Know Your English - March 2003

• WHAT IS the meaning and origin of "big cheese"?
• What is the difference between a "complex story" and a "complicated story"?
• What is the meaning of "quasi"?
• Which is correct? "Description of" or "description about"?
• What do you call a female watchman?
• Why does "fortnight" mean two weeks?
• What is the difference between a "simple solution" and a "simplistic solution"?
• Is it OK to say "She is in urgent need for a loan"?
• What is the meaning and origin of the expression "to pull out all the stops"?
• What does "turn on the waterworks mean"?
• HOW DO you pronounce "w..o..u..n..d"?
• What is the difference between "horrible" and "horrific"?
• What is the meaning of "flogging a dead horse"?
• What do you call a member of the Mafia?
• What is the meaning of "to cap it all"?
• Which of the following is correct? "Write someone" or "write to someone"?
• "On the warpath"