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What is the meaning and origin of ‘out of sorts’?
(B. Mukund, Bangalore)
The expression is mostly used in informal contexts. When you say
that you are ‘out of sorts’, you mean that you are not your usual self.
You do not feel one hundred per cent okay, and as a result, are grumpy and
irritable.
*Is something wrong? You look out of sorts today.
According to some scholars, the expression comes from the world
of printing. In the past, typesetters composed each page manually; it was a
laborious process. The person first picked the letters that made up a word and
then proceeded to put them together. In the world of printing, these letters
were called ‘sorts’.
Sometimes, while composing a page, the typesetter ran out of
sorts. When this happened, when he didn’t have enough letters to complete the
task at hand, he often became irritated or frustrated. Not everyone, however,
believes that this is how the idiom came into being.
What is the difference between ‘prone’ and
‘supine’?
(J. Vinod, Gulbarga)
First, let us deal with the pronunciation of ‘supine’. The
‘u’ in the first syllable is like the ‘oo’ in
‘cool’, ‘pool’ and ‘fool’. The second syllable rhymes with the words ‘fine’,
‘shine’ and ‘dine’. One way of pronouncing the word is ‘SOO-pine’ with
the stress on the first syllable. It is also possible to pronounce it
‘SYOO-pine’. When you lie supine on the floor or on the bed, you are lying
flat on your back, looking up.
*Rama was lying supine on the couch and reading the newspaper.
The word has a figurative meaning as well. When you refer to
someone as being supine, you mean he is an individual without a backbone. He is
someone who can be easily controlled or manipulated by others because he is
very weak or lazy.
*The supine administration refused to take action against the
teachers.
The word ‘prone’ can also be used to refer to the manner in
which a person lies down. When you lie prone on the sofa, you lie face down; in
other words, you are on your stomach and not on your back.
*The body of the murdered woman was lying prone on the floor.
How is the word ‘verbiage’
pronounced?
(S. David, Hyderabad)
The word consists of three syllables, and not two. The first
syllable is pronounced like the word ‘verb’, and
the following ‘i’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘pit’, ‘kit’ and
‘bit’. The final ‘age’ is pronounced like the ‘idge’ in
‘fridge’, ‘bridge’ and ‘ridge’. This rather formal word is pronounced
‘VERB-i-ij’ with the stress on the first syllable. It is mostly used to
refer to the manner in which someone writes or speaks. When someone uses too
many words in order to say something, he can be accused of verbiage.
In addition to the number of words used, often the language
tends to be very complicated making it rather difficult for the listener/reader
to understand. The word comes from the French ‘verbier’
meaning ‘to chatter’.
*The chapter needs to be edited. Spend some time removing the
verbiage.
*Madhav’s talk contained too much technical verbiage.
******
“Since my last report, your child has reached rock bottom and
has started to dig.” — Teacher
. UPENDRAN
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What is the meaning and origin of ‘hang fire’?
(PV Jagannathan, Chennai)
This is an expression that has been part of the English language
since the 17th century. It is mostly used to mean to keep something pending;
when something ‘hangs fire’, you delay taking action on it even though it
is rather important. In other words, you procrastinate. In 1981, thanks to the
song ‘Hang Fire’ by the British rock group, the Rolling Stones, the expression
acquired a slightly different meaning — to
relax or chill. Here are a few lines from the song from their album ‘Tattoo You’: “In
the sweet old country where I come from/ Nobody ever works/ Yeah, nothing gets
done/ We hang fire, we hang fire.”
*Don’t be in a hurry. Let’s hang fire till the court gives its
verdict.
*What do you want to do this evening? Study for next week’s test
or hang fire?
In the past, the gunpowder that was used in canons and guns was
rather unpredictable. When it was wet, it would not ignite at all. Even when it
was dry, sometimes the powder inside the gun, instead of exploding, only
smouldered — it burned slowly, resulting in a lot of smoke coming out of the
gun. This made the weapon dangerous for one didn’t really know when the
remaining portion of the powder would catch fire leading to an explosion. This
delay in the explosion when the powder was smouldering was referred to as ‘hang
fire’. Sir Walter Scott popularised the use of this expression in
everyday contexts.
How is the word ‘soporific’
pronounced?
(KP George, Cochin)
The first syllable ‘sop’ rhymes
with ‘hop’, ‘top’ and ‘pop’, while the ‘o’ in the second, sounds like the ‘a’ in
‘china’. The ‘I’ in the third syllable is pronounced like the ‘I’ in
‘hit’, ‘pit’ and ‘bit’, and the final ‘fic’ rhymes
with ‘pick’, ‘sick’ and ‘kick’. The word is pronounced ‘sop-e-RIF-ic’ with
the stress on the third syllable. It is ultimately derived from the Latin
‘sopor’ meaning ‘deep sleep or lethargy’.
