred to as hordes. Nowadays, the word is used to talk about any disorganised
crowd.
*Hordes of football hooligans walked into the club singing loudly.
*I didn't enjoy my vacation. There were hordes of people camped around the lake.
According to some scholars the word comes from the Turkish "ordu" meaning "camp".
They maintain that it is from this Turkish word that we get "Urudu".
What is the meaning and origin of "Barkis is willing"?
The expression first appeared in Charles Dickens' well-known classic "David

Copperfield". Barkis is the name of one the characters in the novel. He keeps sending a message
through David to Clara Peggotty, the maid of David's mother. The message that David is to give
Clara is "Barkis is willing". In other words, Barkis is willing to marry Clara. The expression is
used nowadays to indicate one's willingness or readiness to do something.
What does "bells and whistles" mean?
Many people when they go shopping for a computer look for a model that contains the
essential features. There are others, however, who are interested in the little extras. They want to
have a model which contains many fancy features; add-ons which are good to look at, but which
serve very little purpose. These rather attractive but inessential features that you buy along with a
gadget are called "bells and whistles".
*You don't need the bells and whistles. They will double the cost.
*Ramesh likes to buy gadgets with all the bells and whistles.
How is the word "idyll" pronounced?
The word can be pronounced in two different ways. The British tend to pronounce the "i"
and the "y" like the "i" in "sit", "chit", and "hit". The Americans, on the other hand, tend to
pronounce the "i" like the "y" in "by" and "my". In both cases, the main stress is on the first
syllable. A short piece of prose which describes a happy scene in the countryside is usually
referred to as an idyll. Nowadays the word is being used to refer to any pleasant scene or event.
When you say that something is "idyllic" what you mean is that it is like an "idyll". In other
words, it is very pleasant and peaceful.
*This would be an idyllic setting for our school.
*He was hoping that he would have an idyllic marriage.
What is the meaning of "keypal"?
This is a word of recent origin. A pen pal is someone with whom you exchange letters. A
"keypal" is someone with whom you exchange emails. He/she is your email pen pal. You "key"
in the messages for this individual.
*I informed all my keypals about the upcoming event.
"Laughter is like changing a baby's diaper. It doesn't permanently solve any problems,
but it makes things more acceptable for a while." — Unknown
Know Your English

"You are late again! Didn't you promise to be... ."
"... .I am sorry. I know I was supposed to come at 11o'clock, but I... ."
"... .it's one o'clock now."
"I know. I have a question. Why do we say o'clock? Where does the ò' come from?"
"The ò' I understand is actually a contraction of òf'. You see in the old days when
someone asked an individual for the time, he would reply èleven of the clock'."
"So instead of eleven o'clock, they used to say èleven of the clock'."
"That's right! At times, they dropped `the' and shortened the reply to èleven of clock'.
After some time, people began dropping the `f ' sound in òf '. So òf clock' became ò'clock'.
Now tell me, why are you late?"
"Sunil and Karuna fought again. This time it was pretty serious. Karuna was so upset that
she stormed out of the house with bag and baggage."
"That sounds pretty serious indeed. But you don't have to say `with bag and baggage'."
"But I have heard many people say `with bag and baggage'."
"That's true. But the correct expression is `bag and baggage'. You don't need `with'."
"I see. So I say, she walked out bag and baggage?"
"That's right. Here's another example. Raju was thrown out of the hotel bag and
baggage."
"I wish we could do the same with some of our crooked politicians. I think it's high time
that we get rid of them."
"It's high time that we got rid of them. Not `get' rid of them."
"But why got?"
"Because when you use `high time' the verb that follows is usually in the past. For
example, it's high time that I went home."
"I see. It's high time Vasundara got married."
"I think it's high time you began studying for your various entrance exams. Anyway, you
needn't worry about Karuna. She has walked out on Sunil before. But she... ."
"... .thrice, actually. I mean three times. Tell me, what's wrong with thrice, though?"
"There's nothing wrong. It's considered rather old fashioned. Native speakers seldom use
the word thrice. It's considered literary."
"So it's once, twice, three times?"
"Yes, that's right. Tell me, what did Sunil do to put Karuna out?"
"To put her out? You mean throw her out of the house?"
"No, no! When you put someone out, what you are doing is irritating or annoying the
individual. That's one of the meanings of the expression. For example, Prabhakar really put me
out when he walked into the house wearing his muddy slippers."
"My neighbour put me out by playing music loudly."
"That's a good example. So what did Sunil do to put Karuna out?"
"I understand that he cracked some joke about women."
"He probably did it to irritate her. He knows that his wife is a die-hard feminist."
"Does die-hard mean staunch or something like that?"
"That's right. A die-hard individual is someone who sticks to his opinions. Doesn't
change them at all. In fact, he doesn't like change. For example, my neighbours are die-hard
conservatives."
"Mine are die-hard Sania Mirza fans."
"It's high time she started performing on the tennis court."
"You're right. Otherwise her next ad might begin with the line, Sania Mirza ko tennis
khelna nahin atha!"
"Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell." — Unknown
May 2005
•What is the difference between "sentimental" and "emotional"? (20050530)

