Ads 468x60px

Pages

Know Your English (May 2001)

Know your English

WHAT IS the meaning of ``apple polishing''?

It means ``flattery''. Believe it or not, this is an expression which owes its origin to the practice followed by school children. What is it that people do in order to win the approval of their superiors? They either give them gifts or flatter them. Some school going children did the same thing in order to be in the teacher's good books. These kids took apples to school and polished them till they gleamed. Then they presented them to the class teacher! They hoped that by doing this, the teacher would overlook their poor performance in class and instead give them good marks.
* Vani's apple-polishing didn't get her anywhere.
* Apple-polishing is something that my boss detests.
* People who indulge in apple-polishing are called ``apple polishers''.
* Venkat, the apple polisher, doesn't know how silly he looks.
* Jaya's apple polishers surrounded her as soon as she stepped out of her car.
* When he ran out of money the apple polishers left him.
Do not use this word in formal contexts. It is considered slang.

Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, May 01, 2001
Posted by Sridevi. V, M.A

0 comments:

Post a Comment


Hello Friends ! Please send your requests,comments,suggestions to improve this blog.
loading...
Learn English Grammar & Usage; Are U Anxious To Know The Science & Tech News; Where Are You ? Know The Changes; Health:News N Tips
Word of the Day

gyrate discuss

Definition:(verb) Revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis.
Synonyms:spin, reel, whirl
Usage:The airplane gyrated about in the sky in a most alarming fashion.
Article of the Day

Self-Replicating Spacecraft

A self-replicating spacecraft is an entity that would, in theory, be able to travel to a neighboring star-system and extract raw materials from celestial bodies to create replicas of itself. Such replicas could then be sent to other star systems, repeating the process in an exponentially increasing pattern. Using relatively conventional theoretical methods of interstellar travel, how long would it take for self-replicating spacecrafts to spread throughout the Milky Way Galaxy? More... Discuss

This Day in History

The Battle of Bunker Hill (1775)

Early in the American Revolution and soon after the battles of Lexington and Concord, colonial troops laid siege to Boston. When they began occupying hills overlooking the city, newly reinforced British troops attacked. After two failed assaults, a third charge dislodged the Americans, who had run out of gunpowder. Though the British technically won, their unexpectedly heavy casualties were a psychological blow, and American morale soared. On what hill was the battle actually fought—and why? More... Discuss
Today's Birthday

Charles François Gounod (1818)

Gounod was French composer who also studied for the priesthood and worked as an organist. Throughout his life, he remained torn between the theatre and the church. His reputation largely rests on his hugely popular 1859 opera, Faust, but he also wrote 15 lesser-known operas, 17 masses, more than 150 songs, and two symphonies. One of his short pieces, "Funeral March of a Marionette," became well-known—albeit not by name—as the theme to what popular TV show beginning in the 1950s? More... Discuss

In the News

Quote of the Day
Here, sir, the people govern; here they act by their immediate representatives.
Alexander Hamilton
(1755-1804) Discuss

Spelling Bee
difficulty level:
score: -
adj. Having or appearing to have only one color
 
spell the word:
Match Up
Select word:










Match each word in the left column with its synonym on the right. When finished, click Answer to see the results. Good luck!