31 July 2011

utopia - an imagined perfect place or state of things.
Some people want to bring utopia in the world but ....

`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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 26, 2006

‘Lead someone up/down the garden path’

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.
Examples:  My uncle doesn’t trust people. He feels that the person advising him is trying to lead him down the garden path. * 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.

It is also possible to say, `up the garden path’.
Example: The mechanic led us up the garden path about the cost — the repairs turned out to be really expensive.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 19, 2006

Sponge something from someone

When you sponge something from someone, you beg or borrow something from them.

Examples:  Whenever my cousin loses money in stock market, he sponges from his parents. * My brother sponged a thousand rupees from my parents. * My cousin has been sponging food from her relatives for a year now.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 19, 2006

27 July

skirt (verb) - to lie on or along the border of
Peace talks pick up pace as India, Pak skirt roadblocks.

ticks off - to scold or reprimand
Krishna ticks off Pak over Hurriyat meet 


tranche - a portion of something (especially money)

26 July 2011

quagmire 

• Land with a soft muddy surface.
• A difficult or precarious situation;

Usage : Jailed former telecom minister A Raja on Monday sought to drag Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and home minister P Chidambaram into the political-legal quagmire of the spectrum scam, saying they were party to the decision to allow telecom firms that got 2G licences to sell equity for large profits.

‘Bottom fishing’

‘Bottom fishing’ is 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.

Examples:  ”I have a cousin who thinks that bottom fishing will always get you something of value”. ”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.”

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 19, 2006

‘ in limbo’

Things are ‘in limbo’ means that things are in an uncertain state. It can also mean that things are in a state of neglect.

Examples:  Unless the Supreme Court gives its verdict, the various projects will continue to be in limbo. * The Manager kept Lavanya’s promotion in limbo for months.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 19, 2006

You cannot ‘return back’.

”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.”
The usage ‘return back’ in the above sentence is wrong. You don’t have to say `return back’. Just `return’ will do.

Example: The Vice Chancellor will return from Nagpur on Thursday.\

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 19, 2006

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.
Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 12, 2006

`out 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 12, 2006

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?

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 12, 2006

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. `Empowerment’, `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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 12, 2006

How is the word `loquacious’ pronounced?

The `o’ in the first syllable and the `iou’ in the final syllable are pronounced like the `a’ in `china’. The `qu’ sounds like the `qu’ in `quit’, `quiz’ and `queen’. The `a’ that follows is like the `a’ 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 12, 2006

‘according to me’ is wrong usage

You cannot say, `according to me’. It’s always according to someone else.

Example: ”According to my uncle I am brilliant.”

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 5, 2006

‘Hearsay’

Hearsay means things that one has heard from other people. They may or may not be true. It’s like a rumour.

Example: A lot of things reported in this article are based on hearsay.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 5, 2006

‘look a gift horse in the mouth’

look a gift horse in the mouth means hat when someone gives you a gift, don’t go about finding fault with it. Accept it for what it’s worth.

Examples:  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.

Origin:  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.  Accept the gift for what it’s worth.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 5, 2006

‘Get wind of something’

‘Get wind of something’ means to come to know about something which others are trying to keep a secret.

Example:   Jai got wind of the fact that I was taking Sarita to a movie. * My father wanted to throw a surprise party for my sister. He made sure no one got wind of it.  My friends got wind of the fact that the market was going to crash.

The idiom came from animal world. Animals smell the wind to figure out which other animals are nearby.  The wind carries the scent of the other animals.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 5, 2006

‘something go south’

When you say that something has `gone south’, what you mean is that it has gone down in value or quality.

Examples:  when share prices went south, investors panicked.* Sania lost in the first round of the French Open. Her famous forehand seems to have gone south. *  My friends sold off many of their stocks a week before the market went south.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – June 5, 2006

`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 `a’ in `man’ is pronounced like the `a’ 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 29, 2006

How is the word `leitmotiv’ pronounced?

The first syllable is pronounced like the word `light’; the following `o’ is like the `o’ in `so’, `no’, and `go’. The `i’ sounds like the `ee’ 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.
Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 29, 2006

`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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 29, 2006

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 `a further count’.
Example: Both candidates demanded a re-count.
It must be mentioned here that not everyone uses the hyphen nowadays. The `e’ in the first syllable is pronounced like the `ee’ in `seed’, `feed’, and `need’.

