The Hindu 2010 Word

What is the difference between `flip out' and `flip over'? The expression `flip out' is considered to be slang, and is therefore mostly used in informal contexts. When someone `flips out', he loses control of himself, and simply goes crazy. The expression usually carries a negative meaning. *Gupta flipped out when he saw his young daughter wearing make-up. *The young mother flipped out when she saw the mess the children had made. When you flip something over, you turn it over very quickly. The expression can also be used with people as well. *Usha flipped over the dosa before picking up her cell phone. *The hero flipped over, grabbed the stool, and used it to protect himself from the blow. The expression has another meaning as well. When you flip over someone or something, you like the person or thing very much; you become crazy about the person or thing. The expression is mostly used in a positive sense. *Mohan flipped over Kamana the first time he saw her. *Everyone flipped over the sambar my mother had made.

Is it okay to say, `The students are awaiting for the principal's reply'? No, it isn't. It is okay to say `wait for something', but not `await for something'. The word `await' is not usually followed by `for'. In the example you have given, you can either say, `The students are waiting for the principal's reply', or `The students are awaiting the principal's reply'. Know Your English Understand your boss has built a new house. Whats it like? Fantabulous is the word that Sujatha used to describe it. Fantabulous? Its a combination of fantastic and fabulous. It means, unbelievably good or great. When I went to Goa, the view from my room was fantabulous. What was the view like from your boss new house? Havent a clue. Never been to his house. Well, if you didnt go to your boss party, where were you on New Years Eve?

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I went for a drive. I understand you were stopped by the police. News travels fast. Who told you? Does it really matter? Were you speeding? No, I wasnt. The policeman thought I was intexticated. I didnt know you drank. When did I didnt say intoxicated. I said intexticated. Dont think Ive heard that word before. Its when you try to send a message on your cell phone while youre driving. In other words, you are driving and texting at the same time. Thats right! According to this newspaper article, more accidents are caused by intexticated drivers than by intoxicated ones. There are many intexticated drivers in our country. Thats true. Tell me, can the word be used with people who walk and message at the same time? Yes, it can. Rajeev was so intexticated that he didnt see where he was going. He fell into a manhole and broke his leg. Hes been advised to take it easy for three months. Oh, the poor chap. I hope he has insurance. Dont worry about Rajeev. Hes flush. Flush? What do you mean? One of the meanings of flush is abundant. In this context, it means the person is rich. For example, at the beginning of every month, I feel flush. We are not exactly flush, but we manage to live a comfortable life. Thats what most people want. Thats true. According to my father, the best thing Talking about your father, has he returned the laptop to the dealer? Hes been talking to him on the phone and...

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Nothing will come of it, Im afraid. Tell your dad to stop pussyfooting around and... Pussyfooting around? What does it mean? It means to do something in a cautious or timid manner. When you In other words, you walk or tread carefully like a cat? Exactly! The person is unwilling to commit to any course of action. Listen Radha, youve been pussyfooting around for over six months now. I want a decision by the end of the day. If I were you, I wouldnt promote him. Hes incapable of taking decisions. Hell pussyfoot around and not get on with anything. Thats a good example. We have a crisis on our hands. You need to take action. You cant pussyfoot around. Ill talk to my dad about the laptop. Youre leaving? Thats fantabulous! What is the difference between eminent and famous? When it means, widely known, the word famous can be used with both people and things. Eminent, on the other hand, is mostly restricted to people. Famous suggests that the individual is widely known for a particular reason: it can be for good or bad. For example, Aamir Khan is a famous actor. Someone like Monica Lewinsky is also famous; perhaps, not for the right reasons. Eminent is a stronger word than famous. It comes from the Latin eminentem meaning to stand out. An eminent person, therefore, is someone who stands apart from others; in other words, he is an outstanding and distinguished member of his profession. He is respected by both the public and the members from his own profession. India has produced many eminent artists. What it the meaning of cut loose? The expression has several different meanings. While watching cricket, we often hear Gavaskar and Bhogle say, Sehwag has cut loose. In this context, the expression means free and relaxed. In other words, the batsman is not holding back; he is going for his shots, and is thoroughly enjoying himself. He is batting without restraint. He is like an animal that is no longer tied up. *When Prahlad, Bala, and Rakesh get together, they really cut loose. What is the meaning of kitchen cabinet? Every head of state is believed to have his/her own kitchen cabinet. It usually consists of a small group of people whom the Prime Minister or President turns to for advice. These