•What is the origin of, "Murder someone in cold blood"? (20050530)
•How is the word "manoeuvre," pronounced? (20050530)
•What is the meaning of "Argus eyed"? (20050516)
•How is "imbroglio" pronounced? (20050516)
•Which is correct? "I gave to nanny the keys" or "I gave the keys to nanny"? (20050516)
•What is the meaning of "co-son-in-law"? (20050516)
•What is the difference between "as scheduled" and "on schedule"? (20050516)
•What is the meaning and origin of "to leave no stone unturned"? (20050502)
•Where did the word "hijack" come from? (20050502)
•What is the difference between "life assurance" and "life insurance"? (20050502)
•What is the meaning of "monobrow"? (20050502)
What is the difference between "sentimental" and "emotional"?
Both words have more to do with "feelings" than "reason". In both cases, the individual's
heart rules his head. When you respond to a situation "emotionally", you do what your feelings
tell you to do. You don't really think things through. In most cases, it is a knee-jerk reaction.
When someone advises you and you react emotionally, you can either shout at the individual or
you can begin to cry.
*The chairman became emotional and accused the accountant of fraud.
A sentimental person is easily affected by emotions like sadness, love, etc. Unlike an
emotional individual, a sentimental one does not express himself loudly or strongly. The feelings
that he expresses are much more tender and somewhat exaggerated. Sentimental often carries
with it the sense that the feelings expressed are not genuine. Unlike "emotional", "sentimental"
has a negative connotation.
*Latha is very sentimental. She cried when she heard that the school dog was missing.
What is the origin of, "Murder someone in cold blood"?
When you do something in "cold blood" you do it without being emotionally involved; in
other words, you are detached. The murder is thought of in advance and the plans are executed in
a ruthless manner, without the display of any emotion. You act like a cold-blooded animal.
*The child was killed in cold blood in front of his house.
Does the temperature of the blood in our body increase and decrease depending on our
mood? Not really, but people who lived some three hundred years ago believed that our frame of
mind determined the temperature of the blood. The common belief was that when an individual
became excited or angry, the blood within the body began to boil. When he remained calm, the
blood became cool. These beliefs are reflected in everyday expressions like "hot-blooded" and
"in cold blood". I understand in the 17th Century, the expression "in hot blood" was used to refer
to murders committed with passion. For some strange reason "in hot blood" went out of use.
Scholars believe that the expression "in cold blood" is a translation of the French "sang-froid".
The expression "in cold blood" first appeared in print in 1711 in Joseph Addison's "The
Spectator".
How is the word "manoeuvre," pronounced?
The "a" in the first syllable is like the "a" in "china"; the following "oeu" is like the "oo"
in "fool", "cool", and "pool". The "r" is usually silent, and the final "e" sounds like the "a" in
"china". The main stress is on the second syllable. "Maneuver" is how the Americans spell the
word.
Which is correct? One of my friend/friends? (Alexander Joseph, Port Blair)
The correct answer is "one of my friends". You normally use the expression "one of"
with a plural noun. It could be a group of people or things. "One of" informs the listener that you
are talking about one member of the group. Since you are talking about only one member in the
group, you use a singular verb after the plural noun.
*One of my friends is going to America.
*One of the books that I am planning to read is "Very Good Jeeves".
You have many friends, but right now you are talking about only one of them. If you had
only one friend, then you would have said, "My friend is going to America." Similarly, the
second example suggests that you are planning to read many books and one of them happens to
be "Very Good Jeeves". It is important to remember that the noun cannot immediately follow
"one of".
"Death and taxes are both certain. But death isn't annual." — Anonymous
Know Your English
"Hi, come on in. Would you like something to drink? You look bushed."
"What are you talking about? I don't look anything like Bush."
"That's funny. I didn't say you looked like Bush. I said that you are looking bushed. In
other words, you are looking exhausted."
"Exhausted! Is that what 'bushed' means? I thought you were making fun of my looks."
"Why would I do that? I've got better things to do. Sujatha was bushed after jogging a
mile."
"That's understandable. Sujatha is out of shape. After playing two sets of tennis, I felt
bushed."
"Good example. Is that the reason you look so tired now?"
"The reason I feel bushed right now is because thanks to the bus strike, I had to walk
back from school."
"In this terrible weather! Have a glass of cold water, then. By the way, I understand
congratulations are in order."
"Thank you. I didn't expect to do so well in the exam."
"My next door neighbour was crowing over how well his daughter had done, but...."
"....crowing over? What does it mean?"
"....when someone 'crows over' his achievements, he brags about them. Here's an
example. I hate talking to Jai. The only thing he does is crow over his achievements."
"The members of the opposition were crowing over their victory."
"That's a good example. It is also possible to say, `crow about'. It means the same thing as
`crow over'. The producer was crowing about the success of his new film."
"Sheetal was crowing about how well her daughter had performed in the interview."
"In India a lot of people crow about Sachin's achievements."
"I can tell you that I haven't been bragging about my marks. In fact, I haven't told
anyone."
"It's good to know that you are grounded."
"Grounded? What are you talking about?"
"Well, when you say that someone is 'grounded' what you mean is that he is very
sensible. Though the individual has everything, and has achieved many things, he behaves in a
sensible fashion. This is one of the meanings of the word."
"In other words, you are saying that the individual has his feet on the ground."
"I guess you could say that. The kid's father is a business tycoon and his mother is a
famous actress. You certainly can't expect him to be grounded."
"Suresh has everything that one can ask for, but he seems fairly grounded."
"The billionaire's wife makes sure that her children stay grounded. But tell me, if Suresh
is grounded, then why do the others hate him so much?"
"I guess it's because they are jealous about his achievements"
"You are not 'jealous about' something, you are usually 'jealous of' something. For
example, everyone is jealous of Hema's achievements."
"There are many people who are jealous of Dravid's wealth."
"That's understandable, I guess. Some of our players are..."
".... similarly, you are 'jealous of' someone and not 'jealous about' someone, I suppose?"
"Exactly! The two year old boy is jealous of his baby brother."
"Many of the tenants are jealous of the landlord."
"I believe he has written a book which is selling really well. Have you read it?"
"Just the first couple of pages. It was full of jargons, so I ...."
"....jargons! How many times have I told you...."
"....sorry, sorry. The word 'jargons' doesn't exist. The plural of jargon is jargon. See, I
remember."
"You don't need to crow over something like that. Go home. You look bushed."
"Older people shouldn't eat health food; they need all the preservatives they can get." —
Robert Orben
What is the meaning of "Argus eyed"?
It means to be watchful or vigilant.

*The police were watching the proceedings, Argus-eyed.
*The students found it difficult to get past the Argus-eyed watchman.
Argus was a giant who had fifty pairs of eyes. Juno, wife of Zeus, asked him to keep an
eye on her heifer (young cow) Io. The vigilant Argus stood guard, and when he felt drowsy, he
allowed only two of his eyes to fall asleep. The remaining forty-nine pairs of eyes were focussed
on Io. Unfortunately for the giant, the messenger of the gods, Mercury, became interested in the
heifer and decided to steal it. In order to achieve this, he began playing his lyre. The music was
so soothing that Argus fell asleep - all one hundred eyes closed. Mercury drew his sword and
promptly chopped off the giant's head. When Juno saw what had happened, she removed the
eyes from the head of the giant and placed them all on the tail of a peacock. I guess this explains
why we talk about the eye of a peacock's feather.
How is "imbroglio" pronounced?
The "i" in the first and third syllable is like the "i" in "dim", "rim" and "vim". The "o" in
the second and the final syllable is like the "o" in "go", "so", and "no". The "g" is silent, and the
main stress is on the second syllable "bro". A complicated or confusing situation is usually
referred to as an imbroglio. The word is normally used in formal contexts.
*The world is trying to find a solution to the Iraq imbroglio.
Which is correct? "I gave to nanny the keys" or "I gave the keys to nanny"?
The second sentence is correct. One usually gives something to someone.

*The new student gave a rose to John.
It is also possible to give someone something. In this case, "to" is not used. You do not
"give to someone".
*Please give the architect these diagrams.
What is the meaning of "co-son-in-law"?
This is a word that most native speakers of English do not understand. "Co-son-in-law" is
a term that we Indians have contributed to the English language. It is not found in many
dictionaries. When you refer to a man as a "co-son-in-law" what you mean is that the two of you
have the same in-laws. In other words, this other individual is married to your wife's sister.
Native speakers of English would refer to the other individual as a "brother in law". Most Indian
languages have a term for such a relationship, and I guess that's the reason why we felt
compelled to come up with "co-son-in-law".
What is the difference between "as scheduled" and "on schedule"?
When you say that the meeting took place "as scheduled", what you mean is that the
meeting took place as planned. Arrangements had been made, in advance, for the meeting to be
held and things went according to plan.
*The Opposition called for a bandh, but we managed to meet the minister as scheduled.
The expression "on schedule" is normally used to refer to time. When a project is
completed on schedule, it is completed on time.
*For a change all flights left on schedule.
"One man in a thousand is a leader of men - the other 999 follow women." —
Groucho Marx
Know Your English
"Nice to see someone smiling in this weather. What are you so happy about?"
"Oh, I'm just returning from Madhavan's factory. He was telling me that if we were to
invest in his company, we'd become millionaires real soon. Apparently, he has a new product
which ..."
"... .yes, he told me about the product too. He's very gung-ho about it."
"Gung-ho! I have come across that word before. It means enthusiastic, doesn't it?"
"That's right, it's an expression mostly used in informal contexts. Some of the people I
know are gung-ho about everything."
"I find such people very irritating. Indians are gung-ho about cricket."
"That's the only thing we are gung-ho about, unfortunately."
"Hey, I almost forgot. Your first play was staged yesterday, wasn't it? How did the
audience react? Were they gung-ho about it?"
"The response was underwhelming."
"Underwhelming? I don't think there is such a word."
"Yes, there is. When you say that the response to something was underwhelming, what
you mean is that the people were not impressed by it."
"In other words, ùnderwhelming' is the opposite of òverwhelming'."
"I wouldn't really... ."
"... how about this example? The actor's new movie met with an underwhelming
response."
"Sounds good. The response to the minister's speech was distinctly underwhelming."
"It usually is. Anyway, what did the press have to say about your play?"
"That my talent as a writer simply underwhelmed them."
"I am sorry to hear that. Why do you think the people didn't appreciate the play?"
"That's simple. Those who came were mostly fuddy-duddies. You see, ... ."
"... .they were what?"
"F... u... d... d... y and d... u... d... d... y. The ù' in both syllables is like the ù' in `hut',
`but', and `cut'. When you call someone a "fuddy-duddy", what you mean is that he is old
fashioned — not only in his attitude, but also in his appearance."
"I've stopped going to my father's office parties because I don't like being surrounded by
fuddy-duddies."
"That's a good example. My next door neighbour is a fuddy-duddy."
"Tell me, what was your hero's reaction to the underwhelming response of the press? Did
... ."
"... .the hero had a conniption fit. He almost... ."
"... .a conniption? Does it mean... ."
"... .conniption is a word that is mostly used in informal contexts. It means... ."
"... .I can guess what it means. When you have a conniption, you probably throw a fit. In
other words, you burst into anger."
"Very good. That's exactly what it means. The word is sometimes followed by `fit'. Here
is an example. When Shalini told her father that she was marrying Teja, he had a conniption fit."
"So the next time someone gets angry about something, can I say, `Take it easy. Don't
have a conniption?"
"I guess you could say that. Every time I try to sport a beard my mother has conniptions...
."
"... most mothers aren't very gung-ho about their son growing a beard. I wonder why."
"Haven't a clue myself. Do you think I am a gung-ho sort of guy?"
"Only your mother would think so!"
"My play was a complete success. The audience was a failure." — Ashleigh Brilliant
What is the meaning and origin of "to leave no stone unturned"?
When someone says that he will leave no stone unturned what he means is that he will do
everything he can in order to achieve something. In other words, he will try every possible means
to get the desired results.
*The Chief Minister has said that he would leave no stone unturned to find the culprit.
*Both countries claimed that they would leave no stone unturned to find peace.
In 477 B. C, General Polycrates defeated General Mardonius in a battle. According to
rumours, the Persian general, Mardonius had a lot of treasure hidden under his tent. But when
Polycrates and his men searched the tent, they found nothing. The disappointed General went to
an oracle in Delphi and told him his problem. The oracle instructed him to return to the place
where the battle had been fought and to look under every stone for the treasure; he asked him to
leave no stone unturned. Polycrates went back and searched under the stones, and sure enough he
found the treasure.
Where did the word "hijack" come from?
Nowadays, this word is usually associated with airplanes. When you hijack a plane what
you are doing is taking control of it and forcing it to go to a destination of your choice. In the
process you make the passengers aboard the aircraft your hostage. It is not only planes that you
can hijack, but also other vehicles — cars, trucks, boats and ships. "Hijack" has another meaning
as well. It also means to steal goods from vehicles, especially from trucks. Did you know that the
original hijacker was someone who stole from other criminals? He specialised in robbing
bootleggers — people who sold illicit liquor. According to some scholars, the "hijacker" got his
name from the command he gave the people he was about to rob. Apparently, he used to point
his gun at his victim and say, "Stick them up high, Jack." In other words, he wanted his victim to
raise his hands above his head. Since "Jack" is a very common name in the U.S., he called all his
victims "Jack". From "high" and "Jack" we get "hijack".
What is the difference between "life assurance" and "life insurance"?
There is no difference; some companies call themselves "life insurance" companies,