The word `recount’, on the other hand, means to narrate. In this case, the `e’ is like the `i’ in `sit’, `bit’, and `hit’, and the stress is on `count’.
*The students recounted their adventures in the Himalayas.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 29, 2006

‘Latino’

Pronunciation: The `a’ in the first syllable is like the `a’ in `cat’, `bat’ and `hat’, and the following `i’ is like the `ee’ in `fees’, `bees’, and `knees’ and the final `no’ is pronounced like the word `no’. The main stress is on the second syllable.
A `Latino’ is someone from Latin America who has settled down in the U.S. It’s a term mostly used in American English.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 22, 2006

‘ dribs and drabs’

‘Dribs and drabs’ means in small amounts.
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. * The striking miners returned to work in dribs and drabs.

The word `dribs’  is the short form of `driblet’, which in the 17th Century meant `a drop’ or `tiny quantity’. Some believe it comes from `dribble’ meaning `trickle’. ‘Trickle’ means to flow out very slowly and in small quantity.
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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 22, 2006

‘down to the wire’

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.
Example: The two teams are good. I have a feeling that the game will go down to the wire.

The expression is usually used to mean `at the very last minute’ or `at the very end’.
Example: ”Remember the assignment that I had to submit last week? I really went down to the wire on that one.”
( which means that you submitted it at the very last minut).

The expression come from the world of horse racing.  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. So when you say `down to the wire’, what you actually mean is `up to the finishing line’.  In other words, the race was exciting right up to the finishing line. Also note the preposition in the idiom.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 22, 2006

`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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 15, 2006

How is the word `esoteric’ pronounced?

The first syllable is pronounced like the letter `s’ and the following `o’ is like the `a’ in `china’. The `e’ is like the `e’ in `set’, `pet’, and `bet’, and the final `ric’ is like the `ric’ in `electric’, `eccentric’, 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 `e’ in the first syllable like the `ee’ in `bee’, `fees’, and `geese’, and the following `o’ like the `o’ in `so’, `go’ and `no’.

When you say that something is `esoteric’, 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.

Example: Venkat takes interest in esoteric subjects

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 15, 2006

`cul de sac’

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The `u’ in `cul’ is like the `u’ in `cut’, `but’, and `hut’; the `e’ in `de’ is like the `i’ in `it’, `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.
Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 15, 2006

What is the difference between `Only 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.)

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 15, 2006

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.


Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 15, 2006

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 `e’ 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 `a’ in `dant’ is like the `a’ in `pants’, `ants’, and `apple’. While some people put the stress on the first syllable, others put it on the final syllable.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 08, 2006

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 `o’ is pronounced like the `o’ 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 `o’ in the first syllable is like the `a’ 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 08, 2006

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 08, 2006

`lonely’ and `alone’

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 08, 2006

24 July 2011 (Novel - believing the impossible before breakfast)

transcend - to go beyond

mundane- Lacking interest or excitement; dull.

‘stay indoors’ is wrong usage

 ”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 `indoor’ then?”
“Table tennis is an indoor game.”
“There are many hotels which have an indoor swimming pool.”
“Most gyms are indoors.”
Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 01, 2006 

‘fork something over’

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.* Do you think the bank will fork over more money to help us ?

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 01, 2006 

‘jump through 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.

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’.
Example: I am not willing to jump through a hoop for you.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 01, 2006 

‘Scrooge’

Pronunciation:  The `scroo’ is pronounced like the word `screw’, and the final `ge’ sounds like the `j’ in `jam’, `jump’, and  Job.

A scrooge must be someone who hates spending money. He must be a miser. Scrooge is actually a character in Charles Dickens’s `A Christmas Carol’.

Example: When I was growing up, I thought my uncle was a bit of a Scrooge. But he was very generous compared to my boss.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 01, 2006

‘Good evening’ / ‘Good night’

“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, `Good evening’.”
“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’.”
” When you walk into a restaurant late in the evening, the waiter wishes you `Good evening’, and when you leave, he says, `Good night’.”
Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – May 01, 2006

‘Spinning wheels’

When you say that all you’re doing is spinning your wheels, what you mean is that you are wasting your time.