Nowadays, the word is mostly used to refer to things that induce sleep or
drowsiness in people — it could be a medicine or drug, the motion of a train, etc.
*The summer heat was making Sunita feel soporific.
The word can also be used to mean ‘tediously boring or
monotonous’.
*Pity the officials who have to listen to the Minister’s
soporific speeches.
What is the difference between ‘The Principal gave a pen to each
student’ and ‘The Principal gave a pen to every student’?
(S. Mythili, Coimbatore)
In most contexts, people generally use ‘each’ and
‘every’ interchangeably. Careful users of the language, however,
maintain a distinction between the two. The word ‘each’ is
normally used when you are thinking of the students as individuals; the focus
here is on the individual members of the group. The word ‘every’, on
the other hand, suggests that you are thinking of the students as a group; you
are not thinking of them individually, but collectively. ‘Every’, in
certain contexts, has the same meaning as ‘all’.
******
“When I buy a book, I read the last page first. That way, in
case I die before I finish, I know how it ends.” — Harry
Burns
upendrankye@gmail.com
Know your English — How is the word
‘kowtow’
pronounced?
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What is the meaning and origin of ‘fine kettle of fish’?
(S. Venkatesh, Madurai)
This expression is mostly used in everyday contexts to mean a
‘difficult’ or ‘troublesome situation’. When
you say ‘this is a fine/pretty kettle of fish’, you
mean you have got yourself into an annoying or a messy situation.
Nobody is really sure about the origin of this rather peculiar
idiom. The only thing that scholars are sure about is that the ‘kettle’ in the
expression has nothing to do with the container that we use to boil water. Some
believe that it refers to the ‘fish kettle’, an
oval pan used to cook a whole fish. In fact, till about the 18th century, any
large vessel that was used to boil things in, was called a ‘kettle’. In
the past, it was standard practice for Scottish aristocrats to entertain their
neighbours during the summer by inviting them over for a picnic. Tents were put
up by the riverbank, and while their master entertained his guests, the
servants prepared food for them by catching fresh fish from the river and
throwing them into a boiling ‘kettle’. Soon,
the picnic itself began to be called ‘kettle of fish’. Some scholars
however believe that the ‘kettle’ is
actually a corruption of the word ‘kiddle’ — the
net that was thrown into the river to catch fish. Since the captured fish
splashed around quite a bit causing a lot of commotion, the expression began to
mean ‘confusing state of affairs’.
Which is correct: ‘I have toothache’ or ‘I
have a toothache’?
(CV Dinesh, Delhi)
In terms of grammar, both are correct; which sentence you use
will depend on which side of the Atlantic you are from. In British English,
words ending in ‘ache’ — ‘toothache’, ‘earache’,
stomach ache’, etc. — can be treated as countable or uncountable nouns. It is
therefore, possible to say, ‘I have earache/toothache’ or ‘I
have an earache/a toothache’. Americans, on the other hand, treat these
words as countable nouns, and therefore always include ‘a/an’ before
them. ‘Headache’ is an exception to this general rule. Both the Americans and
the British treat this word as a countable noun; therefore, the indefinite
article ‘a’ always precedes it. It is always ‘I have a headache’; one
cannot say, ‘I have headache’.
How is the word ‘kowtow’
pronounced?
(Hansika, Raichur)
The two syllables rhyme with the words ‘how’, ‘now
and ‘vow’. The word is pronounced ‘cow-TOW’ with
the stress on the second syllable. It is mostly used to show disapproval. When
you ‘kowtow’ to someone in authority, you do everything you can to please
him. You obey the individual unquestioningly; you pander to his every whim. In
other words, you ‘suck up’ to the person.
*Not all bureaucrats in our country kowtow to politicians.
The word comes from the Chinese ‘kotou’
meaning ‘head knock’. In the past, the Chinese showed their respect for someone by
kneeling before the individual and then touching the ground with his forehead.
******
“If a dentist makes his money on unhealthy teeth, why should I
trust a toothbrush that four out of five recommend.” — Unknown
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Know your English — What is the meaning
and origin of ‘go against the grain’?
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S. UPENDRAN
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What is the meaning and origin of ‘go against the grain’?
(Manoj Das, Cuttack)
This expression was in existence long before Shakespeare started
writing his plays. According to scholars, however, it was the dramatist who
popularised the use of the idiom. He first used it in his play Coriolanus.
When you tell someone that he is ‘going against the grain’, you
mean that he is doing the exact opposite of what he normally does. He is not
doing what is expected of him.