while others call themselves "life assurance" companies. They both do the same job. I understand
that the term "Assurance Company" is mostly used in countries where English is not spoken as
the first language — for example, in countries like Germany, Egypt, and the Philippines.
There is, however, a difference in meaning between "assurance" and "insurance". One
normally "assures" against something that will definitely happen — for example death. No
matter how important we are, none of us can escape death. It is inevitable. You usually "insure"
yourself against something that may or may not happen — for example, fire, burglary and flood.
Not all of us will have our house destroyed in a fire accident. But some of us do buy "fire
insurance" and "flood insurance".
What is the meaning of "monobrow"?
The next time you look at yourself in the mirror, take a good look at the eyebrows. If the
two join just above your nose, then you can say that you have a "monobrow". The word is mostly
used in informal contexts, and is not found in many dictionaries.
"Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
— Satchel Paige
April 2005
•What is the meaning of "underwriter"? (20050425)

•How is the word "inexorably" pronounced? (20050425)
•What is the difference between "anoint" and "appoint"? (20050425)
•What is the meaning and origin of "writing is on the wall"? (20050425)
•What is the difference between "fight with" and "fight against"? (20050418)
•What is the meaning and origin of "water off a duck's back"? (20050418)
•How is the word "entrepreneurship" pronounced? (20050418)
•Is it OK to say, "He telephoned to Mr. X"? (20050418)
What is the meaning of "underwriter"?
This is a term frequently used by organisations that provide insurance. When an

organisation "underwrites" an activity, it signs a contract which guarantees payment for any loss
or damage to the goods. A company that invests money to help an individual start a new project
is called an underwriter. An individual can be an underwriter as well; his primary job is to study
the risks involved in an activity and decide how much to charge as insurance. He determines the
creditworthiness of a client. He is called an underwriter because he writes his name under the
policy.
* Do you think that your company would be willing to underwrite our new hospital?
Robert Frost
How is the word "inexorably" pronounced?
The first syllable is pronounced like the word "in", and the second like the word "ex".
The "o" in the third syllable and the "a" in the fourth sound like the "a" in "china"; the final "y" is
like the "i" in "pit", "kit", and "sit". The main stress is on the second syllable. "Inexorably" is
mostly used in formal contexts. It refers to a process which cannot be changed or stopped; it is
something which continues relentlessly.
* Many feel that the crisis in Iran is moving inexorably towards war.
Robert Frost
What is the difference between "anoint" and "appoint"?
People who are "appointed" for a job are chosen by others for a particular position. An
appointment is something official.
* The members of the Board appointed Dravid captain.
"Anoint" has a religious connotation which "appoint" doesn't. When a priest anoints
someone, he applies oil or water on some part of the individual; this is usually done as part of a
religious ceremony.
* The young priest anointed the old man's forehead with sandalwood paste.
It is also possible to "anoint" oneself with something. In this case, we are merely
smearing ourselves with some sort of liquid. For example, an individual can anoint herself with
suntan lotion. When a person in authority, such as a priest, "anoints" someone, he chooses this
individual for an important job.
* The Archbishop anointed her queen.
In this example, the Archbishop is making the individual holy by anointing. In other
words, he is consecrating the individual to office.
* The former Prime Minister did not anoint anyone as his successor.
Robert Frost
What is the meaning and origin of "writing is on the wall"?
When Shahid Afridi blazed away to a century in 40-odd balls in the fifth one-day
international, most of us knew who was going to win the match. By the end of the 10th over, the
writing was on the wall for India. When you say that the handwriting or writing is on the wall,
what you mean is that something disastrous or bad is going to happen.
* When the team lost in the first round of the playoffs, the writing was on the wall for the
coach.
* Prabhakar saw the handwriting on the wall when the company fired two more people.
The expression "handwriting on the wall" comes from the Bible. The King of Babylon,
Belshazzar, sees a hand mysteriously appear and write a message on a wall. Being unable to
decipher the message, he summons Daniel. The wise man tells Belshazzar that the message is a
warning from God that he will soon be overthrown and his kingdom destroyed.
"A diplomat is a man who remembers a woman's birthday, but never remembers her age."
Robert Frost
What is the difference between "fight with" and "fight against"?
In some contexts, both phrasal verbs have more or less the same meaning. When you
"fight against" or "fight with" someone, you do battle against the individual.
*I refuse to fight against someone who is twenty years younger than me.
In the examples given, one could easily replace one phrasal verb with the other. It is also
possible to "fight against" something as well. For example, one can fight against a disease, or
one can fight against poverty. In these two cases, you are doing battle against a disease and
poverty. "Fight with" has an additional meaning. When you fight with something, you use a
weapon as an instrument in your fight. For example, in the old days people fought with spears
and swords.
Nowadays people fight with guns. Also, when you "fight with" someone, it could mean
that you are joining hands with the individual to fight someone or something. In other words, you
and the other individual are joining forces and fighting a common enemy. "Fight against" does
not have this meaning.
*I fought with him in Kashmir against the terrorists.
What is the meaning and origin of "water off a duck's back"?

Although the duck spends a lot of time in water, the water never stays on its feathers for
long. This is because its feathers are coated with oil and this prevents the water from being
absorbed. As a result, when the bird steps out of the water, it is able to shake it off within a
matter of a few seconds. Spending a considerable amount of time in a pond or a lake seems to
have no effect on the bird. Similarly, when you criticise someone and it has no effect on him/her,
then you can say that the criticism was like water off a duck's back. Here are a few examples.
*I have scolded Achala several times for being lazy and sloppy, but it's just water off a
duck's back to her.
How is the word "entrepreneurship" pronounced?
The first syllable is like the word "on", and the "e" in the second and third syllable is
pronounced like the "a" in "china". The "eur" in the fourth syllable is like the "er" in "herd" and
"nerd". The final syllable is pronounced like the word "ship"; the main stress is on "eur". An
"entrepreneur", as you probably know, refers to someone who sets up a business; he usually
starts something new.
Therefore when you refer to "entrepreneurship" you are talking about the activities
associated with an entrepreneur. The word is of French origin. By the way, the word
"entrepreneur" has given rise to a new word, "intrapreneur".
Like an entrepreneur, this individual starts something new as well. But unlike the
entrepreneur, an "intrapreneur" doesn't set up a business of his own. He works within an
organisation and comes up with new inventions.
Is it OK to say, "He telephoned to Mr. X"?

