Express English: Spare Time
What do you do in your spare time?
122. The Flatmates Episode 122
BBC - 122. The Flatmates Episode 122
Ellie has a very important question to ask Alice. Find out more in episode 122 - Mucking out - from BBC Learning English.
121. The Flatmates Episode 121
Alice takes Ellie horse riding. Will Ellie enjoy herself? Find out more in episode 121 - Pony riding.
120. The Flatmates Episode 120
Tim pays a visit to the bank. Will the bank manager lend him the money he needs? Find out more in episode 120 - the bank manager.
Express English: Success
Hear what people in London say, then join the conversation!
One woman said: "It depends on what it is – I mean successful in my career? I’m almost successful!"
A man said: "I’ve been a college professor and I’ve taught things. I’ve worked in the media. I’ve been able to explain things to people make things a little clearer so I think I’ve contributed something and I’ve been able to pay my bills."
Did you know?
- Fact
In the 2011 Forbes magazine list of the richest people in the world there are 1,210 billionaires worth US$4.5 trillion.
China doubled its number of ten-figure fortunes in the last year, and Moscow has more billionaires than any other city.
- Language tip
When talking about the measure of success you use the words 'amount' or 'degree'.
For example:
The company enjoyed a fair amount of success before it went bankrupt.- Cultural tip
In some cultures it is considered rude to ask people how much money they earn.
English Express: Photographs
Hear what people in London say, then join the conversation! What is your most treasured photograph and why?
One woman said "it's a picture of my grandmother... it's interesting to see how she was when she was around my age."
Another man said "it's one of me on a beach in the south of France... it brings back memories of the time; the light, the colour, the atmosphere."
Did you know?
- Fact
The first permanent photograph was an image produced in 1826 by the French inventor Joseph Nicephore Niepce.
- Language tip
Taking a snap means taking a quick, informal photograph, usually with an unsophisticated camera.
- Cultural tip
In some cultures it is rude to photograph someone. Always check before you photograph someone you don't know.
Express English: Awards
Hear what people in London say, then join the conversation! Who would you give an award to and why?
One woman would give an award to her parents because they have been an inspiration and have motivated her to work hard. She wants to make them proud of her.
Another man wants to give a posthumous award to Johannes Gutenberg for inventing the printing press.
Did you know?
- Fact
The official name of the Oscars ceremony is the Academy Awards. The first ceremony took place on 16 May 1929.
- Language tip
Someone who is nominated for an award is called a nominee.
- Cultural tip
If you win an award you might have to make an acceptance speech, but keep it short and to the point!
119. The Flatmates Episode 119
Alice and Paul are making plans for the holidays, but Paul is worried. Will Alice be able to help out? Find out more in episode 119 - A quiet drink.
118. The Flatmates Episode 118
Tim meets Janet's friend Henry. Henry has an interesting offer for Tim. Find out more in episode 118 - Tim meets the owner :
117. The Flatmates Episode 117
Alice catches up with Dr Laver at the hospital. Why is he avoiding her? Find out more in episode 117 - Alice and Paul talk :
116. The Flatmates Episode 116
Khalid is having a go at some DIY, but things go wrong when Tim offers to help. Find out more in episode 116 - Khalid's DIY :
115. The Flatmates Episode 115
Helen has invited John to the flat to talk about studying. She has a favour to ask him - how will he respond? Find out more in episode 115 - A turnaround :
114. The Flatmates Episode 114
Alice is having a heart-to-heart chat with....the cat! Find out more in episode 114 - Alice chats to the cat :
113. The Flatmates Episode 113
John and Helen bump in to each other in the library - has John turned over a new leaf? Find out more in episode 113 - Study time :
112. The Flatmates Episode 112
Janet has a surprising offer for Tim. Find out more in episode 112 - A proposition :
111. The Flatmates Episode 111
Tim meets Janet, his "guardian angel" - what will she have to say to him? Find out more in episode 111 - Time for coffee :
110. The Flatmates Episode 110
Helen and Alice are back from Paris: how have Khalid and Tim managed without them? Find out more in episiode 110 - Home again :
109. The Flatmates Episode 109
Khalid takes Kitty to see the vet - is there something seriously wrong with her? Find out more in episode 109 - A visit to the vet :
108. The Flatmates Episode 108
Alice and Helen are in Paris - but why is Alice so interested in the architecture? Find out more in episode 108 - Sight-seeing
107. The Flatmates Episode 107
Khalid decides to take the cat to the vets. Find out more in episode 107 - Khalid lends a hand :
106. The Flatmates Episode 106
Helen pays a visit to Professor Lewis to ask for her help. Find out more in episode 106 - Asking for help :
105. The Flatmates Episode 105
Paul and Alice try to sort out their problems. Find out more in episode 105 - Alice swallows her pride :
104. The Flatmates Episode 104
Alice has a surprising invitation for Helen Find out more in episode 104 - A mini-break :
103. The Flatmates Episode 103
The Flatmates get together for a celebration. Find out more in episode 103 - Helen's treat :
102. The Flatmates Episode 102
Helen and Tim have a heart-to-heart conversation. Find out more in episode 102 - Friends again :
101. The Flatmates Episode 101
Tim discovers Khalid hiding in the bathroom - but why? Find out more in episode 101 - Smoking in the loo :
100. The Flatmates Episode 100
It's Alice's turn to be upset - has she ruined her relationship with Paul? Find out more in episode 100 - More tears :-
98. The Flatmates Episode 98
Paul gets back home to find Alice has had a few problems baby sitting. Find out more in episode 98 -- Temper tantrums :-
97. The Flatmates Episode 97
Tim doesn't have enough money to pay his rent, but what does Helen say when he talks to her? Find out more in episode 97 :-
96. The Flatmates Episode 96
Alice is babysitting Ellie - but what happens when it comes to bedtime? Find out more in episode 96 :
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-25
Know your English
What is the meaning and origin of the expression "off the cuff"?
When you make an "off the cuff" remark what you are doing is saying something without really having thought about it. You make it spontaneously.*Off the cuff, I would say that there are about 300 applicants.
*Satish is in the habit of making off the cuff remarks, which hurt a lot of people.
*Think before you answer. I don't want an off the cuff reply.
The "cuff" here refers to the cuff of one's shirt. Speakers sometimes noted down some of the last minute points/ideas, which they wished to include in their speech, on the cuffs of their shirts. While they were speaking they would quickly look at the cuff and carry on.
Hence the expression "off the cuff". Our students too give "off the cuff" answers to questions. Some of them write the answers down on the cuff of their shirts before entering the examination hall!
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-24
Know your English
Is it OK to say "Me neither"?
When somebody says "I don't like idlis" and you wish to agree with him or her, your normal response is "I don't either" or "Neither do I". These are the kind of responses one finds in grammar books; they are considered to be grammatically acceptable. But more often than not, when people are talking, they tend to say "Me neither". Such a response is acceptable in speech, especially in informal contexts.Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-23
Know your English
What is the difference between "ornamental'' and "ornate''?