Example: 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 24, 2006

‘needle someone’

When you needle someone, you are trying to annoy or irritate him/her by making unkind remarks.

Examples: Raju enjoys needling his neighbour about her accent. * The students succeeded in needling the new teacher. * I will keep needling my boss till he gives me a raise.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 24, 2006

‘worrywart’

A worrywart is someone who worries excessively. He worries even when there is no reason to.

Examples: 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 24, 2006

‘Fantabulous’

Fantabulous is a combination of `fantastic’ and `fabulous’. The word means `great’ or `excellent’. The word is normally used in informal contexts.

Examples: Our captain scored a fantabulous century in the last match. * The movie was fantabulous.

 Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 24, 2006

nav / nore / naus - sea or ocean

Nautical - 5th that is concerning sailorship

naval - pertaining to ships

circumnavigate - to sail the way around something

nausea - feeling like vomit

aquanaut - a driver

seafaring - connected by travelling by sea



navy - army operating on sea
 

noc / nic /nox - harmful

innocuous -  harmless

noxious - harmful

nocturnal  - related to night (Harmful effect anything related to night)

morph - shape

amorphous - without shape, shapeless, nebulous, vague

metamorphosis - change of form, shape, transformation

morphology - study of shape of things

polymorphous - having  more that one shape

anthropomorphic - in the shape of man (anthropo - related to human beings)

pot - power / drink

potent - intoxicated , strong , forceful, effective

potential - possible, budding, latent, impending

omnipotent - supreme power / all powerful

impotent - powerless, weak, helpless, incapable

potentate - monarch, ruler, emperor

potion - liquid

phon - sound

euphonious - sounding pleasant , harmonious, melodious

symphony - a long piece of music for orchestra

cacophony - an unpleasant mixture of bad sounds

pec - money

pecuniary - financial / fiscal / monitory / economical

impecunious - having v. little money, indigent, destitute / poor

pan - all

panorama - view scene

panacea - cure all, universal remedy / solution

pandemic - chaos / bedlam (uproar) , mayhem

panegyric - a speech or piece of writing, praising something

pantheism - a belief that god is present in all natural things

Words on belief in god

atheism - belief that god doesn't exist

pantheism - a belief that god is present in all natural things

21 July 2011

Brood - to think for a long time about things that make you sad, worried or angry

oblivion - the state of being unconcious

oblivious - not aware of something

inimical - harmful or limiting

mori / mort - dead

morbid - too interested in subjects related to death

immortalize - to make someone or something so famous that they are remembered for a v.long time

moribund - At the point of death or decline, dying, lacking vigour
How can trade deptt. revived from its present moribund state?

mortuary - a place where dead bodies kept temporarily

mortality - being moral
The day human gains knowledge of mortality, we get the knowledge that everything on earth is mortal

mortify - to humiliate greatly, gangrenous, degrade
I told her that if she'd upset him, she'd be mortified

mortal - earthly
Man is mortal

jec / ject - to throw

projectile - bullet , shell

inject - to insert , infuse, introduce, instill, adding more value

reject - to discard / refuse / eliminate / snub (=> to decline ; rebuff - disallow)

eject - throw out, banish, to get rid off, cast out

jettison - to throw away / discard / chucked out

trajectory - path, course, root, arc, curve, trail, flight

dejected - sad , depressed, hopeless, unhappy, gloomy, down in the dumps, in blues, crest-fallen

conjecture - surmise (=> to guess), speculation, inferences,
conjecture is not wild guess, but may be inference
eg. my dear fried I conjectured from your parent....=> you infer

lud / lus - to play

ludicrous - absurd, ridiculous, foolish, stupid, farcical, non-sensical, prepostures

allude - to refer to something indirectly, sarcastic

allusion - any indirect or passing reference

illusionary - deceptive

delusion - a false belief, misunderstanding, fallacy

illusion - is deliberately but delusion is not wanted

greg - heard or crowd

aggregate - total, cumulative, amassed

congress - very formal meeting of delegates for discussion
delegate - the people must be of that kind of session
eg. parliament, assembly, senate, legislature