When the word "telephone" is used as a verb, it is not followed by "to". You telephone
someone and not "telephone to" someone. It is like the word "call". Remember, when you ring
someone up, you "call him", you do not "call to him". Here are a few examples.
*Ananya telephoned her friend and told her she wouldn't be coming.
"The main problem with the French is that they have no word for èntrepreneur'."
— George. W. Bush
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH
"Hey, did your uncle ask for seed money?"

"No, I think he was too embarrassed to. But I hinted at the fact that I would be willing to
help him out. Give this letter the once-over, will you?"
"The once-over? What does it mean?"
"When you give someone or something the once-over what you are doing is taking a
quick look at the person or the object. You want to see what they are like."
"I see. How about this example? The student gave the paper the once-over before handing
it to the teacher."
"Sounds good. After checking the handbag, the security guard gave me the once-over
before he allowed me to enter the building."
"The principal gave the students the once-over and then began his speech."
"Now that you know the meaning, please give the letter the once-over!"
"O.K. I am done. It looks fine. Tell me, why do ...."
"....why were you smiling when you read the letter? Was it funny?"
"It had nothing to do with your letter. I remembered something strange that Sujatha said
this morning. She said that I had a really cute smile."
"She's been saying such things to everyone I know. She's moving to a new flat, and I
think she is looking for people to help her move. That's why she is laying it on thick."
"Laying what on thick? Talk English, will you?"
"When you say that someone is laying it on thick what you mean is that they are trying to
flatter you. There's too much of praise, in fact. Yesterday, Sujatha called me handsome."
"Handsome! That's laying it on thick."
"I know. Of late, Sujatha has learnt how to lay it on really thick."
"But why would she need anyone to help her move? She has her cousin, Arvind. Haven't
seen him in a while, though. Any idea where he is?"
"Hey, this is April. He must be busy cramming for his exams."
"Cramming? Does it mean the same thing as mugging?"
"Well, when you cram for a test, you study very hard for it. Usually at the very last
minute. For example, Narender spent the entire weekend cramming for the chemistry test."
"How about this example? My father says that if I put in an hour's work every day, then I
wouldn't have to cram."
"He has a point there. But I am sure when he was a student, your father spent many
sleepless nights pounding the books."
"Pounding the books? Why would he do that? There's no need to...."
"....pounding the books is an informal expression meaning to study hard. Another
expression which has more or less the same meaning is `hit the books'."
"As soon as I return home from school, I hit the books. How does it sound?"
"You hitting the books soon after your return home! Please stop, it's cracking me up."
"Cracking you up? What does it mean? Are you going mad?"
"When something cracks you up, it makes you laugh. When I saw the kitten slip on a
banana peel, it just cracked me up."
"The principal's new wig cracked me up."
"Did you tell him he looked ridiculous?"
"No, we told him he looked great in it. We really laid it on thick."
"Americans always do the right thing — after they have tried everything else." —
Winston Churchill
Know Your English
"Hey, where are you off to so early in the morning?"

"To the station. Have to pick up my uncle Balu."
"I remember your uncle Balu! Isn't he extremely tall and good looking?"
"He is tall, but the rest of him has gone to seed, I am afraid."
"You make your uncle sound like a plant. What does `gone to seed' mean?"
"When you say that someone has gone to seed, what you mean is that they are not as
good looking or as healthy as they once were. For example, most actors go to seed once they quit
the film industry."
"That's true. I ran into my former physics teacher the other day. He seems to have gone to
seed."
"Sounds good. It is also possible to say, `run to seed'. My neighbour is running to seed."
"Is it OK to use this expression with things as well?"
"Yes, it is. According to some of my friends, the economy has gone to seed."
"My friend has a farmhouse. When he bought it, it was great. But now it's gone to seed."
"Unfortunately my uncle's old farmhouse is running to seed as well."
"That's too bad. Tell me, why is your uncle coming to see you?"
"He's planning to start a new business, and he's looking for some seed money."
"Why would a man running to seed ask for seed money?"
"That's a good one! Seed money is money that you give someone to help them start a
business or a project. My friend was willing to give me 20 lakhs as seed money."
"I don't believe you. No one in his right mind would give you seed money. You are
incapable of starting your own business."
"That's true. Even if I did start one, it would probably run to seed pretty quickly."
"I am sorry to hear that your uncle isn't doing well. The man is so energetic and so full...
."
"... .yes, he is a real go-getter all right. At least he was."
"Haven't a clue what you are talking about."
"When you refer to someone as a `go-getter' what you mean is that the individual is very
energetic. He is full of confidence and has the will to succeed. For example, my cousin Kunthala
is a real go-getter. I wouldn't be too surprised if she becomes a General Manager very soon."
"The only way to turn this company around is to replace the dead wood with some young
go-getters."
"If my uncle heard you say that, he would go ballistic."
"When you `go ballistic' you become very angry, don't you?"
"That's right! When you go ballistic, you lose your cool easily. You become extremely
angry about something. For example, when Raju heard that Ganesh was not ready with the
report, he went ballistic."
"There are times when Amrit goes ballistic for no reason at all."
"Everyone was shocked when Saurabh went ballistic during the meeting."
"Saurabh went ballistic! That must have been a sight to behold. But tell me, why would
your uncle go ballistic if I said that we must replace the dead wood with go-getters?"
"It's simple. According to him, it was the go-getters who ran the company to seed."
"I see. So, are you going to give your uncle seed money?"
"I don't think so. If I did, my parents would go ballistic!"
***** ***** *****
"She tells enough white lies to ice a wedding cake."

— Margot Asquith
March 2005
•What is the meaning of "blonde moment"? (20050328)

•What is the difference between "award" and "reward"? (20050328)
•How is the word "bonhomie" pronounced? (20050328)
•What is the meaning of "fall on stony ground"? (20050328)
•Is it okay to say, "The teacher was angry on the students"? (20050328)
•What is the meaning of "on a wing and a prayer"? (20050314)
•What does "Rx" stand for in a doctor's prescription? (20050314)
•How is the word "peccadilloes" pronounced? (20050314)
•What is the difference between "acquittal" and "exoneration"? (20050314)
•What is the difference between "beautiful" and "pretty"? (20050307)
•What is the meaning of "set the cat among the pigeons"? (20050307)
•How is the word "voyeurism" pronounced? (20050307)
•What is the meaning of "desk jockey"? (20050307)
What is the meaning of "blonde moment"?
This is an expression of recent origin. In the United States, for several decades now, the
word blonde has become synonymous with stupidity. Women with blonde hair have always been
perceived as being beautiful but without an iota of intelligence — beauty without brains. A very
common expression associated with them is "dumb blonde". When you say that you had a
"blonde moment" what you are implying is that you behaved like a typical blonde — you
became scatterbrained and did something silly.
*I don't know why I said what I did. I must have had a blond moment.
What is the difference between "award" and "reward"?
An "award" is a prize that you receive for having done something noteworthy. It is
always associated with something positive; you have done something which people approve of.
It is a sign of appreciation. You could be awarded a medal, a prize, or a certificate by an
organisation for an outstanding achievement. When judges bestow an award on you, they are
honouring you.
*The only award that Neelam ever won was the Pulitzer Prize.
A "reward", on the other hand, is usually associated with something valuable — money,
for instance. You may get a reward for finding and returning someone's dog/cat. The police may
offer a reward for information about an escaped convict. It is seen as something that you get as
just compensation for the good that you have done or the hard work that you have put in. For
example, if you have worked really hard to write a novel, and later you receive an award for it,
you may feel that it is a recompense for all the work you put in, that it is a reward for your effort.
While the word "award" is associated with only positive things, "reward", on the other hand, can
be associated with both good and bad. One can be rewarded for the evil one does as well.
How is the word "bonhomie" pronounced?