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unofficial advisers are not politicians, and the head of state implicitly trusts them. It is believed that sometimes the kitchen cabinet has a greater influence on the head of state than the official cabinet. This is understandable, I guess, because the official cabinet consists of politicians, and as everyone knows, politicians are not meant to be trusted even if they happen to be from your own party! The expression kitchen cabinet was coined in the United States in the 1830s during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. He had three friends whom he depended on for advice. Since he wanted to keep their visits a secret, he usually had them ushered in through the kitchen door. It is believed that most of their meetings actually took place in the kitchen: hence the term kitchen cabinet. Other expressions which have more or less the same meaning are brain(s) trust and think tank. What is the difference between `revue' and `review'? Don't let the spelling fool you. `Revue' is pronounced the same way as `review'; both words have the stress on the second syllable. Their meanings, however, are very different. A `revue' is a form of theatrical entertainment. It is not a full length play; it is a multi-act form of entertainment, which usually includes songs, dances, and short sketches. People enjoy going to revues because they are satirical in nature; they make fun of politicians, actors, writers and other public figures. This form of entertainment was very popular in the early decades of the 20th century. Ashok wants me to write a political revue for his theatre group. The word `review' has several different meanings, but I'll be dealing with only one here. When someone writes a review of a book or a film, for example, he gives his opinion of it. He tells us what he liked and didn't like about the film/book. The reviews that the film got weren't particularly good. My friend has been asked to write a review of my favourite author's latest book. * * * "Rogues are preferable to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest." - Alexandre Dumas What is the meaning of `scuttlebutt'? This is a word which comes from the world of sailing. `Butt' means `barrel' or `cask', and `scuttle' refers to the hatch on the deck of a ship. A`scuttlebutt' was actually a barrel containing the day's supply of drinking water for the ship's crew. Since this barrel (butt) of water was placed near the hatch (scuttle), the container began to be called `scuttlebutt'. What do you think happened when the members of the crew got together to drink water? The same thing that happens today when colleagues in an office gather around the water cooler or the coffee machine. They gossiped! The sailors drank water, and gossiped about what was happening on the ship. In informal contexts, the expression `scuttlebutt' is used to mean `rumour' or `gossip'. Have you heard the latest scuttlebutt about my new neighbour?

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I don't pay too much attention to the scuttlebutt around here. What is the meaning and origin of `set the ball rolling'? According to some scholars, the idiom comes from the world of football: the game starts when the ball is set rolling. When you set the ball rolling, you do something which starts an activity. You make a beginning. It is also possible to say, `get the ball rolling' and `start the ball rolling'. Ajit set the ball rolling by putting up posters in the nearby supermarkets. You can get the ball rolling by talking to your classmates. Know your english Hi! You don't look too good. Is something bothering you? "I complained to my boss about Hemant yesterday." "Why did you do that? Do you have a problem with him? "You know that I've had a beef with him for a long time." "You've had beef? Do you parents know?" "I didn't say I ate beef. I said that I had a beef with Hemant. When you have 'beef with' someone, you ..." "You probably have a complaint against the person." 'That's right! The expression could also mean 'grudge'. You are itching for a fight or an argument." "I see. Well, in that case, your next door neighbour has a beef with you." "I hope that was just an example. Otherwise, I'll..." "It was an example, that's all. I don't think your new neighbour would recognise you even if he saw you." "That's true! In most universities, students have beef with teachers." "And I'm sure teachers have beef with the students as well." "You're probably right. 'Beef with' is mostly used in informal contexts. Also, we..."