segregate - isolate, to set aside
Antonym - integrate

congregation (Roman catholic) - where people used to go in 2 different ways - normal people used to go from Monday to Saturday, but Aristocratic laureates used to meet on Sundays => religious gathering, people assembled in church service, flocks


gregarious - social, extroverted, unresolved, expressive
Marketing people are generally gregarious in nature

congenial -  pleasing through having qualities or interests similar to one's own

matr / mater, matri - mother

matriarch - female ruler of family, group or state

matron ( pronunciation - metron) - sober, dignified, married women, nuns and nurses , lady incharge of domestic , nursing or school affairs

matrilineal - descends from mother's side

alma mater - fostering , nurturing, referred to my school / institution a person went to

matricide - killing of one's mother

maternal - of mother, gentle
He is fried with maternal touch

mem / men/ min / mnem - remember

memorabilia - record of things worth remembering

reminisce - thinking and talking of past events, being retrospective

nostalgia - is about good memories of the past

amnesia - forgetfulness / loss of memory (old age)

B- pardon , forgiveness

B- aid to memory

memento - an object kept as reminder or souvenir.

reminiscence - a story told by the narrator remembering the past events

locu / loqu / logy - speak / speech

elocution - diction, the way you pronounce, voice production OR skill of speaking with clarity
Sentence -If person has good elocution you would understand in phones.
Opp to this person who can speak may not make you understand much.

eloquent - expressive or fluent, persuasive
In marketing salesman is eloquent

loquacious - wordy, talkative, cariluos
It is related to mouth, not tongue.
rambling - v.long and confusing, longwinded,
effusive - expressing feeling v.v. strongly
taciturn - habitually reserved and uncommunicative (however abeyance may be there for some reason)
Antonym(taciturn) - voluble

dialogue - exchange of ideas

prologue - preamble, introduction, preface
Note that prologue is used mainly for oral communication (because note that logue refers to speech), while foreword is a kind of letter

monologue - speech you make to yourself OR long dramatic speech by a single actor

epilogue - finale,

colloquial - spoken in general, informed
Antonym - formal

grandiloquent - speaking something pompous, predencious, oeverseas bearing
Antonym - straight forward

prolix - wordy, flowery, rambling , protracted
Antonym - concise

analogous - similar, akin

interlocutor - person who takes part in dialogue

soliloquy - speech you make to yourself, OR act on speaking one's thought.

gen - birth

generate - to produce / breed or engender or spawn

genealogy - family tree, dencend or ancestors or forebears or pedigree

genre - kind or variety (french , pronounced as zonre)

gender - sex (In french every single word is neutral) eg. - shoes - masculine, sleepers - feminine

homogeneous - of same kind, uniform, identical, standardized, harmonized

genetics - science of heredity / inheritance

genesis - origin, start

degenerate - This is not used when something bad happens but when something immoral happens.
eg. a degenerated society will get engage in eating, drinking etc

progeny - off-springs, children, descendants

progenitor - an ancestor in direct line

‘Bang on’

‘Bang on’ means `exactly right’.

Examples: 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 24, 2006

sem - seed

seminal - shaping or determining, descisive, influential
originate your thinking eg. after that seminal speech
chinese proverb - Dont give person a fish, teach him to fish

disseminate - distribute, spread, broadcast or publicize

seminar - class transfering data with seminal

Words related to dissaproval

We have already seen some of such words in roots - rog / rogat.

Here we will see some more -

aloof -   not interested or involved, usually because you do not approve of what is happening:

Whatever is happening in the office, she always remains aloof.
She kept herself aloof from her husband's business.

astringent (severe kind of word) - describes remarks which are clever but very critical or unkind.

barbed - critical and unkind
She made some rather barbed comments about my lifestyle.

captious - tending to express criticisms about unimportant matters

critical - saying that someone or something is bad or wrong, eg. a critical report
The report is highly critical of safety standards at the factory.

damning - describes a report, finding, remark, etc. which is very critical or which shows clearly that someone is wrong, guilty or has behaved very badly.
He made some fairly damning remarks about the government's refusal to deal with the problem.
The two men were convicted on some extremely damning evidence.