The "o" in the first syllable is like the "o" in "on", the following "h" is silent. The "o" in
the second syllable is like the "a" in "china" and the final "ie" is like the "i" in "pit", "kit", and
"bit". The main stress is on the first syllable. The word comes from the French "bon" meaning
"good", and "homme" meaning "man". The word is used to refer to an individual's good nature,
his easy and pleasant manner.
*Jai's bonhomie won the hearts of all those who came into contact with him.
What is the meaning of "fall on stony ground"?
When someone gives you a piece of advice and you choose to ignore it, then you can say
that the advice fell on stony ground. In other words, the ground is so hard that nothing penetrates
it. The expression, I understand, comes from the Bible and it has more or less the same meaning
as "fall on deaf ears".
*The Management's repeated requests to call off the strike have fallen on stony ground.
Is it okay to say, "The teacher was angry on the students"?
There is a tendency among Indians to use the word "on" with "angry", but it is wrong to
do so. You cannot be "angry on" or "pleased on" a person. Both these words are usually followed
by "with".
*The new principal was pleased with the children's performance.
***** ***** *****
"There are three kinds of men who don't understand women — young, old and middle
aged." — Unknown
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH
"Looks like our team snatched another draw from the jaws of victory."
"Yes, Ganguly and his men seem to specialise in that. I am sure your cousin, Prasad, the
dyed-in- the-wool cricket fan had a lot to say about the first test."
"My cousin is very much alive. He did not die in any wool. What are... ."
"I did not mean d..i..e..d, but d..y..e..d. When you refer to someone as being
"dyed-in-the-wool" what you mean is that he or she has very strong opinions about something.
Opinions that are not easily changed."
"In other words, the person is very stubborn. His beliefs cannot be changed."
"I guess you could say that."
"My cousin Vindya is a dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist. She believes that a woman's
place is in the kitchen."
"Good grief! Where did she get such an old fashioned idea? I understand that my
grandfather was a dyed-in-the-wool conservative."
"My neighbour claims to be a dyed-in-the-wool communist. But he lives in a huge house
and drives a Benz."
"Some communists in our country do that! Tell me, what is the origin of
`dyed-in-the-wool'?"
"I understand that wool that is dyed before it is spun into yarn retains its colour. The
colour becomes permanently fixed. Anyway, tell me what did Prasad have to say about the
match?"
"He said that someone should have told Tendulkar to score quickly."
"No one could get in touch with Sachin. Since he was performing at the crease, he had his
cell switched off!"
"Very funny! What was your reaction to the draw?"
"Well, after the first drinks interval, I kind of sensed that our overpaid underachievers
weren't going to win. So I started channel hopping."
"Channel hopping? Does it mean the same thing as channel surfing?"
"Yes, that's right! When you channel surf or hop, you keep switching from one channel to
another using the remote control."
"Mohan constantly channel surfs. You can't watch any programme with him."
"My constant channel hopping drives my mother up the wall."
"I can imagine. Your mother wants everything just right. She... ."
"... .she is a bit of a control freak, isn't she?"
"You are calling your mother a freak? How can you do that?"
"All I am saying is that she is a control freak. In other words, she likes to be in total
command of a situation. She feels this... .."
"... she has an obsessive need to have control over herself and others around her?"
"Exactly! Control freaks need to feel they have control over everything around them.
Including the people. They must be in total command of the situation. I am told that Anand's
wife Sonia is a control freak."
"Oh that she is. How about this example? My father's new boss is a control freak and he
has made life miserable for everyone."
"Sounds good. I don't think I would like to work for a control freak."
"I don't think I would either. To tell you the truth, I just don't want to work!"
"That sounds like you."
***** ***** *****
"I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for
the rest of your life." — Rita Rudner
What is the meaning of "on a wing and a prayer"?

If you say that you are writing an entrance exam "on a wing and a prayer", what you
mean is that you are not confident that you will pass. You are hopeful, but chances are you are
unlikely to succeed. You are relying more on luck, rather than your ability.
*Anju was playing the game on a wing and a prayer. She had no idea what she should do
to win.
*Raju is taking the interview on a wing and a prayer.
The expression became popular during World War I. The story goes that a pilot managed
to land his plane successfully even though one of his wings had been badly damaged. When his
friends asked him how he had managed to land his crippled plane, the pilot replied that it was his
prayers that kept the aircraft aloft. To which one of his fellow pilots quipped, "A wing and a
prayer brought you back!"
What does "Rx" stand for in a doctor's prescription?
Many words commonly used in medicine come from Latin. The Rx is the abbreviation of
"recipo" meaning, "take". The doctor is giving you a recipe for your cure and he wants you to
take it! If you look at a doctor's prescription carefully, you will find that a line runs across the
foot of the letter R. This, I understand, is actually the symbol of the Roman god of medicine,
Jupiter. All medicines come under his protection. That's understandable, I guess. Given the
illegible manner in which some doctors write their prescriptions, we need all the protection we
can get!
How is the word "peccadilloes" pronounced?
The first syllable is pronounced like the word "peck" and the following "a" is like the "a"
in "china". "Dill" rhymes with "pill", "chill", and "fill", while the final "oe" is like the "o" in
"go", "so", and "no". The main stress is on the third syllable. A "peccadillo" is a minor sin or
fault.
*The star's latest extra marital peccadillo didn't go down well with his fans.
What is the difference between "acquittal" and "exoneration"?

Very often an innocent man is accused of a crime and dragged to court. After the judge
has heard both sides of the case, he usually finds him not guilty; the judge acquits the man of the
crime. This formal declaration made by the judge in a court of law is called an acquittal. The "a"
in the first and final syllable is pronounced like the "a" in "china". The second syllable, which
has the main stress, is pronounced like the word "quit". *The trial resulted in an acquittal for the
three men charged with first-degree murder.
The word "exoneration" has more or less the same meaning as "acquittal". When a judge
exonerates someone of something, he is pronouncing the person not guilty. He doesn't find any
evidence that the accused has done anything wrong. Unlike the word "acquittal", someone other
than a judge can exonerate a person. For example, in government offices whenever something
goes wrong, a committee is formed to determine the causes. The chairperson is also asked to find
out if any particular individual is to be blamed for the failure. If the committee finds that no one
is to be blame, then everyone is exonerated. The official report that the person in authority writes
exonerates everyone.
*The long awaited report exonerated the teachers.
***** ***** *****
"Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education." — Victor Hugo
What is the difference between "beautiful" and "pretty"?
Both words are normally used to refer to the pleasing appearance of the face — usually
that of women. Beautiful is the stronger word of the two. When you say that something is
"beautiful" what you mean is that it is very close to perfection — at least according to the person
looking at the object. Remember, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is subjective,
what is considered beautiful in one culture may not be considered beautiful in another. One can
use the word "beautiful" to talk about things that can be seen. For example, you can refer a
woman's face as being beautiful, a house as being beautiful, and a scene as being beautiful. In
fact, you can even use the word with things that cannot be seen. For example, you can talk about
a "beautiful plan" or a "beautiful smell". The word "pretty", on the other hand, is not as
complimentary as beautiful. When you refer to a woman as being "pretty" what you mean is that
she is attractive; she is graceful and full of life, but lacks the perfection. She doesn't have the
qualities to make her beautiful. Pretty is seldom used with people or objects that are big; the
word is usually restricted to objects that are small. You cannot refer a 30-storey building as being
a "pretty building". You can talk about a "pretty house" or "pretty shoes", but not a pretty
building. Similarly, a woman who is big built can be "beautiful", but not "pretty". The word
"pretty" suggests that the person or object is pleasant to look at, but not necessarily impressive.
What is the meaning of "set the cat among the pigeons"?
What would happen if you were to set a cat loose among the pigeons? How do you think
the birds would react? They would be pretty worried, wouldn't they? The presence of the cat
would create a great deal of disturbance. When you set a cat among the pigeons, you say or do
something suddenly or unexpectedly. This often leaves the people worried or angry. It is also
possible to say, "put the cat among the pigeons."
*The principal set the cat among the pigeons when he informed the students that the
annual day was likely to be cancelled.
How is the word "voyeurism" pronounced?
The "v" sounds like the "v" in "vet", "vest", and "veil"; the following "oy" is like the
word "why". The "eu" in the second syllable is pronounced like the "a" in "china" and the final
"ism" is like "ism" in "prism", "fundamentalism", and "cubism". The main stress is on the first
syllable "voy". The Americans tend to pronounce the word differently. They pronounce the
"voy" like the "voy" in the word "voyage". The following "eur" is like the "er" in "herd", "her",
and "nerd". The main stress, in this case, is on the second syllable.
What is the meaning of "desk jockey"?
Anyone whose job involves sitting behind a desk most of the time can be called a "desk
jockey." The individual remains glued to his desk most of the time. Bank officers, accountants
and most government officials can be called "desk jockeys." These people are either constantly
shuffling papers or on the phone most of the time. If you are a "desk jockey", maybe you should
consider calling yourself a "D.J". Who knows, people may start looking at you differently!
*Zaheer's father is a desk jockey in the new pharmaceutical company.
***** ***** *****
"Conscience is a mother-in-law whose visit never ends." — H. L. Mencken
February 2005
•What is the meaning and origin of "cut and dry"? (20050228)