When you say that something is "ornate" what you are implying is that the object has been decorated excessively or elaborately. There is too much decoration and as a result it is showy or gaudy; the word generally has a negative connotation. The main stress, by the way, is on the second syllable "nate", which rhymes with "eight", "bait", and "hate". Here are a few examples.*I saw Alok carrying a heavy, ornate vase.
*The father disapproved of the ornate cigarette case.
The word "ornamental" also means decorative, but unlike "ornate" it isn't associated with anything negative. When you say that something is "ornamental" what you are implying is that the object has been designed to be decorative without being too vulgar or ostentatious. The stress in this word is on the third syllable, "men". Here are a few examples.
*The rose plant in that corner is purely ornamental.
*My father designed the ornamental garden at the back of my house.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-22
Know your English
What is the word for a child who is born after his father's death?
I don't know of any specific word that would refer to such a child. Generally we talk about a child being born posthumously. The word "posthumous" means something that happens after an individual's death. The "o" in the first syllable is like the "o" in "pot", "hot", and "cot" and the "h" is like the "y" in "yes", "yet", and "yeast". The following "u" can be pronounced either like the "u" in "put", "pull", and "full", or like the "a" in "China". The final "ous" sounds like the "ous" in "famous", "dangerous", and "generous". The main stress is on the first syllable. This is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word. Here are a few examples on how to use the word.*The soldier was awarded the medal posthumously.
*Nandita wanted her memoirs to be published posthumously.
*The famous actor's son was born posthumously.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-21
Know your English
Do you congratulate someone "on" getting a job, or do you congratulate him "for" getting a job?
One usually congratulates someone "on" getting something, and not "for". Here are a few examples.*Neha and Raju congratulated Atul on his brilliant performance.
*Vishnu congratulated Leya on winning the lottery.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-20
Know your English
WHAT IS the meaning of "feel good factor"?
This is an expression that has been around since the 1970s. At first it was generally used to refer to something that creates a sense of well being in people — their emotional state, physical state, financial state, etc. Since the 1990s, however, the "feel good factor" has become somewhat restricted in its meaning; it's become an expression, which is mostly employed by economists and financial pundits. These days it is extensively used to refer to a sense of financial and material well being — not necessarily physical or emotional. Here are a few examples.* A well known economist believes that the feel good factor will not return to the country before the end of the decade.
* No matter what changes the government makes, the feel good factor will be slow to return.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-19
Know your English
What is the meaning of the idiom "to rob Peter to pay Paul"?
When you rob Peter to pay Paul what you are doing is taking money from one person in order to pay another. You are not actually clearing your debts; all that you are doing is paying off one person by borrowing from another. As a result, you still continue to be in debt. Here are a few examples.*Tara took a loan from the bank in order to clear her debts; robbing Peter to pay Paul.
*I am not going to ask my neighbour for some for money in order to pay you. It would be like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
*Some people use one credit card to pay off the bills of another credit card. It's like robbing Peter to pay Paul. I just don't understand it.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 22, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-18
Know your English
Which of the following sentences is correct? "I bathe every morning" or "I bath every morning".
"Bathe" is the verb and "bath" is the noun. Therefore the correct sentence is "I bathe every morning". By the way, the "a" in "bathe" is like the "ay" in "bay", "day", and "say". The final "the" is pronounced like the "th" in "this", "that", and "those". If you want to use the word "bath", then you would have to say, "I have a bath every morning", "The child enjoys taking a bath", etc.Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 22, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-17
Know your English
Isn't a female cat also called a "tabby"?
Yes, a female cat can be referred to as a "queen" or a "tabby".Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 22, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-16
Know your English
What is the meaning of "cock-a-hoop"?
When one is "cock-a-hoop" about something, one is extremely happy or pleased about it. You are usually delighted about something that you have done. The main stress is on the word ``hoop". "Cock-a-hoop" is considered to be rather old fashioned. Here are a few examples.*Sarita was cock-a-hoop about finding a job.
*Jai was cock-a-hoop about the way the cake turned out.
*We were all cock-a-hoop about winning the first prize.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 22, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-15
Know your English
Is it OK to say "Ganesh is going to abroad"?
No, it is not. You generally say that someone is going abroad or went abroad. The word "abroad" is like the words "upstairs" and "downstairs"; you do not use "to" before any of these words. Here are a few examples.*Mala is going abroad next month.
*Mala went abroad several times last year.
*Mala is going upstairs to get her pen.
*Mala went downstairs to meet the guests.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 22, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-14
Know your English
What is the correct pronunciation of the word "photograph"?
Indians in general tend to put the stress on the second syllable of the word. Native speakers, on the other hand, place the stress on the first syllable "pho". The "o" in the first syllable is pronounced like the "o" in "so", "go" and "no", while the second "o" is like the "a" in "china". The "a" in the final syllable "graph" is like the "a" in "path", and "bath" and the following "ph" sounds like the "f" in "fish", "fee", and "felt".Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 22, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-13
Know your English
What is the meaning of the expression "on the receiving end"?
When you are "on the receiving end" of something bad or unpleasant, you are the person who suffers. You are the individual who is subjected to hurt and humiliation. One can also "be at the receiving end" of something bad. Here are a few examples.*The newly appointed lecturer was at the receiving end of all the bullying and ragging.
*Whenever something bad happens, you can be sure that poor Rahul is always at the receiving end.
*He was on the receiving end of all the hatred that she felt for men in general.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 22, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-13
Know your English
WHAT IS the difference in meaning between "We have lived here for five years" and "We have been living here for five years"?
As far as the meaning is concerned, there is no difference between the two. What you are saying is that you started living in that particular place five years ago and you still continue to live there.The activity of living in that place — if you would like to call it that — still continues. Here are a few examples.
*Naresh has worked here for fifteen years. (He still works here)
*Naresh has been working here for fifteen years. (He still works here)
*Naresh worked here for fifteen years. (He no longer works here)
*Devdas has taught English for twenty years. (He still teaches English)
*Devdas has been teaching English for twenty years. (He still teaches English)
*Devdas taught English for twenty years. (He no longer teaches English)
This however is not possible in the case of all verbs. For example, you cannot say, "I have read the book for three weeks", or "I have eaten since yesterday".
On the other hand, you can say, "I have been reading the book for three weeks" and "I have been eating since yesterday".
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 22, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-12
Know your English
Which of the following sentences is correct? I'll submit the report in a week time'' or ``I'll submit the report in a weeks time''.
Both are wrong. The correct sentence is " I'll submit the report in a week's time". Here is another example: I'll submit the report in a month's/year's time.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 08, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-11
Know your English
What is the study of flags called?
I understand that the academic study of flags is called "vexillology". The first syllable is like the word "vex" while the "i" in the second syllable sounds like the "i" in "bit", "kit", and "sit". Some people pronounce the first "lo" like the word "law", while the final "logy" sounds like the "logy" in "psychology", "biology", and "zoology". The main stress is on the third syllable. A person who designs flags is called "vexillographer"; the stress once again is on the third syllable. And a person who collects flags is called "vexillophile". Dr. Whitney Smith coined the word "vexillology".Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 08, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-10
Know your English
What is the difference between a "television serial" and a "television series"?