deprecating - showing that you think something is of little value or importance:
The teacher gave the boys a deprecating stare.
Her deprecating smile clearly showed that she thought I'd said something stupid.

derogatory - showing strong disapproval and not showing respect:

disapproving - showing that you feel something or someone is bad or wrong:


disparaging - critical, in a way that shows you do not respect or value someone.


hard-hitting
A speech or piece of writing that is hard-hitting is extremely critical of something.
The committee published a hard-hitting report on the bank's management.

hypercritical - too eager to find mistakes in everything; extremely critical

ill - bad, or speak ill of sb to say unkind things about someone (now lil old fashioned)
I realize one shouldn't speak ill of the dead.

pejorative - disapproving or suggesting that something is not good or is of no importance:
Make sure students realise that 'fat' is an unflattering or pejorative word.
It comes as quite a shock to still hear a judge describing a child as 'illegitimate', with all the pejorative overtones of that word.

pointed - describes a remark, question or manner that is intended as a criticism of the person to whom it is directed.
My aunt made a few pointed remarks about my taste in clothes.


pointedly 
in a very obvious way, usually to express criticism or disapproval.
He pointedly ignored her after the show.

pungent  - describes speech or writing that is very strongly felt.


scathing - severely and unkindly critical
He was very scathing about the report, saying it was inaccurate.

snide - containing unpleasant and indirect criticism
She made one or two snide remarks about their house which I thought was a bit unnecessary.

sniffy - showing disapproval and a low opinion.
She's a bit sniffy about my taste in music.

uncomplimentary - rudely critical
She had some very uncomplimentary things to say about Stephen.

venomous - full of anger or hate
Ms Brown has launched a venomous attack against the newspaper.

vinegary - very critical or angry and unpleasant

vitriolic
He launched a vitriolic attack on the prime minister, accusing him of shielding corrupt friends.

withering - severe and extremely critical:
He made a withering attack on government policy.

rog / rogat - to ask

interrogative - questioning, inquisition, probing

prerogative - privilege

arrogatory - disparaging, insulting, offensive, critical (this word has large range of area)

derogatory - disparaging, insulting

arrogant - naughty, proud, feeling superior
(So one can say - pig headed people live in US - it means over confidant, this is their slang only)

sacr - holi

sanction - authorize , help people somehow
eg. Govt has sanctioned 3000 crore for....

sacrifice - done for holy and sacred reason

sacroment - reparation, self punishment, atonement, to correct yourself, feeling a appology

consecrate - to make holy, sanctify / purify ; Antonym - desecrate

sanctuary - place of refuge/asylum , haven (harbour), place of safety

sanctity - holiness, blessedness, inviolability
(reverence is different - you demand respect)

sanctify - to bless, to consecrate

sanctimonious - self righteous , holier than though, pious (pious is pure by its nature)

sacred - holy, revered(--> highest degree of respect)
Note that revered comes after worship of god; so
worship => god
revered  => human

sacrilege - blasphemy (irreverence) , disrespect, profanity

untouchables (in holi sense) - In hindus/ Jains you can't touch saints etc

sacristy - room in church for vestments, vessels, etc

sacristan - person in charge of sacristy of church

sacrosanct - most sacred

sacrum - triangular bone between hips

sanctum - sacred place , especially a shrine in a temple or church

sanctum sanctorum (plural same or add s) - the holy of holies in the Jewish temple
It was after we reached inner precincts or sanctum sanctorum that the cops stopped him. (He here is about Chilean native who tried to enter Puri temple )
precinct - an eclosed or clearly defined area around cathedral

`spiel’

Pronunciation:  The `s’ sounds like the `sh’ in `shoot’, `should’, and `ship’, and the following `piel’ is pronounced like the word `peel’.”

Another way of pronouncing the word is to pronounce the `sp’ like the `sp’ in `spool’, `spill’, and `sport’.

Meaning : A spiel is a well rehearsed speech that a person gives very often. Spiels are usually given in order to persuade people.