•During funerals, people, especially women, cry or wail in a funny sort of way. Is there a word
for this? (20050228)
•What is the meaning of "the worm has turned"? (20050228)
•What is the difference between "another" and "other"? (20050228)
•What is the difference between "prevaricate" and "procrastinate"? (20050221)
•What is the meaning of "Generation X"? (20050221)
•How is the word "leisure" pronounced? (20050221)
•What is the meaning of "in one's good books"? (20050221)
•What is the difference between "choose" and "pick"? (20050207)
•What is the meaning of "too close to call"? (20050207)
•Is it OK to say, "Wish you a Happy New Year 2005"? (20050207)
•What is the difference between "disposed of" and "disposed off"? (20050207)
•What is the difference between "blue collar worker" and "pink collar worker"? (20050207)
What is the meaning and origin of "cut and dry"?
First of all, it is not "cut and dry", but "cut and dried". When you refer to a decision as
being cut and dried what you mean is that it is final; it cannot be changed.
*Bala's plans are cut and dried. You cannot make any changes now.
When you refer to a talk as being "cut and dried" what you mean is that it was
uninteresting.
*Hema's talk was cut and dried. She must brush up on her presentation skills.
According to some scholars the cut and dried material refers to timber. Wood that has
been dried after cutting is ready for use. One can use it to light a fire. Some others believe that
the idiom refers to the cut and dried herbs available in shops, which can be readily used in one's
cooking.
During funerals, people, especially women, cry or wail in a funny sort of way. Is there
a word for this?
Yes, there is. I think the word you have in mind is "ululate". It consists of three syllables;
the first is pronounced like the word "Yule", which rhymes with "mule", "fuel", and "duel". The
second syllable sounds like "you", and the final syllable is like the word "late". The main stress is
on the first syllable. "Ululate" is mostly used in formal contexts and means to howl or wail. This
ritualistic wailing can be performed at times of mourning or celebration.
*From a distance we could hear the ululation of the mourning women.
*When he heard the news, Anand raised his hands and ululated.
What is the meaning of "the worm has turned"?
If you keep bullying someone all the time, at some point he will turn on you. Even the
most mild-mannered person will put up with only so much. Normally, when you refer to an
individual as a "worm", what you mean is that he is an unpleasant character. But in this idiom, it
is gentleness or the harmlessness of the creature that you are referring to. You are saying that the
person is a weak individual.
*I wouldn't mess with Rajeev now if I were you. He has changed. The worm has turned.
What is the difference between "another" and "other"?
"Another" is normally used to mean "one more". For example, you can ask your mother
for another bowl of ice cream, or another plate of puris. The word can be used with both singular
and plural nouns; when used with the latter, it is followed by "few". The Registrar will be
retiring in another few days. The use of the word "another" also suggests that you have more
than two choices available. If you are in a showroom and you ask a salesperson to show you
"another car", you are telling the individual that you want to see some other car — you are not
interested in the ones that have been shown to you so far.
"Other", on the other hand, suggests that you have only two choices available. For
example, if you were to say, "I am not interested in this car, but am interested in the other", what
you mean is that you like the second car. A car that you have already seen. The choice here is
between two cars.
***** ***** *****
"Before a man speaks, it is always safe to assume that he is a fool. After he speaks, it is
seldom necessary to assume." — H. L. Mencken
What is the difference between "prevaricate" and "procrastinate"?
Both words have a lot of things in common. They begin with the letter "p", end with the
suffix "ate", and contain the same number of syllables — four. Perhaps this explains why some
people wrongly use the two words as synonyms. The words have very different meanings. When
you "prevaricate" you avoid telling the truth; you are evasive. As kids, when we failed to do our
homework and our teacher asked us why, we never gave her the real reason. Most of the time we
made no attempt to answer her question directly — we prevaricated. The word comes from the
Latin "praevaricari" meaning, "Go crookedly." Politicians and lawyers are very good at evading
the truth, aren't they?
*Rani, give me a straight answer. Do not prevaricate.
"Procrastinate", on the other hand, has nothing to do with the truth. When we
"procrastinate", we delay doing something. Indians are born procrastinators; things never get
done on time in our country. Whenever we are given something to do, we keep putting it off to
another day.
*No more procrastination. I want this to be done by tomorrow.
Both words have the main stress on the second syllable, and both are used in formal
contexts.
What is the meaning of "Generation X"?
In North America, people born between the mid-1940s and the mid-1960s are referred to
as being part of the "Baby Boomer" generation. Their children belong to "Generation X". The
term is normally used to refer to people born between the mid-1960s and the early 1980s. There
is no agreement among scholars about the exact years. Generation X has certain negative
connotations associated with it. The people belonging to this generation are supposed to be
"materialistic", "apathetic", and "irresponsible". They lack a sense of direction. All this is
reflected in the other terms used to refer to this generation, "Baby Busters", "Slackers", and
"Grunge Kids." The term, "Generation X" was first used by Paul Fussel in one of his articles. But
it wasn't until 1991 when Douglas Coupland used "Generation X" as the title of his novel that the
term caught on. It became a household word thanks to advertisers. By the way, any idea what the
generation following X is called? Generation Y! Pretty logical, wouldn't you say?
How is the word "leisure" pronounced?
There are different ways of pronouncing this word. Some people make it rhyme with the
words "pleasure", "treasure", and "measure". Others pronounce the "ei" in the first syllable like
the "ee" in "fees", "bees" and "knees". No matter which way you pronounce the word the main
stress is on the first syllable.
*In her leisure time, Vandana goes sailing.
If you refer to a man as a "gentleman of leisure" what you mean is that he is in a position
where he doesn't have to work. He has enough money to live on. A woman who is in a similar
position is called "lady of leisure."
What is the meaning of "in one's good books"?
When you say that you are "in someone's good books" what you mean is that the person
likes you; he approves of you. Here are a few examples.
*I have been in Ashwin's good books ever since I helped him change his flat tyre.
***** ***** *****
"Most of the time he sounds like he has a mouth full of toilet paper." — Rex Reed on
Marlon Brando
KNOW YOUR ENGLISH
"Did you read the review of your favourite author's latest book in today's paper?"
"Not yet. But I heard that whoever wrote it did a hatchet job on the... ."
"... a hatchet job? Don't think I have heard that expression before."
"Americans usually refer to an axe as a hatchet. When you say that some reporter did a
hatchet job on you, what you mean is that he criticisd you severely in the media."
"Is it fair or unfair criticism?"
"Usually, unfair. It's criticism that ruins your reputation. For example, the reporter did a
hatchet job on the new school. The editor called it investigative journalism."
"How about this example? The news channels did a hatchet job on the Chief Minister's
visit to the drought hit areas."
"Sounds good."
"How would you react if someone were to do a hatchet job on something you had
written?"
"I would be surprised if they didn't! Any news about your father's transfer?"
"Nothing so far. By the way, did Sujatha ask your boss for a transfer?"
"Yes, she did. Believe it or not, he sailed into her for making such a request."
"How did he manage to do that sitting in his office? Don't tell me his office is on a boat!"
"Don't be silly. One of the meanings of `sail into someone' is to attack or scold someone.
It's an expression usually used in informal contexts."
"I see. So can I say, when the team failed to enter the final, the coach sailed into the
players?"
"You certainly can. Here's another example. The young bride sailed into her husband for
bringing guests unannounced." "Over the years, a lot of teachers have sailed into me for not
doing my homework. Anyway, does this mean that you are not going to ask your boss for a
raise?"
"In the mood that he is in right now, most definitely not. I suspect that he would think
twice about giving a raise. If he does, he will be opening a new can of worms."
"Your boss sounds pretty strange. He `sails into' people and he keeps opening cans of
worms. Tell me, does he sail into people with his can of worms?"
"Very funny. When someone says that he is going to do something, and you tell him not
to open a can of worms, you are warning him not to do anything. You are suggesting that the
situation is so complicated that if he starts dealing with the problem, he will only succeed in
creating more problems for himself."
"In other words, by trying to solve the problem he will be creating more problems?"
"Exactly! Here's an example. Introducing my best friend's sister to my parents has opened
up one big can of worms."
"I bet it did. By appointing someone who doesn't have the basic qualifications for the job,
the Minister has opened a new can of worms for himself and the ruling party. Does that sound
OK?"
"Sounds fine. I don't think you should write about corruption in the police force. You will
be opening a can of worms."
"Don't worry about me, I am a vegetarian. I won't go anywhere near the worms."
"Aren't worms vegetarian?"
***** ***** *****
"Middle age: when a man is warned to slow down by a doctor instead of a policeman."
— Sidney Brody
What is the difference between "choose" and "pick"?
Although many people tend to use the words synonymously these days, careful users of
the language maintain a distinction between the two. Do you "choose" your life partner, or do
you "pick" one? Normally people "choose" their significant other. Choose suggests that you have
opted for the individual after giving the matter some serious thought. You have weighed the pros
and cons of an issue — in this case, marrying a person — and have arrived at a considered
decision. It is voluntary. Pick also means "selection", but in this case, there may not be any
serious thinking involved. The word suggests that you have opted for something in a very casual
manner — there may not be any decision making or discrimination involved. For example, when
you go to the supermarket and see several cans of the same product, you normally don't take too
much time thinking about which can to buy. Since the same company has made them, you "pick"
the can that is nearest you. Most of us do not select our life partner in this casual manner.
Similarly, we "choose" a present for someone we really like and care about — we buy the
present keeping in mind the person's likes and dislikes. If we "pick" a present, what we are doing
is buying something in a casual manner. We don't keep in mind the individual's likes and
dislikes; it suggests that we buy the first thing we see in the shop.
What is the meaning of "too close to call"?
This is an expression we hear very often from reporters during elections and from
commentators during one-day matches. When you say that a game is too close to call, what you
mean is that it is evenly poised, it is almost impossible to predict which team will emerge the
winner. When used during elections, what it implies is that the two candidates are running neck
and neck and therefore predicting the ultimate winner is not possible right now.
*The counting is going on. The result is too close to call.
Is it OK to say, "Wish you a Happy New Year 2005"?
No, it is not. When you want to greet someone on the New Year, you say, "Happy New
Year" or "Wish you a Happy New Year". Do not include the actual year — in this case 2005 —
along with the greeting. If you want to give importance to the year, then say, "Happy 2005" or
"Wish you a Happy 2005".
What is the difference between "disposed of" and "disposed off"?
When you get rid of someone or something, you normally say "disposed of", not
"disposed off". "Disposed off" is unacceptable.
* I want to know how the murderer disposed of the bodies.
In informal contexts, when you say that you disposed of someone, what you mean is that
you killed him. Perhaps you hired someone to do the killing.
* The don asked his hit man to dispose of his former accountant.
What is the difference between "blue collar worker" and "pink collar worker"?
A "blue collar worker" works in an industry and is always involved in manual labour.
You will find this individual in factories sweating it out on the shop floor. You won't find him
sitting behind a huge desk in an office. Nowadays, the term can be applied to both men and
women. "Pink collar workers", on the other hand, are always women. Low paid jobs available in
offices and restaurants are usually referred to "pink collar jobs".
***** ***** *****
"I wasn't kissing her, I was whispering in her mouth." — Chico Marx
January 2005
•What is the difference between "intuitively" and "instinctively"? (20050131)