The soap operas that so many people watch religiously every day are examples of serials. A "serial" is usually a fictional story, which is divided into parts and broadcast perhaps every day or every week. The story is ongoing; today's episode is a continuation of what happened yesterday. Some of the television producers have taken up well-known novels and have made them into serials.A series, unlike a serial, need not always be based on a work of fiction. The programmes that we see on the National Geographic Channel or the Discovery Channel can be thought of being as part of a series. For example, sometimes for an entire week, there may be programmes on sharks. All the programmes form part of a series about sharks. When you think of a series you are thinking of a set of related programmes. You may for example have a programme on lions, tigers, leopards, etc under the title "carnivores". It is also possible to have a series that is based on fiction. But in the case of a series, each programme is usually self-contained. In other words each episode has a beginning, middle and an end and the story from one episode does not usually carry over to the next. For example, Martial Law, NYPD Blue, and Friends are all examples of series. By the way, the plural of series is series.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 08, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-9
Know your English
What is the meaning and origin of the expression "trail blazer"?
A trailblazer is someone who is the first to do something. For example, he or she could be someone who has discovered or developed a new method of doing something. Here are a few examples.*Jambu will always be remembered as a trailblazer in cancer research.
*Padma was a trailblazer in the field of AIDS research.
One can even talk about an individual or an institution of having "blazed a trail". When someone blazes a trail what you are implying is that he/she has done something, which no one has done before; something, which will benefit a lot of other people.
*The company has blazed a trail in developing new medicines for curing AIDS.
*He has blazed a trail in developing awareness among people about cancer.
The word "blaze" is generally associated with "fire". So "trailblazer" should be someone who develops something new by destroying everything that is old. This however is not the origin of the expression. The expression came into being in the late 18th Century when the American settlers were pushing further and further west — towards Oregon, California, etc. Since they were exploring uncharted territory and didn't want to get lost along the way, they used to mark the trail that they had taken. One of the ways that they used to indicate the route they had taken was to remove the bark from some of the trees. This method of marking trees was known as "blazing". And since they were marking a trail, we get the expressions "blazing a trail" and "trailblazer".
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 08, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-8
Know your English
What is the correct pronunciation of the word ``harass"?
The manner in which you pronounce this word will, to a large extent, depend on which side of the Atlantic you are from. For example, if you are from England, then you would tend to pronounce the first "a" like the "a" in "cat", "bat" and "act". The second would be pronounced like the "a" in "China" and the main stress would be on the first syllable. If, on the other hand, you come from the U.S., then you would do the exact opposite. You would pronounce the first "a" like the "a" in "China" and the second "a" like the "a" in "cat". The stress in this case would be on the second syllable.Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 08, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-7
Know your English
WHAT IS the meaning of the expression "to go bananas"?
This expression has several different meanings. When someone goes bananas about/over something, he/she becomes very enthusiastic about it. The expression is considered slang and is generally used in informal contexts. Here are a few examples.*The students went bananas when they heard that Mani was going to address them.
*We all went bananas when we saw Steffi Graf walk into the gym.
*The children went bananas when they saw all the icecream.
To go bananas can also mean to drive someone crazy or mad. For example,
*The constant questions made him go bananas.
*Mythreye thought she would go bananas sitting all alone at home.
*Being in the company of her son was driving Mala bananas.
When used in this sense, "to go bananas," means the same thing as "to go nuts" and "to go crazy". "Cool bananas" is an expression, which is frequently used in American English as an exclamation. It is often used to mean "wow". Here are a few examples.
*Satish got an A in the exam. Cool bananas!
*You've got a new bike? Cool bananas!
*Cool bananas man! That is really wonderful news.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 08, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-6
Know your English
What is the difference between "It rains" and "It is raining"?
There was a time when people in Chennai were just dying to hear someone say, "It is raining". I am not so sure anymore. Of late there has been just too much rain. When you say that it is raining, what you are implying is that it is raining right now. You are not talking about yesterday or something that will happen tomorrow, you are talking about the present. When you look out of the window, you can actually see the rain falling. When you say that it rains in Chennai what you are implying is that rain is quite common. But the sentence doesn't necessarily mean that it is raining right now. It rains every now and then, but it may not be raining right now. Here are a few more examples.* Hamsa is playing tennis. (She is playing tennis right now)
* Hamsa plays tennis in the evening. (She plays only in the evening. Not now)
* I am talking to the Manager. (I am talking to the Manager right now)
* I talk to the Manager. (I talk whenever I run into him)
"A psychiatrist is a fellow who asks you a lot of expensive questions your wife asks for nothing". — Joey Adams
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 01, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-5
Know your English
What is the difference between "autograph" and "signature"?
They both refer to the same thing; the manner in which you sign your name on a piece of paper. The difference is this. An autograph has a status, which a signature does not. Autographs are usually given by famous people to their adoring fans; people like Sachin Tendulkar, Shahrukh Khan, Arundati Roy, etc are frequently pestered for their autographs. You and I unfortunately do not belong in the same league and therefore will never be asked for our autographs — even if we are willing to give one, there will be very few people who would actually want it! The only exciting thing that we will be asked to do is to put our `signature' on income tax returns, life insurance policies, cheque leaves and what have you. But think about the bright side, while autograph hunters will haunt the likes of Tendulkar and Ganguly wherever they go, we will be left in peace!Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 01, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-4
Know your English
How is the word "roulette" pronounced?
The `ou' in the first syllable is like the `oo' in `ool', `pool', and `cool', while the `e' in the second syllable sounds like the `e' in `set', `pet', and `let'. The final `e' is silent and the main stress is on the second syllable. Any idea what "roulette" is? It is a gambling game in which a wheel (roulette) spins round and round and you have to predict on which number the ball or marble will land. Then of course we have the Russian roulette. Ever heard of this game? Well, it's not actually a game. What you do is to put a bullet into one of the chambers of a gun, leaving the remaining five chambers empty. You then keep spinning the chambers till you are no longer sure where the bullet is. Next you place the gun on your head and pull the trigger. If you are lucky you survive, otherwise.... Some people get a lot of thrill playing such games. Gabbar Singh in Sholay enjoyed playing Russian roulette. The expression `playing Russian roulette' has begun to be used metaphorically as well. When you say that someone is `playing Russian roulette' what you are implying is that he/she is taking terrible risks; doing something very very dangerous.Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 01, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-3
Know your English
What is the meaning of "stand someone up"?
This is an expression, which is frequently used, in informal contexts. When you `stand someone up' you make an appointment with the individual and then fail to show up. The expression is normally used when one fails to keep a date with one's boyfriend or girlfriend. If your boss doesn't keep his appointment, you don't generally say that the boss stood you up! Unless, of course, your boss happens to be your significant other. Here are a few examples.* Sunita stood Raju up. He was extremely angry.