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"What did your boss say when you complained against Hemant?" "He said I was at fault." "What?" "That was my reaction as well. Apparently, Hemant had already complained about me, and he..." "Is Hemant related to your boss?" "I don't really know. But they are pretty close. According to Sharma, the two are in cahoots with..." "In what? What did you say? "C..a..h..o..o..t..s. The 'a' is pronounced like the 'a' in 'china', and the'oo' like the 'oo' in 'pool' and 'cool'." "So, the word is pronounced ke-HOOTS with the stress on the second syllable." "Very good! That's exactly how the word is pronounced." "But what does it mean? "When you are 'in cahoots with someone', you are conspiring with another person. You are scheming or plotting with someone to get something." "An expression with a very negative meaning!" "You could say that. The two individuals are up to no good." "I've been told that the Principal is in cahoots with the dealer who supplies our school with computers." "I understand that some of our Ministers are in cahoots with organised crime." "Given the kind of politicians we have, the news shouldn't surprise anyone. What are you going to do about Hemant?" "I really don't know. I seem to have fouled my own nest by complaining to the boss about him." "Fouled your own nest? What does it mean?" "When you foul your own nest, you end up harming or hurting yourself." "I see. It's not surprising that Yuktha wasn't promoted. She fouled her own nest by spreading wild rumours about her boss."

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"Uday complains that his wife doesn't respect him. He fouled his own nest by constantly making fun of her in front of others. And now, she..." "Now, she has beef with him!" *** "A woman in love can't be reasonable - or she probably wouldn't be in love." What is the difference between co brother and brother in law? People in India, especially South India, use the terms co-brother and co-brother-in-law to refer to ones wifes sisters husband. Native speakers of English do not use these terms. Instead, they prefer to use brother-in-law. This term is usually used to refer to ones wifes brother, or ones sisters husband. It can also be used to refer to ones wifes sisters husband. In the past, the plural of brother-in-law was brothers-in-law. Nowadays, brother-in-laws is also being used. Which is correct: He is taller than me or I? Both are correct. Old grammar books, however, would claim that the correct option is `I' and not `me'. The understood meaning is, `He is taller than I am.' Although sentences like `He is taller than I' and `She is smaller than he' are grammatically correct, they sound rather bookish. Native speakers of English do not consider them to be idiomatic. This explains why in everyday conversation, native speakers say, `He is taller than me' and `She is smaller than him.' What is the difference between `lonesome' and `lonely'? Most dictionaries claim, that in terms of meaning, there is no difference between the two words. `Lonely' is preferred by the British, while the Americans prefer `lonesome'. When someone is `lonely' or `lonesome', he is very unhappy because he is alone. *Sharada called up her parents to tell them how lonely/ lonesome she was. *I'll go with you. I don't wish to spend a lonesome/ lonely evening at home What is the meaning of `many a mickle makes a muckle'? This is an old Scottish saying, meaning, when small amounts are put together, they add up to a big amount. The interesting thing is that the two words, `mickle' and muckle', are actually variants of each other. They originally meant `amount'. With the passage to time, the words began to acquire a different meaning. Mickle began to mean `small amount', and `muckle', `large amount'! What is the meaning of bucket list'? It is a wish list. Some people, as they get older, draw up a list of things they wish to do before they die: this may include places they would like to see, people they would like to meet again, etc. The list of things that the individual wants to do before he actually kicks the bucket is called bucket list'.