Examples: 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 24, 2006

culp - fault, blame

culprit - offender, perpetrator, wrong doer
culpable - guilty, homable, responsible, liable (Antonym - innocent)
exculpate - to free from blame, pardon, exonerate
inculpate - accuse, blame, incriminate

cred - belief, trust

credulous - gullible, naive, innocent, uncritical
credibility - reliable, trust, worthiness, believable
credence - belief, acceptance, confidence
creed - faiths, set of principles
credit - belief that something is true, a system of following payments to be differed
credentials - documents giving confidence of a person, acheivement

crac / crat - rule, power

democracy - social equality, egalitarianism, clashlessness
autocrat - dictator, despot, tyrant
aristocrat - noble lords, rule because of riches or nobblish nature
theocracy - means rule of god

Roots -> corp - body

corpulent - fat , obese, portly, swollen
corpse - dead body of animals
corps - a group, companies, unit organization
corporal - to the body; corporal punishment are banned in school
corporeal - to add OR to include
corpus - sum, gathering, collection

clin, cliv - slope, lean

inclination - tendency, bent, affection, attachment,
incline
recline
decline
proclivity - tendency to do something regularly

Roots circ / circum - around

circumspect - cautious, watchful prudent, careful
circumlocution - round about vermose
circumstances - conditions , situations, positions
circumscribe - to limit,describe restrict
circuitous - indirect

Roots - cide -- to kill

Word	Killing
suicide	killing oneself
homicide	human beings
genocide	entire race
patricide	father
matricide	mother
fratricide	brother
sororicide	sister
regicide	king
tyrannicide
homicide
herbicide,pesticide,biocide

Roots - carn -- flesh

incarnate - personified
carnivorous - flesh eating
carnage - killing, mayhem, disorder, complete turmoil

Root - Cad / cas / cid - to fall, happen

cadence - rhythm, tempo, intonation
cascade - waterfall flow
accident
incident - occurrence, prevalence, happening event
decadent - being in the state of decline or decay in morals, corrupt
(or sometimes used for decadent society typically get engaged in drinking)

Roots - ben / bon -- good

benefit - advantage, gain, help
benevolence - kindness, charity, generosity (antonym - malevolence)
benediction - blessing, kindness, (antonym - malediction)
bonafide - genuine, in good faith (antonym - malafide)
benign - kind (antonym - malign -- evil in nature)

Belli / bellum - war , fight

belligerent - aggressive, quarrelsome, pugnacious
bellicose - combative, confrontational, very aggressive
rebellious - disloyal, disobedient, mutinous

Root Anti - against / opposite

antidote - cure against poison, remedy, panacia(cure for all)
antipathy - opposition, aversion, hatred, ill will, hostility, antegonism
antithesis - direct opposite, banned, opposite, contrast
antonym - words with opposite meaning

Root Anthrop -- mankind, humanity

misanthrope - one who hates humanity
philanthrope - one who loves humans and humanity
lycanthrope - A human being fabled to have been changed into a wolf; a werewolf.

Ante / Ant - Before

Antediluvian - pre historic, ancient,obsolete; It also means old fashioned

Antecede - to go before in time

Antecedent - pre-historic, back ground, too old, out of date, happened before something

Anterior - foreward, front
(Antonym - posterior opposite)

Antebellum - belonging to the period of war, especially the american civil war.

Antepenultimate - 3rd from last.

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 17, 2006

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 17, 2006

How is the word `bourgeois’ pronounced?

The `our’ is like the `ure’ 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 `ar’ 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 17, 2006

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 17, 2006

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 17, 2006

What’s the difference between `I am giving an exam’ and `I’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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 10, 2006

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 10, 2006

How to get attention from people while communicating

Talking when nobody is listening is like clapping with one hand. Attention and response are the 2 tiers of communication.
Some techniques for getting people attention

• Pay attention to people and they will pay attention to you as well. Connect with audience, their needs, their dreams. Talk what is interesting to audience. Get audience to do something, involve audience. If any time you feel like loosing attention, do something to get it back. Don't speak and make others hear, but have a dialogue with them, let them speak.
• Overcoming the competition of communication.
• Become interesting in them to win their competition

Guidelines for following above techniques:

• Organize your thoughts before speaking. If thought is not clear in our mind, it is worst when spoken.
• Give them info, to the point. Audience should not think - "So what is his point?"
• Show them, what is there for me? 
• Ask questions - like their jobs, hobbies. 
• Be Real on your part.  
• Be enthusiastic, use gestures. This will make your listeners enthusiastic.