* Atul stood up his date; he was busy playing cricket with his friends.
* Sreetilak is a gentleman. He makes it a point never to stand his girlfriend up.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 01, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-2
Know your English
What is a female "postmaster" called?
A woman who is in charge of a local post office is called a `postmistress'. Makes sense, doesn't it? The plural is `postmistresses'. These words have been included in the latest edition of some dictionaries. Ever wondered what a female postman is called? Logically it should be `postwoman', but none of the dictionaries have included this word. In the U.S, men and women who deliver mail are called "mail carriers".Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 01, 2002
Know Your English (Jan 2002)-1
Know your English
HOW DO you refer to the years between 1901 and 1910? Is there a single word for it?
No, there isn't. There is no word to refer to something that happened in the first or the second decade of a particular century. People generally tend to say the `early decades' of the Twentieth Century. We can, for example, say `the early 1900s', or the first/second decade of the Twentieth Century. It is, however, possible to refer to something that happened after 1920. For example, the years between 1920 and 1930 are usually referred to as the 1920s. Similarly, we have the 1930s, 1940s, etc. If we know which century we are talking about, then we may simply say the 40s, the 50s, etc. It is important to note however that there is no apostrophe after the year. We do not generally write `1930's'; it would be wrong to do so.Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 01, 2002
Know Your English (Dec 2001)-9
Know your English
"HI, COME on in. Did you get a cake from your neighbour this morning?"
"A cake from my neighbour? Why should she give me a cake?""Today is Christmas, that's why! Doesn't she usually give you a nice big cake?"
"Yeah, she does. But this year, she's celebrating Christmas in Goa. A family get-together or something."
"That's nice. But is that the reason you're looking so grumpy? The fact that you didn't get a Christmas cake?"
"No, I am not angry about that. I am angry with your friend Sujatha. We had another one of our fights."
"You and Sujatha fighting again! Nothing new in that, I suppose. What was the fight about? Was it about some silly movie?"
"No, it was about the word `handsome'?"
"The word `handsome', eh? What did she do? Did she insult you by calling you `handsome'?"
"Even if I were the last man on earth she would never call me that and you know it. No, the argument was over whether a woman could be called `handsome'. I said that the word handsome could be used only with men. She argued that a woman could be called handsome as well. So, tell me. Is she right? Or am I right?"
"She is, actually."
"What? You mean I can tell someone that Shanti is a handsome woman."
"Well, I wouldn't use the word handsome with a young girl like Shanti. You see, mature women can be called `handsome', not young girls."
"I see. So when you call a woman handsome are you implying that she is manly?"
"No, no! Handsome does not mean manly. When you refer to a woman as being handsome, what you are implying is that her features are fairly large and regular rather than pretty and delicate. She is...."
"....in other words, she is not much to look at."
"On the contrary, she is very pleasant to look at. The famous Swedish actress Greta Garbo was often referred to as being `breathtakingly handsome'."
"So a woman who is fairly well-built, has big eyes and a big nose is more likely to be called `handsome' rather than pretty?"
"You know what they say, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder."
"That's true. The next time I see Sujatha I have to tell her that she was right. I hate doing that. Tell me, what have you been up to?"
"Oh, nothing much actually. I have been trying to psych my new boss out.''
"Psych your new boss out? What are you talking about?"
"The expression has several different meanings. One of the meanings of `psych someone out' is to try and figure the person out."
"In other words, you try and understand the person. How his mind works. Is that what you are saying?"
"Exactly! Here's an example. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't psych Janaki out. She's a bit...."
"...I don't think anyone can psych her out. How about this example? The bowler tried to psych out Tendulkar, but he...."
"....Tendulkar probably smashed the next three balls to the fence. Don't try and psych me out. I am an enigma."
"You are anything but an enigma. Anyway, tell me what are the other meanings of psych out?"
"When you psych out about something, you become very excited about it. You may even lose control over your ability to think. For example, when Janani heard that Hrithik Roshan was coming over to her place, she psyched out."
"When the students came to know that Sachin was to be the chief guest at the Annual Sports Day event, they all psyched out."
"But later when the students came to know that it was going to be the Chief Minister and not Sachin who was going to be the chief guest, everyone was disappointed. No one psyched out."
"That is to be expected, I guess. My father psyched out when he saw last month's telephone bill.''
"Pretty high, eh?"
"Very high! By the way, you have the expression `psych out'. Do you have the expression `psych in' as well?"
"No, we don't have `psych in', but we do have `psych up'."
"What does it mean?"
"When you psych someone up, you get them mentally prepared to do something. It..."
"....you mean like taking a test or something?"
"Yes, that's right. It could be a test. It could be taking part in some event. Or it..."
"....OK, I think I understand. How about this example? We have an excellent coach. Before every game he psyches us up."
"It's always a good idea to psych players up before an important game."
"Our Indian cricketers seldom look psyched up when they enter the field."
``I don't even want to talk about those guys. Here's another example. The psyched up musicians were waiting for the curtains to go up."
"Savitri is psyching herself up for tomorrow's interview."
"Savitri has been called for an interview? That's nice to know. I am sure that if she gets the job, her parents will be so happy that they will psych out."
"She will get the job provided the interviewers are unable to psych her out in the twenty minutes she is with them."
"You have a point there."
"Success is like dealing with your kid or teaching your wife to drive. Sooner or later you'll end up in the police station." — Fred Allen
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Dec 25, 2001
Know Your English (Dec 2001)-8
Know your English
What is the meaning of ``shell-shocked''?
This is probably how the people of Afghanistan felt a couple of weeks ago. The word ``shell'' refers to bombs. How would you feel if you lived in a city, which was being constantly bombed? I guess you would go through a lot of emotions — confusion, anger, etc. When you say that someone is shell-shocked what you are implying is that the difficult experience, which the individual has undergone recently has left him confused and anxious. Here are a few examples.*I think Aparna is a little shell-shocked after the final exam.
*Vinita felt shell-shocked after coping with the boisterous twins all day.
*The shell-shocked investors trooped in silently.
"The average Ph.D. thesis is nothing but a transference of bones from one graveyard to another." — J. Frank Dobie
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Dec 18, 2001
Know Your English (Dec 2001)-7
Know your English
What is a female cat called?
A female cat is called a queen. Male cats, on the other hand, are called toms. Cats are generally associated with the female of the species. When you call a woman ``catty'', for example, what you are implying is that she is very unpleasant and usually has a lot of nasty things to say about others. When a young girl dresses like a boy and seems to enjoy playing the kind of games that young boys play, then she is often called a``tomboy''.Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Dec 18, 2001
Know Your English (Dec 2001)-6
Know your English
What is the difference between``hanged''and``hung''?
The word ``hang'' has several different meanings. When you ``hang'' a person, you kill him/her by tying a rope around his/her neck and taking the support away from under his/her feet. When ``hang'' is used in this sense, then the two other forms of the verb are ``hanged'' : ``hang, hanged, hanged''. Here are a few examples.*The innocent man was hanged yesterday.