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The expression comes from the title of a film starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. *I have one more thing to add to my bucket list. What is the meaning of splitsville'? This is an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts in American English. When you tell someone that you are splitting', you mean that you are leaving. Therefore when you say splitsville', you mean that you are exiting quickly or escaping. *In movies, by the time the detectives arrive, the crooks are splitsville. When a couple splits, they break up or separate. The expression splitsville' can also be used to refer to a breakup or separation. *If you ask me, their relationship is headed for splitsville. ****** It was very good of God to let Carlyle and Mrs. Carlyle marry one another, and so make only two people miserable, instead of four. Know Your English My mom tells me your nephew will be spending a week with you. Wow, news really travels fast around here. It certainly does. Tell me, what's your nephew like? Oh, you two will get along famously. Like you, he's a confirmed vidiot. Did you just call me an idiot? I didn't say, idiot'. I said, vidiot'. What does it mean? What is it that you do most of the time? Play video games, of course. And that's what a vidiot does as well. He plays video games all the time. You could say that he is addicted to video games. The word is a combination of video and idiot. Many of my friends are vidiots. A vidiot is also someone whose intelligence level has decreased because he has been constantly playing video games or watching too much TV. If you ask me, the younger generation is full of vidiots.

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I don't agree with that at all. Your friend Harish is a vidiot, isn't he? He certainly is. He is waiting for approval from corporate to buy some new game. I believe it's really expensive. Approval from corporate! You mean your company allows you to buy video games? Of course, not! The expression approval from corporate' is used to refer to one's significant other. The spouse who controls the purse strings. So in Harish's case, it's his wife who looks after the finances. Therefore, he has to get her approval before he buys anything. Exactly! Usha is waiting for approval from corporate to buy a new sofa set for the house. Do you think she'll get approval from corporate? What do you think Raghu will say? I don't know. Getting approval from the likes of Raghu is like herding cats. I've heard of people herding cows, not cats. One can round up cows quite easily. But cats are rather difficult. Getting all of them to move in the same direction is next to impossible. Therefore when you say that something is like herding cats, it means that you are trying to achieve the impossible. You are attempting to perform an impossible task. Good job. Getting my boss to commit to something is like herding cats. How about this example? Getting our students to hand in their project on time is like herding cats. Sounds good. Did your cousin manage to get to Delhi? Yes, he did. Apparently, he travelled for some time in the pantry car. That must have been pretty exciting. Did he get to eat a lot of bread? Bread! What are you talking about? The word pantry comes from the Latin panis' meaning, bread'. I see. So a pantry is a place where people make bread. Exactly. And a companion was... It also has the word pan' in it. As I was saying, a companion was someone with whom you shared your bread.

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Really? Hey, there's some bread on the table. Can I be your companion for the day? I don't share my panis' with vidiots like you! How is the word ersatz' pronounced? There seem to be different ways of pronouncing this German word. The er' can be pronounced like the word air', and the following s' like the z' in zip' and zoo'. The final syllable, atz', sounds like the ats' in bats', rats', and cats'. One way of pronouncing the word is AIR-zats with the stress on the first syllable. Some people, however, put the stress on the second. The word comes from the German ersetzen' meaning to replace', and in English, the word is used to mean substitute'. Since the replacement is usually much inferior to the original, the word ersatz is used to show disapproval. *I'm told that during the war, my grandmother had to make do with ersatz chocolates and coffee. What is the meaning and origin of stalking horse'? When you stalk' someone or something, you follow the person or animal very closely without being spotted. You do this in order to track, catch or kill the individual/animal. Now, let's deal with the origin of the idiom. In the old days, when people went hunting for birds, they took a well trained horse with them. They did this because they found whenever a solitary animal like a horse or cow approached the birds, they didn't fly away. On the other hand, whenever a human being was seen approaching, the birds promptly flew away. In order to trick the birds into believing that it was only a solitary animal walking around, hunters trained their horses to walk very slowly and noiselessly towards the quarry. The hunter walked alongside the animal, and ensured he stayed out of sight by keeping low. When he was within range of the prey, he came out of hiding, and proceeded to kill the birds. In this case, it wasn't the horse that was doing the stalking; it was being used to divert the attention of the birds. The hunter was using the animal as a decoy. Something that is used to disguise one's true intention or objective is usually referred to as stalking horse'. The idiom is quite frequently used in politics and business. A candidate who is put forward by a party in order to split the opposition is often referred to as a stalking horse'. This person may also be someone whose name has been proposed in order to conceal the candidacy of a much more important figure. *The party leader wanted me to play the stalking horse. What is the difference between former' and erstwhile'? First, let's deal with the pronunciation of erstwhile'. The first syllable erst' rhymes with the words burst' and first', and the second sounds like the word while'. The word is pronounced ERST-while' with the stress on the first syllable, and it comes from the Old English erst' meaning before' and while' meaning time'. The word literally means of former time'. In terms of meaning, there is no difference between erstwhile' and former'. Of the two, erstwhile is considered old fashioned, and is mostly used in rather formal contexts. Some books on English usage claim that erstwhile' is a pretentious' word for former' and is best avoided. *Gayathri, my erstwhile colleague, has become the Vice President of the new company.