*Shwetha doesn’t like asking people for help. It goes against
the grain.
*He is going against the grain by trying to be an honest
politician.
According to one theory, the expression comes from the world of
carpentry. The fine lines that you find on a piece of wood are called ‘grain’. If
you wish to smoothen wood, for best results, you should run the tool you are
using ‘along’ the grain, and not ‘against’ it.
Why is a woman sometimes referred to as ‘black widow’?
(K. Sunitha, Bhopal)
In the insect world, a black widow is a poisonous spider that
usually consumes or eats its partner after mating with him. In the case of
human beings, the term is frequently used to refer to a woman who murders her
husband or her significant other. There is a term to refer to a man who murders
his wife — ‘bluebeard’. It is the name of a character from a literary folktale (‘La
Barbe Bleue’). In the story, the villain is a vicious French aristocrat with
an ugly blue beard. This individual is in the habit of killing the woman he
marries. When he marries for the seventh time, his new wife turns the tables on
him — with the help of her family, she manages to kill him. Some believe that
the story is based on the life of the French aristocrat Giles de Rais; a serial
killer who made many women disappear.
How is the word ‘prescient’
pronounced?
(C.V. Geetha, Ernakulam)
There seem to be different ways of pronouncing this rather
formal word. Some people rhyme the first syllable ‘presc’ with
the word ‘fresh’, while others pronounce it like the word ‘press’. The
following ‘i’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘kit’ and
‘sit’, and the ‘e’ is like the ‘a’ in
‘china’. The word can be pronounced PRESH-i-ent or PRESS-i-ent with the
stress on the first syllable. It comes from the Latin ‘prae’
meaning ‘before’ and ‘scire’ meaning ‘to know’. The
word literally means having the ability to foretell or predict what is likely
to happen in the future.
*No one was willing to listen to his prescient warnings.
*Rahul predicted the outcome with amazing prescience.
When you call someone ‘calculating’ are
you being complimentary?
(Dinesh Kumar, New Delhi)
No, you are not; you are being the exact opposite. When the word
‘calculating’ is used with an individual, it suggests that the person is
devious or crafty. You are saying he is a scheming individual, always driven by
self-interest. Most people disapprove of those who are calculating.
*I don’t like Laxman. He is cold and calculating.
******
“Life was much easier when Apple and Blackberry were just
fruits.” — Unknown
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Know your English
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S. UPENDRAN
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What is the meaning and origin of ‘hang fire’?
(PV Jagannathan, Chennai)
This is an expression that has been part of the English language
since the 17th century. It is mostly used to mean to keep something pending;
when something ‘hangs fire’, you delay taking action on it even though it
is rather important. In other words, you procrastinate. In 1981, thanks to the
song ‘Hang Fire’ by the British rock group, the Rolling Stones, the expression
acquired a slightly different meaning — to
relax or chill. Here are a few lines from the song from their album ‘Tattoo You’: “In
the sweet old country where I come from/ Nobody ever works/ Yeah, nothing gets
done/ We hang fire, we hang fire.”
*Don’t be in a hurry. Let’s hang fire till the court gives its
verdict.
*What do you want to do this evening? Study for next week’s test
or hang fire?
In the past, the gunpowder that was used in canons and guns was
rather unpredictable. When it was wet, it would not ignite at all. Even when it
was dry, sometimes the powder inside the gun, instead of exploding, only
smouldered — it burned slowly, resulting in a lot of smoke coming out of the
gun. This made the weapon dangerous for one didn’t really know when the remaining
portion of the powder would catch fire leading to an explosion. This delay in
the explosion when the powder was smouldering was referred to as ‘hang fire’.
Sir Walter Scott popularised the use of this expression in everyday contexts.
How is the word ‘soporific’
pronounced?
(KP George, Cochin)
The first syllable ‘sop’ rhymes
with ‘hop’, ‘top’ and ‘pop’, while the ‘o’ in the second, sounds like the ‘a’ in
‘china’. The ‘I’ in the third syllable is pronounced like the ‘I’ in
‘hit’, ‘pit’ and ‘bit’, and the final ‘fic’ rhymes
with ‘pick’, ‘sick’ and ‘kick’. The word is pronounced ‘sop-e-RIF-ic’ with
the stress on the third syllable. It is ultimately derived from the Latin
‘sopor’ meaning ‘deep sleep or lethargy’.
Nowadays, the word is mostly used to refer to things that induce sleep or
drowsiness in people — it could be a medicine or drug, the motion of a train, etc.
*The summer heat was making Sunita feel soporific.