*The prisoner will be hanged at noon tomorrow.
The word can also be used with objects. When you ``hang'' an object what you are doing is that you are fastening it to something or suspending it from something. When you use the word in this sense, then its past tense and past participle form is ``hung''. To make a long story short, people are hanged and objects are hung. Here are a few examples.
*The players hung their caps on the hooks.
*Vyomakesh wanted the balloons to be hung from the ceiling.
*The two children hung their coats before coming in.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Dec 18, 2001
Know Your English (Dec 2001)-5
Know your English
Is it OK to end a letter to a Principal in the following manner? ``Dear Sir, ... Thank you, Yours obediently
When you begin a letter with ``Dear Sir'' you normally conclude by saying ``Yours sincerely''. Some people prefer to use ``Yours faithfully''. ``Yours obediently' 'is used quite often in India to show respect. It is, however, considered rather old fashioned by native speakers of English. If you wish to show respect, then you could sign off with ``yours respectfully''. You can conclude your letter in the following manner: ``Thank you. Yours sincerely, XXXX''Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Dec 18, 2001
Know Your English (Dec 2001)-4
Know your English
Is it Ok to say,``Could you drop me till there?''
The words ``till'' and ``until'' are normally used when you are talking about duration. For example, we can say:*I waited till all the students had left the building.
*Meera kept hitting the tennis ball till she was ready to drop.
*The students were supposed to study until 10 o'clock.
"Till'' and ``until'' cannot be used to refer to a place. The sentence that you have given is grammatically incorrect. To make it acceptable, you will have to drop ``till''— ``Could you drop me there?'' Here are a few more examples.
*Could you drop me at the airport?
*Could you drop me off at school?
*Could you wait till/until tomorrow?
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Dec 18, 2001
Know Your English (Dec 2001)-3
Know your English
What is the meaning and origin of the expression ``be under the weather"?
When you say that someone is feeling ``under the weather'' what you mean is that the person is unwell; he/she is not feeling particularly good. The individual could be depressed about something. Here are a few examples.*Lakshmi has been under the weather lately.
*I feel a little under the weather. I think I am coming down with something.
*The meeting has been cancelled.
*The Chairman is a bit under the weather.
There are many people who hate to travel. Even those who like visiting places may not always be good travellers. Some may get ``airsick'', some ``carsick'' and others ``seasick''. The expression ``under the weather'', which has been part of the English language for several hundred years, comes from the world of sailing. People who go on a cruise often find that the constant rocking motion of the ship makes them violently sick — they keep vomiting all the time. When the weather gets really rough, the ship rocks and sways so violently that people throw up even more. Passengers who are unable to cope with the swaying motion are often sent below deck. There are two reasons for this. The first of course is that they will be away from the inclement weather, but perhaps much more important is that the swaying motion of the ship is felt far less below. I understand that on a ship the swaying motion is felt most on the deck; while little or no swaying is felt near the keel, which is near the bottom of the ship. This is one of the explanations given as to the origin of the idiom 'under the weather'.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Dec 18, 2001
Know Your English (Dec 2001)-2
Know your English
Equable,Equitable,Drive up the wall...
"WHAT ARE you reading?""An article on global warming. It says here that the weather in our country...."
".... I'm not interested in the weather. Right now I am only interested in finishing ...."
".....how do you pronounce e..q..u..a..b..l..e?"
"What?"
"E..q..u..a..b..l..e. How do you pronounce it?"
"Well, the first `e' is like the `e' in `set', `bet', and `met'. The `qu' sounds like the `qu' in `quality', `quit', and `quick'. The `a' is like the...."
"....don't tell me. It's like the `a' in `China', while the final `ble' is probably like the `ble' in `bubble', `trouble', and `double'."
"Exactly! The main stress is on the first syllable. Any idea what the word means?"
"Sure I do. People usually talk about an `equable settlement'. That ...."
"....sorry! The word you are thinking of is `equitable', not `equable'."
"What's the difference between the two?"
"When you say that something is `equable', it means it is regular, moderate, free from extremes. The word is often used to refer to the climate. For example, the climate in Rajasthan is anything but equable."
"Many people say that Hyderabad has an equable climate."
"You must be joking. Hyderabad gets really hot during the summer. I have heard quite a few people say that Bangalore is equable. But let's not get into an argument over the weather. Can `equable' be used with people as well?"
"Yes, it can. When you say that someone is `equable' what you are implying is that the person is even tempered."
"In other words, the individual has no mood swings. Like the climate, the person has no extremes."
"I guess you could say that. No matter what the situation is, the individual is calm and cheerful. Like me!"
"Like you? You must be joking! How about this example? It's a pleasure working with Gitanjali because she is so equable."
"That's a good example. His equable temperament made Bala quite a popular teacher."
"Everyone had told Venkat that his new boss was equable and that he would enjoy working with him. So he was quite surprised when the man snapped at him for coming late to office."
"Bosses are so unpredictable. Tell me, what does `eQUITable' mean?"
"The stress is not on the second, but the first syllable. It's pronounced Equitable."
"I see. What does Equitable mean?"
"It means just or impartial."
"I see. The Minister has asked the management and the union to come up with an equitable compromise. How does that sound?"
"Good. Here's another one. The lawyer ensured that there was an equitable division of property among the three brothers."
"The two parties were interested in arriving at an equitable settlement."
"It's very difficult to arrive at an equitable compromise."
"I know. By the way, how is your friend Dilip doing? Has he found a job?"
"No, he hasn't. He keeps ringing me up every day and talks to me for hours. I feel sorry for him. But there are times when he drives me up the wall."
"Drives you up the wall? One can drive into a wall. How do you drive up the wall?"
"When you say that someone is driving you up the wall, it means that the individual is driving you crazy."
"So it's the same thing as `driving someone nuts'."
"That's right. My father's aunt stayed with us for a couple of weeks. She kept asking everyone all kinds of questions. She was driving us up the wall."
"At least she asked you all kinds of questions. I have an aunt who can sit with you for hours without saying a word. She just keeps looking at you. Her silence drives me up the wall."
"The doctors told Deepak that they would give him the results in three days' time. The wait is driving him up the wall."
"The casual manner in which the new maid goes about sweeping the house is driving my mother up the wall."
"Good maids are hard to find these days."
"My mother would agree with you completely. So, have you shouted at Dilip? Have you told him not to..."
".... no, things haven't come to a boil as yet."
".... come to a boil? Does it mean to get angry or something?"
"That is one of the meanings, yes. When Geetha heard that she had not been promoted you could see that she was coming to a boil."
"Amrit was slowly coming to a boil and it was obvious to everyone that the student was going to get a dressing down."
"The Director came to a boil when he was told that the project was going to be further delayed. He ..."
"...he must have gone ballistic."
"He certainly did."
"You said that `getting angry' was only one of the meanings of `come to a boil'. What are the other meanings?"
