‘Barnburner’

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.

Examples: “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.” * Many of the commentators said World Cup final was a barnburner.

The expression `barnburner’ is mostly used in informal contexts.

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

‘It’s spitting’

When you say it’s spitting, what you mean is that it is raining very lightly.
Examples: We managed to complete our game because it was only spitting. * When it started spitting just before the women’s singles final, the organisers became somewhat worried.

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

`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 `oo’ 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’.
Example: 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!

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

`mull over’

When you `mull over’ a problem or plan, you think about it for a long time before arriving at a decision.
Example: Shashi has been mulling over the problem for several weeks now.

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

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 `i’ is like the `i’ 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 `a’ 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.

Example: This report says that differing views caused a schism among the members.

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

Is it OK to say, `I 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.

Example: Most students in my class are mad about cricket.

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

`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.
Example: 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.

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