The word can also be used to mean ‘tediously boring or
monotonous’.
*Pity the officials who have to listen to the Minister’s
soporific speeches.
What is the difference between ‘The Principal gave a pen to each
student’ and ‘The Principal gave a pen to every student’?
(S. Mythili, Coimbatore)
In most contexts, people generally use ‘each’ and
‘every’ interchangeably. Careful users of the language, however,
maintain a distinction between the two. The word ‘each’ is
normally used when you are thinking of the students as individuals; the focus
here is on the individual members of the group. The word ‘every’, on
the other hand, suggests that you are thinking of the students as a group; you
are not thinking of them individually, but collectively. ‘Every’, in
certain contexts, has the same meaning as ‘all’.
******
“When I buy a book, I read the last page first. That way, in
case I die before I finish, I know how it ends.” — Harry
Burns
upendrankye@gmail.com
Know your English: What is the meaning
and origin of ‘plain sailing’?
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What is the meaning and origin of ‘plain sailing’?
(L Shravanthi, Pune)
The expression is mostly used in informal contexts to mean
‘smooth and easy progress’. When you say that something was plain sailing, you mean things
went off without a hitch; there were no problems or obstructions of any kind
along the way. 'Clear sailing' and 'smooth sailing' mean the same thing.
*Your first few months on the job will not be plain sailing.
This relatively old idiom comes from the world of navigation. In
the past, in order to determine distance, calculations were made based on the
assumption that the earth was flat and not spherical. To make calculations
simple, sailors assumed that the ship was sailing on a flat or a ‘plane surface’.
The original expression was, in fact, ‘plane sailing’. Since
spelling had not been standardised, the two words ‘plain’ and
‘plane’ were used interchangeably. When the expression made its first
appearance in print in the 17th century, the word was spelt ‘plain’
instead of ‘plane’ — and everyone followed suit.
The idiom acquired its figurative meaning — slow and easy
progress — over a period of time.
How is the word ‘finesse’
pronounced?
(J Baskar, Trichy)
The first syllable ‘fi’ is
like the ‘fi’ in ‘fit’, ‘fill’ and ‘fist’, and the following ‘nesse’ is
like the ‘nes’ in ‘nest’. The word is pronounced ‘fi-NES’ with
the stress on the second syllable.
Someone who has ‘finesse’
displays grace under pressure; the individual exhibits a lot of skill in
handling people in delicate or difficult situations. It can also be used to
refer to someone’s graceful or elegant movements. The word can be used as a
verb to mean to slyly or delicately manage to do something — for example avoid
getting blamed. In Old French, ‘fin’ meant
‘subtle’ or ‘delicate’.
*We must try to finesse our way out of this boring party.
What is the difference between ‘crowd in’ and
‘crowd around’?
(S Jayanthi, Chennai)
When people ‘crowd around’
someone or something, they surround the person or thing; they may not actually
touch the individual, but they are all around him. The person being surrounded
gets the feeling that there are just too many people around him.
*When the children spotted Tendulkar, they immediately crowded
around him.
‘Crowd in’, on the other hand, suggests there is some amount of pushing
and pulling. There are too many people, and as a result, the space becomes so
cramped that people actually press against each other. They have the feeling
that they are being smothered.
*The star told his fans that he didn’t like being crowded in.
Is there a word to refer to people of the same age?
(Mohan Rao, Hubli)
Yes, there is. The word that is sometimes used to refer to
people of the same age or about the same age is ‘agemate’.
*Vasantha had no agemate in the colony she was living in.
******
“Overpopulation: when people take leave of their census.” — Malcom
K Jeffrey
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Know
your English — What is the meaning and origin of 'heads up'?
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What is the meaning and origin of 'heads up'?
(Geetha Durairajan, Hyderabad)
This American expression has several different meanings. One is
to warn someone that something is going to happen, and that he needs to be
prepared for whatever may come his way. The expression is also frequently used
in everyday contexts to refer to someone who is wide-awake and alert.
*We got the heads up about the Chairman's proposed visit.
*Surprisingly, our team played a very heads up game.
Nobody is really sure about the origin of the expression.
According to one theory, a person who is wide awake and alert usually keeps his
head up to ensure that he is able to see what is happening around him. Someone
who feels sleepy or drowsy, on the other hand, always keeps dropping his head.
According to another theory, the expression ‘heads up’was
used in the 19th century to mean ‘straighten up’ or
‘keep your head up’. Some believe that the modern use of the expression comes from
the ‘heads-up display screen’ that gives pilots vital information about their
aircraft. In the past, since the screen was installed close to the windshield,
the pilot was able to monitor the readings without taking his eyes off the
flight path. He was able to do both provided he had his head up.