"The expression can be used to refer to problems and situations as well. When you say that the situation has `come to a boil', it means that it has a reached a crucial or critical stage. For example, the talks between the management and the union have been going on for three days. But they say that things have come to a boil."
"When Aparna asked for a divorce, everything came to a boil."
"If I don't complete this project by tomorrow, things will come to a boil."
"In that case I shall perform the disappearing act."
"Please do. And don't reappear till tomorrow."
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy — and Jill a wealthy widow." — Evan Esar
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Dec 11, 2001
Know Your English (Dec 2001)-1
Know your English
Wing it, Went ballistic, Walking papers...
"I KNOW that Dilip was well prepared. But when he saw the Chairman sitting in the front row, he went totally blank. The poor guy forgot what he was going to say.""That happens to a lot of people. What did Dilip do? I mean, how did he...."
"....he winged it. That was the only...."
"....what do you mean he winged it! You mean to say he ran away?"
"Nobody runs away from a presentation. If Dilip had run away, he would have lost his job. When you say that somebody `winged it' what you are saying is that the person improvised. He made things up as he went along; he...."
"....why does it always have to be a `he'? It could be a `she'. She does or says something spontaneously. Without any preparation."
"That's right. You stand up and say something even though you are not prepared."
"Like some of the speeches that our not so respected politicians make?"
"Exactly! Most of our politicians just wing it."
"Hey, how about this example? When I told my teacher that I wasn't really prepared for the debate, he told me to just go out there and wing it."
"That's a very good example. Here's another one. The tall man in jeans who came for the audition this afternoon didn't know his lines. So he just winged it. But to everyone's surprise he got the part."
"Some people have all the luck. Does this example sound OK? The speaker had misplaced his notes. He had no option but to wing it."
"Sounds great!"
"So tell me, was the Chairman angry with Dilip?"
"He didn't say anything. But my boss was really angry. He went ballistic."
"Went ballistic? Doesn't the expression mean to become extremely angry?"
"Exactly! The teacher went ballistic when the student didn't turn in her assignment."
"My father went ballistic when my sister broke the new table lamp."
"Any way, as I was saying, my boss went ballistic. He has given Dilip his walking papers. He has asked...."
"....his walking papers? What are you talking about?"
"When a company gives you your `walking papers', it means that you have been sacked. Or `fired', as the Americans would put it."
"You mean that poor Dilip has lost his job?"
"That's right. He has been asked to leave."
"But that's terrible."
"I know. He is going to be joining the ranks of the unemployed pretty soon."
"The poor guy shouldn't have made the presentation. He should have just run away."
"You may be right."
"Walking papers. I have never come across that expression before."
"It is considered slang, but it's used quite often by native speakers in informal contexts. For example, I can say, our company is downsizing. I hope I am not given my walking papers. I need this job to help repay some of my debts."
"How about this example? When Ashok was given his walking papers, he looked at his boss and laughed."
"He can afford to. His wife has a really fantastic job. And with his qualifications and the contacts that his wife has, Ashok can get a job anywhere."
"How about Dilip? How did he react?"
"Dilip! The poor guy is in a funk."
"In a funk? What a strange expression!"
"When you say that you are in a funk, it implies that..."
"...I can guess the meaning. It probably means that you are feeling depressed. It probably means the same thing as `feeling blue'."
"My! You're in excellent form today. That's exactly what it means. Arun has been in a funk ever since he came to know that the Indian cricket team had lost the match."
"He's in a funk because our cricket team lost? That's really crazy. Well, all I can say is poor Arun is going to be in a funk most of the time because our overpaid underachievers always lose."
"Except when they play in India of course."
"That's true. By the way, it is also possible to say `in a blue funk'. For example, I can say, Sushila has been in such a blue funk that she refuses to even step out of the house."
"Padma has taken a couple of weeks off from work to come out of her blue funk."
"Poor Dilip. I hope he gets a job soon. I can't imagine him being in a funk actually. You see, he always seems so happy, so relaxed. As if nothing can bother him."
"That's true. He gives the impression that he is pretty laid back. But he ..."
".... laid back. Does it mean someone who is usually calm and relaxed?"
"That's right. When you say that someone is laid back what you are implying is that the individual gives the impression that he is calm and relaxed. That nothing ever worries him. I have been told by many people that I am pretty laid back."
"You are laid back, if you ask me."
"Who is asking you? I am anything but laid back. I get worked up about a lot of things. My only problem is that I don't ....
"...relax, will you? I was just kidding. I know that you get upset when things don't work out. As for me, I am pretty laid back about a lot of things."
"You can afford to be because you are still a student. But if your boss gets the impression that you are laid back, then I can assure you....
"... I'll probably get my walking papers."
"Absolutely right."
"But I will tell you one thing though. I'll never let anything worry me. I'll never..."
"...that's what they all say."
"I confess that I cannot understand how we can plot, lie, cheat and commit murder abroad and remain humane, honorable, trustworthy and trusted at home." — Archibald Cox talking about America
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Dec 04, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-25
Know your English
What is the difference between "alone" and "lonely"?
When you say that you are "alone" what you are implying is that there is no other person with you. For example, right now I am sitting all alone at my computer desk and typing away — there is no one else in the room. I am neither happy nor sad about it; as far as I am concerned, the fact that there is no one around is neither good nor bad. The word "lonely" on the other hand, refers to the state of the mind of an individual.
It suggests that the person is sad, feels unwanted, and is longing for companionship. The degree of sadness that the individual feels may vary. When one sits in a crowded room, one is not "alone", but one can still feel "lonely" because loneliness has nothing to do with physical proximity with other people. When one is "alone", one needn't feel lonely. Some people prefer to be alone.
"My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you'll be happy; if not, you'll become a philosopher."
— Socrates
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-24
Know your English
How is ``savoir-faire'' pronounced?
The "a" in the first syllable is like the "a" in "fat", "bat", and "sat". The "v" sounds like the "v" in "vet" and "vegetable"; the final "oir" contains two sounds. The first is like the "w" in "water", "wall", and "was". The second sound is like the "a" in "calm", "balm", and "palm". "Faire" sounds like "fair/fare". Any idea what the expression means? It means having the ability to say or do the right thing in a social situation. Here are a few examples.
*Meena is famous in diplomatic circles for her savoir-faire.
*I wouldn't hire Bhaskar because he doesn't possess the required savoir-faire.
*Srinivas defused the situation through his savoir-faire.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-23
Know your English
What is the meaning of "climb down"?
Sometimes at the end of an argument with someone, you admit to the other person that you were in the wrong. This is what the expression "climb down" means.
When you climb down over an argument, what you are actually doing is admitting to the other person that you were in the wrong. Here are a few examples.
*When the new information started coming in, the Government was forced to climb down over its handling of the scam.
*After twenty minutes of heated debate, Bala finally climbed down.
*If you expect Usha to climb down, think again.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-22
Know your English
Is it OK to wish someone "heartfelt congratulations"?
