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