Is it okay to say, ‘She bought an expensive pair of cooling
glasses’?
(N. Naresh, Chennai)
Indians frequently refer to the dark-lensed glasses that they
wear in order to protect their eyes from the bright sun as ‘cooling glasses’.
Native speakers of English do not use this term, and will probably have a
problem figuring out what we mean by it. ‘Shades’, ‘dark
glasses’, ‘sunglasses’, and ‘sun specs’ are
some of the terms that they use instead of ‘cooling glasses’.
*Sathvika, as usual, looked cool in her shades/sun glasses.
*The villain in the film was always wearing a baseball cap and
dark glasses.
How is the word ‘nonchalant’
pronounced?
(J Vivek, Bangalore)
The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘non’ and
the following ‘ch’ is like the ‘sh’ in ‘ship’,
‘shoot’ and ‘sheet’. The ‘a’ in the
second and third syllables is pronounced like the ‘a’ in
‘china’. One way of pronouncing this French word is ‘NON-she-lent’ with
the stress on the first syllable. It comes from the Latin ‘non’ being
‘not’ and ‘calere’ meaning ‘be hot’.
Someone who is nonchalant looks calm and relaxed; he is a ‘cool’
person. The word can be used to show disapproval as well; it can be used to suggest
that the person shows no interest or enthusiasm about things happening around
him.
*The star got out of his car, and gave a nonchalant wave to his
adoring fans.
*Hema gave her resignation letter, and walked out of the room
nonchalantly.
Is it okay to say, ‘The cardboards you bought yesterday are no
good’?
(C. Kavita, Kanpur)
Being an uncountable noun, the word ‘cardboard’ is
always followed by a singular verb. The plural of cardboard is ‘cardboard’.
*The cardboard you bought is not particularly good.
*We won't be able to use the cardboard. It is damp.
******
Know your English — What is the meaning
of ‘ultracrepidarian’?
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What is the meaning of ‘ultracrepidarian’?
(L Kamesh, Bangalore)
First, let us deal with the pronunciation of the word. The first
two syllables are pronounced like the word ‘ultra’, and
the following ‘crep’ rhymes with ‘prep’ and
‘rep’. The ‘I’ is like the ‘I’ in ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and
‘sit’, and the ‘dar’ is pronounced like the word ‘dare’. The
word is pronounced ‘ul-tra-krep-i-DARE-ien’ with
the stress on the fifth syllable. An ultracrepidarian is someone who is in the
habit of giving advice on matters he himself knows nothing about — like a
politician! This Latin word literally means ‘beyond the shoe’.
*My ultracrepidarian uncle will be spending two weeks with us.
The story goes that when the Greek painter Apellis displayed his
beautiful painting of Alexander the Great, a shoemaker pointed out that the
sandals in the painting did not have the required number of loops. The artist
thanked him, and immediately set about making the required changes. Once they
had been carried out, the emboldened shoemaker began to comment on other
aspects of the painting — the shape of Alexander's legs, his robes, etc.
Apellis put an end to it by saying, “Sutor, ne ultra crepidam”,
meaning “shoemaker, not above the sandal”. The wise painter was trying to tell
the shoemaker that he should limit his comments to his area of expertise — shoes — and
avoid passing judgment on things he knows nothing about. William Hazlitt, the
well-known essayist, coined the word ‘ultracrepidarin’ in 1819.
What is the difference between ‘as if’ and
‘as though’?
(V Sundaramoorthi, Chennai)
In terms of meaning, there is no difference between the two
expressions. They can be used interchangeably when you are referring to how
someone looks or behaves. In formal contexts, the verb that follows these
expressions is usually in the plural. In everyday conversation, however, people
generally make use of the singular verb.
*Arthi looked as if/as though she were going to throw up.
How is the word ‘resuscitate’ pronounced?
(BS Mathew, Thiruvananthapuram)
The ‘e’ in the first syllable and the ‘i’ in the
third are pronounced like the ‘i’ in
‘hit’, ‘bit’ and ‘fit’. The second syllable ‘sus’ rhymes
with ‘bus’, ‘us’ and ‘fuss’, while the final syllable rhymes with ‘fate’, ‘date’ and
‘late’. The ‘c’ is silent. The word is pronounced ‘ri-SUS-i-tate’ with
the stress on the second syllable. It comes from the Latin ‘resuscitatus’
meaning to revive or raise. Nowadays, the word is mostly used to mean to revive
someone who is unconscious or is very close to death.
*While he was in hospital, he had a heart attack. The doctors
were unable to resuscitate him.
Resuscitate has a figurative meaning as well; it is used very
often nowadays to mean to make something active and vigorous again.