The word "heartfelt" means, "strongly or sincerely felt". The word is normally used with expressions of sympathy. For example, it is quite normal to hear people say, "heartfelt condolences", "heartfelt sympathy", etc. I haven't come across the expression "heartfelt congratulations", though "hearty congratulations" is quite common.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-21
Know your English
What is the origin of the expression "to steal someone's thunder"?
Suppose you invent something truly wonderful and decide to inform the Press about it. But before you can actually do it, someone tells you that a friend of yours has already held a press conference and has informed the reporters of the wonderful invention. What is it that your friend has done? He has prevented you from getting the public recognition that is due to you. Instead of the focus being on you, he has managed to become the focus of attention. When you "steal someone's thunder" you get the attention or praise that the other person should have got. You achieve this by doing or saying what the other person had intended to do or say. Here are a few examples.
*Nirupama had no intention of letting Arun steal any of her thunder.
*Neha stole Jhansi's thunder by leaking the information to the Press.
*The Prime Minister was in no mood to let the Opposition steal his political thunder.
A third rate playwright named John Dennis, (I have no idea if he is related to the Match Referee Mike Denness) wrote a play called "Appius and Virginia". In the play there were several scenes, which required the sound of thunder. The story goes that Dennis invented a machine, which produced the sound of thunder. Unfortunately, for the dramatist, his play was a flop, so not many people got an opportunity to listen to the sound of thunder produced by his machine. A few weeks later, Dennis went to see Shakespeare's, "Macbeth" and was astonished to find that the sound of thunder needed in the play was being produced by the machine that he himself had invented. Dennis apparently was so angry that he shouted, "Damn them!...They will not let my play run, but they steal my thunder!" Dennis may not be remembered for his plays, but he will be remembered for the expression that he coined. As for Mike Denness, the Match Referee, well the poor man is so desperate that he is trying to steal everyone's thunder!
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-20
Know your English
WHAT IS the origin of the word "piggyback"?
Children usually love being given piggyback rides. When you give a child a piggyback ride what you normally do is to put him on your shoulders or on your back and walk around with him. The expression "piggyback" comes from "pick a pack". In the old days — and I guess even now — it was common practice for individuals who had to carry a heavy object to invariably place it on their back. This method of carrying things around was called "pick a pack". And `pick a pack' when said quickly became `pickapack'. Parents often carried their children "pickapack" too. But children because they loved animals so much changed "pickapack" to "piggyback".
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-19
Know your English
When people talk about paper they use the abbreviation GSM. What does GSM stand for?
This is used to refer to the weight of paper. The abbreviation stands for "grams per square metre".
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 20, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-18
Know your English
Why do people say, ``Good night, sleep tight"? What is the meaning of``sleep tight"?
The tightness has nothing to do with the body of the individual. And it doesn't mean holding on to someone sleeping next to you tightly! ``Tight'' here refers to the tightness of the bed. Nowadays of course, most beds are made of either wood or steel. In the old days, it was only the frame of the bed that was made of wood. The middle portion, the portion on which people actually slept on consisted of strings. There were strings running from one end of the frame to the other. If these strings were not tightly strung, the bed sagged, making it very uncomfortable for the person lying down. Result? The individual did not get much sleep. If the strings were tightly strung, then the bed was firm and the person sleeping on it got a good night's sleep. So when you say sleep tight, what you are actually saying is, I hope your cot is tightly strung.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 20, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-17
Know your English
What is the difference between``leave''and``holiday"?
Although the words ``leave'' and ``holiday'' can and are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two. A ``leave'' is something that you take on your own; it is something that you apply for and when it is granted you are allowed to be away from work for some time. Someone usually authorises your leave. And when you take ``leave'' it doesn't necessarily mean that you are going to be sitting at home enjoying yourself. You could be working. For example, we have ``duty leave", ``study leave", and ``leave of absence". In these cases, the person may not be coming to office, but he will be doing his work elsewhere.
The word ``holiday'' comes from ``holy day"; originally, it was a day of rest from work for everyone. Nowadays, there's nothing holy about a holiday. If you say that tomorrow is a holiday, what you are saying is that everyone, not just you, is getting the day off. Unlike ``leave'' one needn't apply for ``holiday". We have national holidays, state government holidays, and what not. The word ``holiday'' usually suggests that there is no work involved. It is going to be a day or a period of time when you are going to enjoy yourself, usually away from home.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 20, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-16
Know your English
How is the word `pandemonium' pronounced?
This is a word that many people in our country have begun to associate with Parliament sessions. The first syllable is pronounced like the word``pan", while the``e''in the second syllable and the ``u'' in the final syllable are pronounced like the ``a'' in`` China". The`` mon''rhymes with ``bone", ``phone", and ``cone". The ``i'' in the fourth syllable is like the ``i'' in ``it", "bit", and "fit". The main stress is on the third syllable "mon". Any idea what the word means? When there is pandemonium there is usually a lot of shouting and screaming because people are angry or frightened about something. Here are a few examples.
*There was pandemonium when the Chairman announced that he was resigning.
*There was pandemonium at the airport when the plane crashed.
*Our meetings always end in pandemonium.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 20, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-15
Know your English
What is the collective noun for tigers?
Tigers are solitary animals; therefore there is no specific collective noun to refer to them. Here are some interesting ones however: pride of lions, school of fish, pod of whales, gaggle of geese, and rag of colts.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 20, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-14
Know your English
WHAT IS the meaning of "fly by night" operators?
Every month we read in the papers that the manager of some chit fund company has disappeared with the hard earned money of his clients. Such people can be called fly by night operators. They set up a company, do roaring business for about six months and then they suddenly disappear. They are there one day and then perform the disappearing act overnight. The word ``fly'' in the expression means to ``flee", that is to run away. Since the shady characters who run such businesses leave town during the dead of night when everyone else is sound asleep, they are called ``fly by night operators". All this build up should have given you a fairly good idea as to what the expression means. It means ``undependable, dishonest". The expression can be used with people as well as with organizations. Here are a few examples.
*There are many fly by night characters staying in that hotel.
*If I were you, I wouldn't join that fly by night company.
*Nirmal is very dependable, not a fly by night character at all.
Did you know that you could refer to a person as "fly"? When you say that someone is "fly", it means he/she is very knowledgeable about something. This use of the word "fly" is considered slang. So do not use it in formal contexts. Here are a few examples.
*Amrit is fly, there's no doubt about it.
*You don't have to be fly to do this job.
The word also means, "stylish, nice looking".
*Some of the girls think that the present Vice Chancellor is really fly.
*No one in his right mind would say that the groom is fly.
*I like your fly sandals, Raju.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 20, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-13
Know your English
Is it OK to say, "You yourself was late..."?
The sentence is ungrammatical, but you may be able to get away with it in a highly informal context. To determine if it is a grammatically correct sentence or not, remove the word "yourself" and see how the remainder of the sentence sounds. Would you accept, "You was late..."? I don't think so. The verb that you need to use is "were". You were late for the meeting. "You yourself were late...". Similarly, "Usha herself was late...", "We ourselves were late....", "They themselves were late....",etc.