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*** If you understand English, press 1. If you do not understand English, press 2. Australian Tax Helpline What is the meaning of the expression scrimp and save'? When you scrimp on something', you attempt to save money by spending less than what is required on it. If a company scrimps on security during times of recession, it is reducing the amount that it normally spends on security, and in the process putting the company at risk. The idiom, scrimp and save' means to economise'. You spend very little money on things, so that you can save up enough in order to buy something that you really want. You wish to spend the money that you have so carefully saved on something that is fairly expensive. The expression pinch and scrape' has the same meaning. *The young couple scrimped and saved to buy a motorcycle. What is the meaning of shoulder surfing'? Nowadays, whenever we go out, we not only need to be on the lookout for the pickpocket, but also the shoulder surfer'. This person will stand behind you, and look over your shoulder to see what numbers you are punching in when you take money from the ATM. He will also frequent cybercafs, stand behind people while they are typing in their password. The word shoulder surfer' is frequently used in computer security to refer to people who use such observational techniques to get information about others. ****** I hope you go before me because I don't want you singing at my funeral. Spike Milligan What is the difference between a prolonged meeting' and a protracted' one? Both words are used to refer to the duration of something. Of the two, prolonged' may be considered a neutral term. If you have a prolonged meeting', you have a lengthy meeting; a meeting which went on longer than expected. Perhaps there were many items on the agenda, as a result of which the meeting went on for a long time. The use of prolong' suggests that there might have been reasons why the meeting was extended. Protracted', on the other hand, is usually used to show disapproval. It suggests that the duration of the meeting was needlessly extended. The meeting was drawn out to such an extent that it was tedious. Which is correct: Revathi is engaged to/with Ravi? Just as one is married to someone', and not married with someone', one is always engaged to' someone, and not engaged with' someone. It is also possible to be engaged in something'. *The young couple were engaged in a heated argument with the hotel manager. What is the meaning and origin of to go haywire'?

