`inform of’ and `inform on’

When someone is `informed of’ something, he is formally told about the facts; the information is passed on to him.
Examples: 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 `inform 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) – October 23, 2006.

‘call a spade a spade’

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.  You speak plainly and frankly.

Example: “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”.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) – October 16, 2006.

`weary’ and `wary’

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 `i’ in `it’, `bit’, and `sit’.
The `ea’ in the first syllable of the word  ‘weary’ sounds like the `ea’ in `dear’, `near’, and `fear’ and the final `y’ is like the `i’ in `it’, `bit’, and `sit’.
In both `weary’ and `wary’, the stress is on the first syllable.

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.
Example :  Many people have become weary of the war in Iraq.

When you are wary of something, you are unsure of it, and therefore you are cautious of it. 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.
When you keep a wary eye on someone, you watch them very carefully to see what they are up to.
Examples: 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) – October 16, 2006.

`braggadocio’

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’.

The first syllable is pronounced like the word `brag’; the `a’ in the second is like `a’ in `china’. The `o’ in the third and final syllable sounds like the `o’ in `no’, `so’, and `go’. The `ci’ is like the `shi’ in `ship’ and `shin’. The main stress is on the third syllable `do’.

Examples: *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.

 Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) – October 23, 2006.

‘Clock-watcher’

A clock-watcher is someone 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.

Examples:  “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”

Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) – October 09, 2006.

‘Mickey Mouse course’

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.

Example:  According to Sujatha most colleges offer only Mickey Mouse courses.

 Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) – October 16, 2006.

‘retread’

“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.”
“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.”
Example: “When the government does decide to hire new teachers, I hope they get young people. Not a whole bunch of retreads”. * Most people working for any government agency are either retreads or clock-watchers.
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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) – October 09, 2006.

‘Capish’

Capish means `understand’. It’s a word mostly used in informal contexts.

Pronunciation:  The `a’ is like the `a’ in `china’; the following `i’ is like the `ee’ 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) – October 09, 2006.

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.
Example: 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.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) – October 02, 2006.

‘cruciverbalist’

A cruciverbalist is someone who is skilled at doing crossword puzzles. A cruciverbalist can also be someone who just enjoys doing crossword puzzles. He/she doesn’t have to be good at it.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) – October 09, 2006.

“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.

Examples: In refugee camps, orphans often get lost in the shuffle and are left without food for days.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ (The Hindu) – October 02, 2006.