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend and inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." — Groucho Mark.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 13, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-12
Know your English
How does one refer to one's country? "Fatherland" or "motherland"?
How you refer to your country depends upon what your mother tongue happens to be. In most Indian languages, we generally use the feminine gender to refer to our beloved "Bharath". Native speakers of English invariably refer to their country as their "motherland". But the Germans, on the other hand, refer to Germany as their "fatherland". So, both "motherland" and "fatherland" are acceptable ways of referring to one's country.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 13, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-11
Know your English
What is the difference between "plenty" and "aplenty"?
As far as the meaning is concerned there is hardly any difference between the two. Both mean "large amounts of". Of the two "aplenty" is considered old fashioned. Here are a few examples.
*Plenty of children joined the competition.
*We have plenty of sugar left.
When you use the word "aplenty", it usually comes after the noun. For example,
*Children aplenty joined the competition.
*We have sugar aplenty.
*I have read thrillers aplenty.
It would be wrong to say "aplenty children", "aplenty thrillers", etc.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 13, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-10
Know your English
How is the word "eerie" pronounced?
The "ee" in the first syllable is pronounced like the "ea" in "fear", "dear" and "near", while the "ie" sounds like the "i" in "pit", "bit" and "knit". The stress is on the first syllable. Any idea what the word means? When you say that something is eerie, it implies that it is scary; strange and frightening in a mysterious way. Here are a few examples.
*At night, the sky around the old house on the hill had an eerie glow.
*The eerie sound of the owl scared the children sitting around the campfire.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 13, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-9
Know your English
What is the meaning of the term "vox populi"?
This is an expression borrowed from Latin meaning "voice of the people". The word "vox" rhymes with "pox", "fox", and "box". The "u" in "populi" sounds like the "u" in "university" and "unit", while the final "I" is like the "ee" in "bee", "fee", and "see". Some people pronounce the final "i" like the "ie" in "tie", "die" and "pie". The main stress is on the first syllable of "populi". The term is often abbreviated to either "vox pop" or "vox pops".
The vox pop technique is normally used in radio and television broadcasting. We often see reporters walking around on the streets asking passers by to give their opinion about something. For example, we have people responding to questions as to whether America is doing the right thing by bombing Afghanistan or whether Ganguly should continue to be the captain of the Indian team. This method of recording the opinions of people talking informally in public places is called vox populi or vox pop.
*Sai Prasad is a director who likes to make use of vox pop in his programmes.
*Can you get me some vox populi by six this evening?
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 13, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-8
Know your English
WHAT IS the meaning of "bolt from the blue"?
This is an expression, which has been a part of the English language for a very long time. When you say that something was a "bolt from the blue" or a "bolt out of the blue", it means that it was sudden and totally unexpected; whatever happened really surprised you. Here are a few examples.
*The news that Sumithra had lung cancer was a bolt from the blue.
*Gauri seemed to really like her new job. So when she informed her parents last week that she was planning on quitting, it was a bolt out of the blue.
The word "blue" in the expression refers to the blue sky and "bolt" refers to thunderbolts. On a day when the sky is blue and there are no clouds around, one does not expect to hear thunder. If one does, one is really surprised.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 13, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-7
Know your English
Whatis the meaning of "Friday dressing"?
This is a term of recent origin. Usually in the corporate world, employees are expected to come formally dressed. But on Fridays (it could be every Friday, or one Friday a month) they are allowed to come to office wearing casuals. You may find people who are normally in a suit, wearing jeans and T-shirt.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 06, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-6
Know your English
What is the origin of the term "Molotov cocktail"? How is the word "Molotov" pronounced?
Let me begin by telling you that this "cocktail" is no drink. A "Molotov cocktail" is a homemade firebomb! It usually consists of an inflammable liquid in a bottle to which a wick is attached. The wick is then lit and the bottle is thrown at someone or something. The result? The bottle explodes and the object catches fire. We see a lot of such bombs used by the villains in our regional films. "Molotov cocktail" is named after V. M. Molotov, the man who was the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union during World War II. When the Nazis invaded Russia during the Second World War, the Russian civilians used this cocktail quite successfully to destroy the German tanks. The phrase has been quite common since the 1940s.
As for the pronunciation, well, the first and third "o" in "Molotov" are pronounced like the "o" in "bob", "mob", and "sob". The second "o" is like the "a" in, "China" and the final "v" sounds like the "f" in "fish", "fee", and "fit".
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 06, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-5
Know your English
What is the difference between an "escort" and a "convoy"?
An "escort" is something or someone that is given to an individual as a mark of respect or as a form of protection. For example, Ministers in our country always have bodyguards surrounding them. The bodyguards are their escorts; they go wherever the Minister goes. Similarly, when an actress attends a party, she usually has an escort. When Hema Malini was young, her mother escorted her to most parties. When Presidents from other countries visit India, someone usually escorts them to inspect the guard of honour. Trucks, ships, planes, etc can be escorts too. The Prime Minister's boat may have an escort of four destroyers.
A "convoy", on the other hand, refers to the vehicles that accompany someone important. Whenever a Chief Minister goes somewhere, he/she usually has about ten or fifteen cars following him/her. These cars are part of the convoy. Unlike the word "escort", a convoy is usually used to refer to things (cars, lorries, ships, etc); the word is not used to refer to people.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 06, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-4
Know your English
Which of the following sentences is correct? "Seventy per cent of the population are of the opinion.
Whether the verb should be the singular "is" or the plural "are" depends on the noun, which precedes it. Since "population" is one of those nouns, which can take either a singular or a plural verb, both "is" and "are" are possible. If you were to replace "population" with "people", then you would have to say, "Seventy per cent of the people are of the opinion that taxes should be reduced". Here are some more examples:
*66% of the students have said that they do not want any changes.
*20% of the money is missing.
*50% of the mothers have said that they do not vote.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 06, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-3
Know your English
What is the meaning of "on the qui vive"
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. "Qui" is pronounced like the word "key" and "ive" in "vive" sounds like the word "eve". When you say that someone is "on the qui vive", what you are implying is that he/she is alert; he/she is watching very carefully. This is what the expression means in English. In French, I understand, "qui vive" means "Long live, who?" Why does the expression mean something different in English? Well, that's a long story. We'll deal with it some other time.
*Geetha is always on the qui vive for bargains.
*The soldiers were on the qui vive for another assault.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 06, 2001
Know Your English (Nov 2001)-2
Know your English
Which of the following sentences is correct? All ways/Always keep to the left.
The correct sentence is "Always keep to the left". The word "always" means "at all times". What you are saying is keep to the left at all times. Here are a few more examples.
Always lose in the final. That seems to be the motto of the Indian cricket team.
Always brush your teeth before going to bed.
"All ways", on the other hand, means "every possible way". For example.
The new machine has been tested in all ways.
All ways have been tried to manufacture the medicine.
Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 06, 2001
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