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This is an expression which is mostly used in informal contexts. When you say that something has gone haywire, you mean that it has stopped functioning or working properly. It has become rather erratic. *Rajeev tells me that Gayathri's old computer has gone haywire. *When a person goes haywire, he goes slightly crazy; he becomes confused and starts behaving oddly. *When he didn't get the promotion, Harish went haywire A haywire' was a thin piece of wire that was used by farmers to bind together bales of hay. The hay was rolled, and a haywire was used to tie the bundle together tightly. It was wound so tightly that when the wire was cut, it behaved in an unpredictable manner: sometimes, it would spring back at the person cutting the wire, injuring him in the process. According to some scholars, this is the origin of the expression. Is it okay to say, The student was impersonating as a police officer'? No, it isn't. When you impersonate someone, you make an attempt to deceive other people by pretending to be someone you are not. This is just one of the meanings of the word. You always impersonate someone'. You do not impersonate as someone'. *The terrorist tried to impersonate a police officer. ****** He had the sort of face that makes you realize God does have a sense of humour. Bill Bryson What is the meaning of put a hex on someone'? Whenever the home team plays at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad, it always loses. The Deccan Chargers haven't won a single game there, and neither has the Indian cricket team. Some people believe that the vasthu' is all wrong, while others think that someone has put a hex on the stadium. In other words, someone has put a curse or a spell on the stadium. A few months ago, the Hyderabad Cricket Association performed a puja to remove the curse. It seems to have worked, because the Deccan Chargers have started winning on their home ground. The only problem is, the team is not playing in Hyderabad anymore; it has moved to Cuttack! *Sania has lost in the first round again. I wonder if someone has put a hex on her. What is the meaning of rambunctious'? First, let's deal with the pronunciation of this word. The first syllable rhymes with the words dam', ham', and Sam', while the second is pronounced like the word bunk'. The ct' is like the sh' in ship' and shape', and the iou' is like the a' in china'. The word is pronounced ram-BUNK-shes' with the stress on the second syllable. When you refer to a child or a puppy as being rambunctious, you mean that they are full of youthful energy, and therefore

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somewhat difficult to control. The word can also be used to mean very noisy and disorderly. Some people say that the word is an alteration of rumbustious'. *The rambunctious entertainer collapsed during the first scene. *There was a lot of drinking, and it wasn't surprising that the students became rambunctious. KNOW YOUR ENGLISH What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be studying for your final exams? I'm taking a break. What's that in your hand? A novel. Life isn't fair at all. I have to study, while you get to read a novel. You don't need to feel jealous. The novel is nothing to write home about! Nothing to write home about? Does it mean it's not very good? When you say that something is nothing to write home about', you mean that it is mediocre. It's not something to get excited about. In other words, it's not as good as you'd expected it to be. Supriya's party was nothing to write home about. Good example. I got a raise yesterday, but it's nothing to write home about. You got a raise? Then we must celebrate. Let's go to that new restaurant on MG Road. Let's do that after your exams. After my exams! All my friends would have visited the place by then. They Why are you so hung up on eating in new restaurants? What does hung up on' mean? It means to be obsessed. You are constantly thinking about the thing or person. Can I say, my friend Ramesh is hung up on Kajol? He just can't get her off his mind. That's a very good example. Don't know if Ajay Devgan will be happy about it, though. Quite a few politicians in our country are hung up on getting statues of themselves made. These are people who probably didn't play statue when they were kids.

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You may have a point there. Now then, you'd better... I'm hung up on new restaurants because I love eating good food. That's not true. You never really enjoy what you are eating. You order something, and then when you see what someone else is eating, you have dish envy. Dish envy? Does it mean being envious of something that someone else is eating? Very good! Dish envy is something that we experience all the time. I order a plate of idli, and you order a butter masala dosa. When your dosa comes, I feel I should have ordered dosa too. I feel that my idli is inferior to your dosa. It's true that I feel dish envy once in a while. But it's not... All of us have experienced the anguish of dish envy sometime or the other. That's true. Anyway, tell me, what's the novel about? It's like a typical Indian movie. Boy meets girl. Boy is poor, girl is rich. They fall in love, yada yada yada. Yada yada yada? Never heard that expression before. It means, so on and so forth. It's an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts. I see. So, when you say yada yada yada', you mean that everything else is understood. That's right! The listener can figure things out for himself because everything is so obvious. Every time I show my report card to my father, he tells me the same thing. That I should get up early in the morning, be more disciplined, work much harder...yada yada yada. All parents give such lectures. You will too when you have kids. *** I hate to spread rumours, but what else can one do with them? Amanda Lear What is the difference between alongwith' and along with'? The main difference is that the word alongwith' does not exist. It is always written as two words, and not as one. If you find it written as one word, it means the editor fell asleep while going through the article. The children, along with their two teachers, went to the zoo. ***