5 Conditions for becoming good communicator

1. Burning Desire to communicate..learn the language you want to communicate in. Improve your voice intonation. Make your thoughts clear.
2. Understand the process of communication. Communicating is basically sending and receiving images, though we speak or write in words. Just communicate in a way, that you can make other people understand your thoughts.
3. Master certain basic skills like connecting with audience, conveyed messages they understand and get their response back. 
4. Practicing what you want to communicate. Just practice to become superb, and don't get satisfy. Never have complacent attitude.
5. Have patience, growth takes time. 

Also notice how you are going. Use self criticism to improve yourself. Accept that you are going wrong, when you are going wrong.

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.

Source: The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, January 2, 2006

Presentation Skills

Following are the steps for preparing and delivering a good presentation:

1. Prepare your presentation, rehearse it also.
2. Dress comprehensively
3. Reaction time should be good
4. When you look at the audience, smile 

Try to do following:

• Add humour, sometimes humour can be pre-planned.

Don't do following:

• Don't go forward and backward

Goals:

• Overcome the fear of coming before people, just try to become fearless 

Some practicing ideas:

• Record your presentation infront of webcam, and notice flaws yourself. 

10th July 2011

barb - Anything which stands out with a sharp point obliquely or crosswise to something else.
Govt barbs force solicitor general to put in papers.

brouhaha - A noisy and overexcited critical response, display of interest, or trail of publicity


source : Dictionary

`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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series,

‘Faculty’ and ‘faculties’

‘Faculty’ is the word used to refer to the entire teaching staff. 

Examples: The faculty agreed to work on a Sunday.* Our faculty will be on strike all of next week.

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.

Examples:  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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 6, 2006

albeit

The word ‘albeit’ means `although’.   It’s mostly used in formal contexts.

Pronunciation

The first syllable is like the word `all’, and the second is pronounced like the word `bee’. As for the final syllable, it’s pronounced like the word `it’.   The main stress is on the second syllable.

Examples: The Government was making progress, albeit, slowly. * Renu tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to jog 20 miles.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 6, 2006

‘put on your thinking cap’

When someone tells you to put on your thinking cap, what they want you to do is to start thinking seriously about some problem. They want you to come up with a solution.

Example: Sujatha put her thinking cap on and came up with an answer.

Origin: In the old days a judge used to put on a cap before he sentenced someone and this cap was called a thinking cap.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 6, 2006

‘if worse comes to the worse’ is not standard expression

The standard expression is, `if the worst comes to the worst’.

Examples: If the worst comes to the worst, you could always borrow money from me.* 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, `if 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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 6, 2006

`ample’ and `enough’

The word `enough’ 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 `enough’. 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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 13, 2006

‘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.”

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 13, 2006

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 `es’ is like the word `ease’. 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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 13, 2006

‘the rub of the green’

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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 13, 2006

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’. 

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 20, 2006

Which is correct “My house is opposite to the railway station” or “………opposite the railway station”?

You normally say that the house is opposite the railway station, and not `opposite to’. When you use the word `opposite’ 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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 13, 2006

`afflict’ and `inflict’

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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 20, 2006

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 10, 2006

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 10, 2006

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 10, 2006

Which is correct? `The majority of the applicants is not qualified’ or `The majority of the applicants are’?

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 `of’, 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.
Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 3, 2006

How is the word `demise’ pronounced?

The first syllable is like the word `dim’ and the second is pronounced like the word `eyes’. 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 3, 2006

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 `U.N’, for example, you pronounce the `u’ as well as the `n’ separately. Other famous organisations which have to be preceded by `the’ are `BBC’, `CBI’, `FBI’ and `EC”. 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 `OPEC’, `UNICEF’, and `NATO’, there is no need for the definite article `the’.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 3, 2006

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 3, 2006

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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 3, 2006

`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.

Source: The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 27, 2006

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 `is’. On the other hand, if you think of the team as consisting of distinct individuals, then you use the plural verb `are’. 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. *The Government wants/want to sell off some of the public sector units.

Source: The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 27, 2006

`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.

Source: The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 27, 2006.