•What is the meaning of "modus vivendi"? (20050131)
•What is the meaning of "once bitten twice shy"? (20050131)
•How is the word "brochure" pronounced? (20050131)
•What is the difference between "impassive" and "impassioned"? (20050124)
•What is the origin of "yellow journalism"? (20050124)
•What is the meaning of "watchdog agency"? (20050124)
•What is the past tense of "quit"? (20050124)
•What is the meaning and origin of "ringside view"? (20050117)
•What is the difference between "sob" and "weep"? (20050117)
•What is the meaning of "on the qui vive" ? (20050117)
•How is the word "scourge" pronounced? (20050117)
•What is the meaning of "shimmy"? (20050117)
•What is the difference between "convicted" and "sentenced"? (20050103)
•What is the plural of "formula"? (20050103)
•How is the word "caveat" pronounced? (20050103)
•Which is correct? "Clinic timings/timing"? (20050103)
What is the difference between "intuitively" and "instinctively"?
If someone were to shine a bright light on your face, you would automatically close or
shield your eyes. You would do these things without even thinking. They are responses you are
born with; they are "innate". This is what we mean by "instinctively". We respond to things
without really understanding why we react that way. Our responses are automatic; whatever
happens, happens unconsciously. Both animals and human beings are born with instincts.
*When Raju heard gunfire, he instinctively dived/dove for cover.
When you do something intuitively, you do react automatically, but in this case there is a
suggestion that you understand what it is you are doing. You are able to figure out a solution to
your problem in a fraction of a second without really thinking about it. The story goes that the
structure of Benzene came to the chemist Kekule in a sudden moment of insight. This is a case of
intuition, not instinct. The word "intuition" is mostly used with human beings, and not with
animals.
*Hari intuitively began to attack his opponent's backhand.
What is the meaning of "modus vivendi"?
In Latin, it means a "manner of living", or a "way of life". In English, however, the

expression is not used to mean this. It is used to refer to a compromise, usually temporary,
between two parties that are fighting each other. One often hears this expression used by foreign
ministers. If someone in the foreign ministry were to say, "If India and Pakistan want to avoid a
nuclear holocaust, a modus vivendi must be attained," what he means is that despite the many
differences, the two countries must find a way of coexisting peacefully.
*The two rival gangs managed to achieve a sort of modus vivendi.
What is the meaning of "once bitten twice shy"?
If you fall in love with a girl and the girl ditches you, what would your reaction be? You
would probably be really angry, but at the same time you would be scared to fall in love again.
Having had a bad experience previously, you would be reluctant to put yourself in the same
situation again. That's what the idiom, "once bitten twice shy", means.
*The caterer arrived three hours late last time, so Rama is not hiring him again. I guess
it's a case of once bitten twice shy.
*The last time he ate fish, he almost choked. He's stopped eating fish altogether — once
bitten twice shy.
How is the word "brochure" pronounced?