*The government is trying to resuscitate the country’s economy.
Is it okay to say, ‘She is a nice car’?
(S. Nalini, Madurai)
Although most people would say ‘It is a nice car’,
English allows the pronoun ‘she’ to be used with ships, cars and countries.
Also, with hurricanes!
******
“I love mankind. It’s the
people I can’t stand.” — Charles
Schultz
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Know your English — meaning and origin
of ‘make the grade’
S. UPENDRAN
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Is it okay to say, ‘The children are well versed with the rules
of English’?
(T. Sushma, Kurnool)
People are usually ‘well-versed in’
something and not ‘with’. When you say that someone is well versed in something, it
means that the individual is very knowledgeable about it; it could be a
particular subject or an area. This knowledge has been gained through
experience, and not necessarily by reading books. In your example, you are
saying that the children know the rules of grammar thoroughly.
*Surprisingly, the American was well-versed in Tamil literature.
*The professor was well-versed in Carnatic music.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘make the grade’?
(S. Ranjit, Tiruchi)
This is an expression mostly used in American English in
informal contexts. When something that you have done makes the grade, it means
that you have done it satisfactorily; the required standard has been met. This
expression is mostly used in the negative, and can be used with people as well.
‘Measure up’, ‘pass muster’ and ‘make the cut’ are
other expressions that have more or less the same meaning.
*Sarvesh wanted to get into IIT, but he failed to make the
grade.
*Sujatha’s chocolate cake didn’t quite make the grade.
There are several theories regarding the origin of the
expression. According to one, ‘grade’ has
nothing to do with school — the class a student is in or the marks he has got
on a test.
In American English, ‘grade’ is
also used to refer to a gradient or a slope. In the context of the idiom, it
refers to the steep incline a train has to climb. A train that makes the grade
is one that is successful in climbing a steep incline or slope.
What is the difference between ‘talking terms’ and
‘speaking terms’?
(Sai Ram, Pune)
The expression ‘on talking terms’ is an
Indianism. Native speakers of English would say ‘speaking terms’. When
two people are not on speaking terms, they are not on friendly terms; they do
not talk to each other.
*I’m on speaking terms with everyone in my office.
*I’m told the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar are not on
speaking terms.
Is it okay to say, ‘Radha’s daughter is in the family way’?
(L. Nagalakshmi, Chennai)
The expressions ‘in the family way’ and
‘in a family way’ are frequently used in India in everyday contexts to mean that
a girl/woman is pregnant or is expecting.
Native speakers would consider them to be rather old fashioned
and may use them in order to sound humorous. In everyday contexts, native
speakers would say: ‘She is expecting/with child/pregnant/going to have a baby’.
How is the word ‘cuisine’
pronounced?
(N. Malavika, Mangalore)
The first syllable of this French word sounds like the ‘qui’ in
‘quick’ and ‘quit’. The following ‘s’ is
like the ‘z’ in ‘zip’ and ‘zoo’, and the final ‘ine’ like
the ‘een’ in ‘teen’, ‘keen’ and ‘seen’.
The word is pronounced ‘kwi-ZEEN’ with
the stress on the second syllable. Dictionaries define it as ‘style of cooking’.
*The restaurant is well known for its vegetarian cuisine.
******
“I don’t eat snails. I prefer
fast food.” — Strange de Jim
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Know your English -- What is the meaning
of ‘pussyfoot’?
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What is the meaning of ‘pussyfoot’?
(Subhayu Saha, Murshidabad)
This word is mostly used in informal contexts and has several
different meanings. One of them is to tread or walk softly like a cat. We all
know that cats — including big ones like lions, tigers, leopards, etc. — can
sneak up on their prey without making a sound.
*The burglar pussyfooted down the stairs.
In the early 1900s, the word was frequently used in America to
refer to a detective. Understandable, I guess, since detectives have to keep an
eye on others without being seen or heard. With the passage of time, ‘pussyfoot’
acquired a negative connotation. Nowadays, when you tell someone to ‘stop
pussyfooting around/about’, you want the person to stop being indecisive. You would like
him to stop being timid, and commit himself to a course of action.
*Das, will you please stop pussyfooting around and tell us what
you want done.
*Stop pussyfooting about, and tell me what you think of my
painting.
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States,
popularised the use of the word.
What is the origin of the idiom ‘to pull someone’s leg’?
(R Gautham, Bangalore)
The expression has been part of the language for several hundred
years, and it is mostly used nowadays to mean to tease or play a joke on
someone.
*I enjoy pulling Devi’s leg once in a while.
