Know Your English - December 2005

December 2005

• What is the meaning of `catch as catch can'? (20051226)
• Why is 26 December called `Boxing Day'? (20051226)
• What is the meaning of `period' in the following sentence? `He is an intelligent man. Period.' (20051226)
• What is the meaning of `kowtow'? How is it pronounced? (20051226)
• What it the difference between `curriculum vitae' and `resume'? (20051226)
• Outside marriage halls, we see signs that say, `Bride marries Bridegroom'. Some read, `Bridegroom marries Bride'. Which is correct? (20051226)
• What is the meaning and origin of `above board'? (20051219)
• What is the meaning of `parochial'? How is the word pronounced? (20051219)
• Is it OK to say, `The President Abdul Kalam visited Chennai last week'? (20051219)
• Why do we call the place where the police work a `station'? (20051219)
• How is the word `fragile' pronounced? (20051219)
• What is the meaning and origin of `to eat out of one's hand'? (20051212)
• What is the difference between `eat like a horse' and `eat like a pig'? (20051212)
• What is the meaning of `tryst'? (20051212)
• How is the word `idiosyncrasy' pronounced? (20051212)
• What is the difference between `defence' and `defense'? (20051212)
• I don't find `bitter gourd' in the dictionary. Does the vegetable have another name? (20051212)
• What is the meaning of `da bomb'? (20051212)
• What is the meaning of `go the whole hog'? (20051205)
• How is the word `obsequious' pronounced? (20051205)
• What is the difference between `ambience' and `ambiance'? (20051205)
• What is the origin of `nit picking'? (20051205)