The "o" sounds like the "oa" in "oat", "boat", and "goat". The following "ch" is
pronounced like the "sh" in "should", "ship", and "sharp". The final "ure" sounds like the "er" in
"her" and "herd". The main stress is on the first syllable. This is how the British pronounce the
word. The Americans, on the other hand, pronounce the "ure" like the "ure" in "sure", "cure" and
"pure". They tend to put the stress on the second syllable. A "brochure" is a booklet containing
information about something.
*We want to bring out a brochure for the upcoming seminar.
***** ***** *****
"In my judgment, when the United States says there will be serious consequences, and if
there isn't serious consequences, it creates adverse consequences." — George W. Bush
What is the difference between "impassive" and "impassioned"?
When something bad happens and you remain "impassive" what you are doing is keeping
a wooden face. You are not displaying an emotion of any kind. It could be you do not feel any
emotion, or you have chosen to hide it. The heroes in many of our movies remain impassive in
all situations. They are the strong silent men who remain unmoved.
*After killing the man with his knife, the hero looked on impassively at the sea.
"Impassioned", on the other hand, means someone who is "full of passion", an individual
who displays intense feeling about something or someone.
*The impassioned speech by the Vice-Chancellor brought the audience to its feet.
What is the origin of "yellow journalism"?
When someone accuses a newspaper of "yellow journalism" what they mean is that it
presents the news in a biased manner. It distorts the facts and sensationalises the news in order to
get the public to buy the paper. It attempts to increase its circulation, not by providing accurate
news, but by appealing to the public's curiosity. The term "yellow journalism" is no longer
restricted to newspapers alone, it includes all other forms of media — television and radio.
*Some of the local newspapers are classic examples of yellow journalism.
The expression was popularised in the late 19th Century in the U.S. Two newspapers,
"New York World", owned by Joseph Pulitzer, and "New York Journal", owned by William
Randolph Hearst, were trying to become very popular among the public by printing sensational
stories. Both newspapers specialised in muckraking. The "World" had a popular comic strip
called "Hogan's Alley" in which the character "Yellow Kid" appeared. Hearst played dirty and
got "Hogan's" creator, R. F. Outcault, to join his paper. The angry Pulitzer hired another artist
and asked him to continue with the "Yellow Kid". The competition between the two yellow kids
led to an all out war between the two papers. There was a court battle over the copyright, and
very often, street fights broke out between the delivery boys of the rival newspapers. The fight
between Hearst and Pulitzer over the "Yellow Kid" began to symbolise everything that was
wrong with American journalism.
What is the meaning of "watchdog agency"?
Most people keep a watchdog in order to protect their house. When you refer to a group
of people as being a "watchdog" committee or agency, what you are implying is that they are
ensuring that your rights are being protected. They make sure that the companies, governments,
etc, follow the letter of the law, and do not cheat the public. A watchdog agency looks after the
interests of the public.
*We are hoping to set up an anti-drug watchdog agency soon.
What is the past tense of "quit"?
Depending on the context, the word has two possible past tense forms — quit and quitted.
When used to mean, "to leave" you can use both. For example, "Venu quit/quitted his job and
moved to Chennai." The word "quit" can also be used to mean, "to stop". We can, for example
say, "Venu has quit gambling". In this context, it is incorrect to use "quitted". The word "quitted"
is going out of fashion; it is mostly used in formal contexts.
***** ***** *****
"I grew up with six brothers. That's how I learned to dance — waiting for the bathroom."
— Bob Hope
What is the meaning and origin of "ringside view"?
When you have a "ringside view" of an event, you have an excellent view of it. It is also
possible to say "ringside seat".
*Sheel was sitting on the terrace and had a ringside view of the accident.
There are many idioms that come from the sport of boxing, and "ringside view" is one of
them. The "ring" refers to a "boxing ring". If during a boxing bout you are lucky enough to have
a seat close to the ring, you can see all the action very clearly.
What is the difference between "sob" and "weep"?
In both cases, tears flow from the eyes. "Weep" is mostly used in writing, and is
considered a literary word. When you say that someone is weeping, you are focussing on the
tears, and not on the sounds that accompany it. Weeping is usually done silently, which is why
you never talk about a baby weeping. Babies cry — a lot of noise accompanies the tears that
flow from their eyes. One can weep for various reasons; we can weep with sorrow, and we can
weep with joy. Sobbing is always done loudly; it is accompanied by a lot of noise. The heroines
in our films sob a lot. Sobbing involves gasping for breath and this results in a lot of chest
heaving. The word is usually associated with misery; unlike "weep", one cannot "sob" with joy.
What is the meaning of "on the qui vive" ?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The first word "qui" is pronounced like the word
"key", and the "i" in "vive" is like the "ee" in "fee", "bee" and "see". The final "e" is silent. The
main stress is on the second word. I understand that soldiers in France who were on duty during
the night used this expression. Whenever they saw a figure approaching or heard some noise,
they used to shout "qui vive", meaning, "Who goes there?" or "Long live who?" The person
approaching was expected to respond by saying, "vive le roi", meaning, "Long live the king".
Since the sentinel on duty had to be alert, the expression "on the qui vive" is used to mean,
"watchful" or "alert".
*With the elections around the corner, the police have been asked to be on the qui vive.
How is the word "scourge" pronounced?
The "sc" is like the "sk" in "skin", "skip", and "skill". The following "our" is pronounced
like the "er" in "her", "nerd" and "herd". The "g" sounds like the "j" in "jam", "jazz" and "jump",
and the final "e" is silent. A "scourge" is a whip normally used to flog people. The word can also
be used to refer to a person or a thing. When you refer to an individual as a "scourge", what you
mean is that he is someone who causes a lot of suffering for others — just like the whip!
*The President wants to put an end to the scourge of terrorism.
What is the meaning of "shimmy"?
Some people when they walk, shake their hips and shoulders side to side. This is what we
mean by "shimmy"; it is a word that is normally associated with dancing.
*As the singer shimmied across the stage, the audience went wild. In American English,
the word is also used in informal contexts to mean, "vibrate or shake".
*The front wheel of Velu's scooter shimmied.
*****
"Law of Telephone: When you dial a wrong number, you will never get an engaged tone."
— Unknown
What is the difference between "convicted" and "sentenced"?
(M. Natarajan, Annamapalayam)

These are words frequently used in law. Once the lawyers have presented their case, the
judge/jury then makes a decision as to whether the defendant (the individual who is on trial) is
guilty or not. If he is found guilty, he is convicted of the crime that he has been accused of. A
convicted individual is one who has been found "guilty" in a court of law. Once the defendant
has been found guilty, the judge then decides what his punishment should be. Should the person
be sent to prison for life or should he be hanged? Maybe the person should be made to pay a fine
of some sort and then set free. These are the decisions that a judge has to make once he convicts
a person. The punishment that the judge gives the individual on trail is the "sentence".
What is the plural of "formula"?
The word has two possible plurals — formulae and formulas. The "ae" in the final
syllable of "formulae" is pronounced like the "ee" in "bees", "fees", and "knees". The stress in
the case of all three words is on the first syllable. The Latin plural "formulae" is the preferred
word in scientific contexts, while "formulas" is used elsewhere. For example, one talks about
"mathematical formulae" and "political and diplomatic formulas".
How is the word "caveat" pronounced?
There are different ways of pronouncing this word. The "c" is like the "k" in "kiss", "kill"
and "kick" and the "a" in the first and third syllables is pronounced like the "a" in "cat", "hat" and
"pat". The "e" is like the "i" in "pit", "hit" and "sit"; the main stress is on the first syllable. Some
people pronounce the first "a" like the "ay" in "pay", "bay" and "hay".
"Caveat" is a word which is mostly used in formal contexts and it means warning or
caution. When two businessmen make a deal, they usually stipulate that certain conditions have
to be met. If they are not met, then the deal is off. A "caveat" is a proviso. Here are a few
examples.
*She agreed to the divorce with one caveat — that he would never see the children again.
I'll agree to the deal with one caveat — that you will not enter into a deal with any other
company.
The expression "caveat emptor" means, "buyers beware". In other words, when you buy
something, it is your responsibility to ensure that everything is fine.
Which is correct? "Clinic timings/timing"?
I guess in the Indian context, "timings" would be the appropriate word. After all,
everyone in our country talks about "school timings", "bus timings" and "train timings". A native
speaker of English, however, would find both "timing" and "timings" unacceptable. He would
prefer to say "Clinic hours". The word "timing" has nothing to do with duration, and as for the
word "timings", well, you won't find it listed in most dictionaries. It is a word that we Indians
have coined.
***** ***** *****
"The average girl would rather have beauty than brains because she knows that the
average man can see much better than he can think." — Ladies Home Journal
Table of Contents
October 2010
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March 2010
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December 2009
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May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
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April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
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December 2006
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October 2006
September 2006

Know Your English

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October 2010

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