Remember, it is always ‘leg’ and
not ‘legs’. No one is really sure about the origin of this idiom. Some
believe that in the past, it was common practice among robbers to make use of a
wire or a cane to trip unsuspecting passers-by. While the stunned victim was on
the ground, the other members of the gang relieved him of his valuables.
How is the expression ‘tete-a-tete’
pronounced?
(Dhanraj, Kasaragod)
There seem to be several ways of pronouncing this French
expression. According to the Cambridge Dictionary the ‘tete’ rhymes
with words like ‘mate’, ‘fate’ and ‘date’, while the following ‘a’ is
like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The expression is pronounced ‘tate-e-TATE’ with
the main stress on the final syllable. It is also possible to make the word
‘tete’ rhyme with ‘pet’, ‘set’ and
‘bet’. In French, the expression literally means ‘head to head’. When
you have a ‘tete-a-tete’ with someone, you have a private conversation with the person.
The expression suggests that only two persons are involved.
*The young couple had a quiet tete-a-tete over lunch this
afternoon.
What is the difference between ‘Please come’ and
‘Please do come’?
(R Simon, Chennai)
In both cases, you are inviting a person to an event. ‘Please
come’ is a straightforward request; it is something that we all say
in order to sound polite. The word ‘do’ is
sometimes included to add emphasis to a request; in this case, you genuinely
want or very strongly feel that the person to be present at the event. You are
urging him to come. Please take/do take another sweet.
*Sneha looks/does look pretty in that dress.
******
“Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It’s not
fair that some men should be happier than others.” —Oscar
Wilde
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What is the meaning and origin of ‘down and out’?
(Saketh Mohan, Bangalore)
The expression has been part of the language for well over 200
years. When you say that someone is ‘down and out’, you
are suggesting that the person is in very bad shape — he
doesn’t have money or a job, and may not even have a home to live in. When you
are down and out, you are staring defeat in the face.
*My friend is writing a novel about a down and out hitman in
Kolkata.
*Our team was down and out at half time, but we rallied.
The expression comes from the world of boxing. A boxer who is
‘down’ is lying flat on his back on the canvas. His opponent has
probably knocked him down. The ‘out’ in the
expression suggests that the referee has declared that the boxer is ‘out for
the count’; in other words, the referee has counted to 10, and the dazed or unconscious
fighter on the canvas has been unable to get up in that time. A boxer who is
‘down and out’ has been knocked out of the competition; he has been defeated.
Which is correct: ‘heart of heart’ or
‘heart of hearts’?
(Syed Aziz, Hyderabad)
Native speakers of English would say ‘heart of hearts’,
instead of ‘heart of heart’. The expression is frequently used in speech
to mean ‘deep down’. Something that is in your heart of hearts is what you truly
believe. For example, if in your heart of hearts you think your best friend is
a crook, you are quite certain that he is up to no good. You may not be willing
to admit this openly to anyone — you will keep this feeling to yourself.
*Even before the game began, Jai knew in his heart of hearts
that India would lose the final.
*In her heart of hearts, Mythreye knew what she was doing was
wrong.
The expression was first used by Shakespeare in Hamlet: Give
me a man that is not a passion’s slave, and I’ll wear him in my heart’s core,
in my heart of heart. So when we say ‘heart of heart’ — as
many Indians do — we are actually speaking the language of Shakespeare!
Is it okay to say, ‘The Prime Minister’s
speech was just an eyewash’?
(Rahul Gupta, Pune)
No, it is not. In informal contexts, native speakers of English
use the word ‘eyewash’ to mean nonsense or insincere talk.
Some dictionaries list this use of the word as being old
fashioned. Indians frequently use the word ‘eyewash’, but
they treat it as a countable noun. For native speakers of English, ‘eyewash’ is an
uncountable noun, and is therefore not preceded by the indefinite article — they
would not say ‘an eyewash’.
*Rahul says he will quit cricket if he is found guilty. We know
that such statements are just eyewash.
*Don’t believe a word that Umesh said. It was eyewash.
******
QUOTABLE
QUOTE
“I was not lying. I said things that later on seemed untrue.” — Richard
M. Nixon
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Know your English — Is it okay to say ‘I’m running 75’?
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Is it okay to say ‘I’m
running 75’?
(D. Parthasarathi, Hyderabad)
We Indians are always in a rush. When we are driving, we are in
such a tearing hurry to get to our destination that we ignore all traffic
rules.
It is not surprising, therefore, that we are always ‘running’ some
particular age. In our country, when you ask someone his age, we usually get a
complicated reply: “I’ve completed 39 and am now running 40”.
The expression ‘running 40’,
though common within India, is unheard of in native varieties of English.