Which is correct? `Once for all’ or `once and for all’?

The dictionaries list only `once 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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 27, 2006

`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’

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 27, 2006

How is the word `dilettante’ pronounced?

The `i’ in the first syllable and the `e’ in the final syllable are like the `i’ in `pit’, `bit’ and `sit’. The vowel in the second syllable sounds like the `a’ in `china’. The following `a’ is like the `a’ in `ant’, `apple’, 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.

 Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 20, 2006. 

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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 27, 2006

‘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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 20, 2006

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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 20, 2006

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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 20, 2006

What is the meaning of `nous’?

`Nous’ rhymes with `house’, `mouse’, and `louse’.

The word is used in British English to mean `intelligence’ 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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, March 20, 2006

`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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 27, 2006

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!

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 27, 2006

How is the word `hoi polloi’ pronounced?

The `oi’ in the two words is pronounced like the `oi’ in `oil’, `boil’, and `toil’. The `o’ in the first syllable of `polloi’ is like the `a’ 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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 27, 2006

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 `at’ 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.


Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 27, 2006

‘ rip-off’

Rip-off is a term used in informal contexts to mean `deceive’ or `cheat’.

Example 1: “If you are not careful, you’ll get ripped off.”
Example 2: “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!”

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 20, 2006

What’s the difference between `farther’ and `further’?

If you are talking about distance, the two words can be used synonymously.

Example: We need to drive ten miles further/farther to reach our destination.  * 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.

But in some contexts there is a difference between ‘farther’ and ‘further’.
While the  word `further’ can be used to mean `in addition’ or `more’, you cannot use `farther’ in such contexts.
Example:  If you wish to have further discussions, please meet me in my office. * The floods caused further damage to the old bridge. * I don’t think we should discuss this matter any further.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 20, 2006

‘Syrupy’

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.

Examples: Girls generally go gaga over syrupy love stories. * I hate it when they make books into movies. The movie always turns out to be syrupy. * The lyrics of this song are rather syrupy.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 20, 2006

‘Johnnie-come-lately’

A Johnnie-come-lately is someone who is new to a situation or position. It’s an expression used mostly in informal contexts.

Example: We have a Johnnie-come-lately in the finance department. He has no idea what the company does.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 20, 2006

Lining someone’s pockets

The expression means to make money in an illegal manner.

Example: 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.*
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 employee.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 13, 2006

‘Lighten up’

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.

Examples: ”You don’t have to shout at her so much. All she did was ask you an innocent question. You need to lighten up.”

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 13, 2006

‘Stymie’ : Pronunciation and Meaning

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.

Pronunciation: The first syllable rhymes with `my’ and `by’. The `ie’ in the second syllable is like the `i’ in `bin’, `fin’, and `tin’. The main stress is on the first syllable.

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.

Examples: The students’ plans to have a rock concert were stymied when the principal refused allow outsiders into the campus. * Raju was stymied when Satish refused to help him when he had money problems.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 13, 2006

‘Cat’s whiskers’

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.

Examples: Many of the people who work in government offices think they are the cat’s whiskers. *  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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 6, 2006

`Say our opinion’ is wrong usage.

`Say our opinion’ is wrong. You can `give your opinion’, `express your opinion’, and `state your opinion’. But you cannot `say your opinion’.
Examples: The teacher refused to give her opinion on the matter. * The author expresses his opinion about the cricket team in this article.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 6, 2006

cool someone’s heels

When you let someone cool his heels, you make him wait for some time.

Examples: While the lawyer was having dinner, he made his clients cool their heels in the lobby of the hotel.* ”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.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 6, 2006

‘Make short work of something/someone’

When you make short work of something, you deal with it very quickly. It’s an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts.

Examples: We made short work of the problems that the physics teacher had given us. * I made short work of the biscuits that my mother baked on my birthday.

‘Make short work of someone’
It is also possible to make short work of someone.
Example: The challenger made short work of the former champion.

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, February 6, 2006

‘shape up or ship out’

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.

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.”

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, January 30, 2006

‘leave someone up in the air’

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’.

Examples:  ”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.”  * ”Don’t leave me up in the air like this.”

Source: S. Upendran, The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, January 30, 2006