Instead of ‘running’, they tend to say ‘going on’.
Remember the famous song from ‘Sound of Music’: ‘I am
sixteen going on seventeen’? Is it wrong to say ‘running 40’? In
India, you can ‘run’ with the expression!
What is the meaning of ‘puffery’?
(VP Bhaskaran, Kochi)
This is a word mostly used in American English to refer false
praise.
Whenever a new product is launched, there is usually hype around
the event. In order to promote the product, people praise it to the skies —
often, making it sound like it is the best thing since sliced bread!
This hype or exaggerated praise that is often resorted to by
advertisers and those in the public relations profession is called ‘puffery’. In
informal contexts, the British refer to it as ‘puff’.
*Don’t believe a word Mukund says. It’s just marketing puffery.
*Tell it like it is. There should be no puffery in the ad.
Some people drop the ‘e’ and
pronounce the word ‘PUFF-ri’. Otherwise, the word is pronounced ‘PUFF-e-ri’.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘a fig leaf’?
(PN Ranganathan, Chennai)
According to the Bible, when Adam and Eve tasted the fruit from
the Tree of Knowledge, they became aware that they were naked. In order to hide
their nudity, they used fig leaves to cover themselves. Nowadays, the
expression ‘a fig leaf’ is used figuratively to mean something that is used to conceal
a problem, difficulty or embarrassment.
*Voluntary retirement is just a fig leaf. The man is actually
being fired. What is the difference between ‘skulking’ and
‘sulking’? (Ritu, Chennai)When you ‘sulk’, you are
unhappy about something, and as a result, do not interact with those around
you. You make it clear to everyone that you are unhappy; you sit in one corner
of the room, and mope. One can be ‘in a sulk’ or one
can have a ‘case of the sulks’.
*What’s wrong with Meera? She’s been sulking all morning.
*Don’t go anywhere near Swami. He’s got a serious case of the
sulks.
The word ‘skulk’ comes from the Norwegian ‘skulke’
meaning ‘to shirk or malinger’. In British English, the word is used to
refer to someone who pretends to be unwell in order to avoid doing work. It can
also be used to mean to lie in wait for someone or move about in a stealthy
manner. People usually skulk when they intend to harm another person.
*Get on with the job. I know you are just skulking.
*The girls panicked when they spotted three men skulking behind
the building.
“My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.” — Erma
Bombeck
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Know
your English — Which is correct: ‘drunk driving’ or ‘drunken driving’?
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Which is correct: ‘drunk driving’ or
‘drunken driving’?
(Vivek Sharma, New Delhi)
From the point of view of grammar, the noun ‘driving’ has to
be preceded by an adjective. In this case, ‘drunken’ is the
right word.
*A drunken student created quite a commotion in the dining hall.
*The police have arrested Teja for drunken driving.
The word ‘driving’,
however, can be preceded by either ‘drunken’ or
‘drunk’.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, ‘drunk driving’ has
become a fixed expression in English, and is therefore an exception to the
rule.
Some people maintain there is a subtle distinction between a
‘drunk driver’ and a ‘drunken driver’. The
former is someone whose alcohol level is a little over the legal limit. A
‘drunken driver’, on the other hand, is someone who is ‘sozzled’ or
intoxicated. In everyday contexts, this distinction is seldom maintained.
What is the meaning and origin of ‘tall order’?
(S Narayanan, Chennai)
When you say that the task assigned to you is a ‘tall order',
you mean it is a formidable one; something that is going to be difficult to
complete in the time given to you.
*Completing the project on time is going to be a tall order.
*You want us to do all this in a day? That’s a pretty tall
order!
We know that people can be tall and buildings can be tall. But
how can an ‘order’ be tall?
The word ‘tall’ has been part of the English language for
several centuries; it is not surprising, therefore, that its meaning has
changed several times during this period of time. One of the meanings of ‘tall’ was
‘lofty, grand’. Americans took this meaning of the word and created slang
expressions like ‘tall tales’ (grand or exaggerated stories which are hard
to believe) and ‘tall order’ (exaggerated demands which will be difficult
to fulfil).
Why don’t dictionaries define 'chit' as something used to copy
in examinations?
(Mala, Kochi)
The word ‘chit’ comes from the Hindi ‘chitti’, meaning ‘letter’. In schools and colleges in India, ‘chit’ is used to refer to a small piece of paper containing notes that
students use to cheat on an exam or a test. Examinees note down important
information on the chits, and they think of innovative ways of keeping them
concealed from the ever-alert ‘invigilator’. Native speakers of English do not call these hidden pieces of paper,
‘chits’. They refer to them as ‘crib notes’, ‘crib 
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