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I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough. Mark Twain What is the meaning of the expression two to tango'? The complete expression is takes two to tango', and it is mostly used in informal contexts to refer to a bad situation. The tango is a dance form which originated in South America; two people are required to perform this rather intricate dance. When two people find themselves in a bad situation, and you say it takes two to tango', you are implying that both individuals are to be blamed for the current mess they are in. One person alone cannot be held responsible for their present misfortune. Don't blame the fight on me. It takes two to tango, my friend. Ajit believes Sunitha forced his son to elope with her. But you know what they say. It takes two to tango. The expression became popular in the 1950s, thanks to a song by Pearl Bailey. What is the meaning of perspicuous'? First, let's deal with the pronunciation of the word. The e' in the first syllable, and the ou' in the final syllable are like the a' in china'. Spic' rhymes with the words stick', pick', and chick', and the following u' sounds like the letter u'. The word is pronounced pe-SPIK-yues' with the stress on the second syllable. The word comes from the Latin perspicuus' meaning transparent'. When you refer to someone's writing or speech as being perspicuous', you mean it is very clear, and easy to understand. The critics say that he was a writer of perspicuous prose. I don't agree at all. I'm looking for a perspicuous professor who will create an interest among the students. Why do we say o'clock'? What does o' stand for? In the old days, people didn't say six o'clock' or ten o'clock'. When they wanted to indicate the time, they said six of the clock' and ten of the clock'. The expression of the clock' was used to mean according to the clock'. With the passage of time, the definite article the' was dropped; later of' was reduced to o'. So, when you say o'clock', what you are actually saying is of clock'. What is the difference between memento' and souvenir'? Let's deal with the pronunciation of souvenir' first. The ou' in the first syllable is like the oo' in pool' and cool', and the e' in the second is like the a' in china'. The final syllable is pronounced like the word near'. The word is pronounced soo-ve-NEAR' with the stress on the final syllable. It comes from the Latin subvenire' meaning come to mind'. When we visit a well-known place, we usually buy souvenirs'. For example, when people visit Agra, they usually buy picture postcards or a replica of the Taj. These things will later remind them of their trip to Agra. Souvenirs are usually manufactured on a large scale, and visitors to the place spend money on them. Most places of tourist attraction have Souvenir Shops'.

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*When we went to Goa, my wife spent a lot of money on souvenirs. A mi-MEN-toe', on the other hand, is not something that you buy. It is usually an object given to you by an individual, and you keep it in order to remember the person. Some people, for example, keep their grandfather's watch or pen as a memento. A memento' can also be an object like a stone or a leaf, something which you have picked up and not bought during a trip. The word comes from the Latin meminisse' meaning to remember'. *The coloured stone is a memento of our trip to Scotland Know Your English Congratulations! I understand your neighbour has become the Vice Chancellor. Everyone in your building must be really proud of her. I'm not so sure. Someone said the only reason she's become a VC is because she has friends in high places. I understand my neighbour excels in the art of brown-nosing. Brown-nosing? Is it a kind of art that someone with a brown nose excels in? A brown-noser is someone who flatters people in order to get his work done. In other words, he is a sycophant. He does everything possible to keep those in power, happy. Exactly! Sumitra keeps brown-nosing all the time, but her boss ignores it. Brown-nosing doesn't get one very far with my boss either. She puts a brown-noser in his place. Have you congratulated the new VC? I stealth-called her about an hour ago. A stealth-call! Never heard that expression before. There are times when someone leaves a message on your cell asking you to call back. You don't actually feel like doing it... Because you're not interested in speaking to the person. Exactly! So, what do you do? You ring her when you know that she won't be able to take your call. This morning, I saw that several TV news channels had come to interview my neighbour. I stealth-called her then! That was rather mean of you. You must congratulate her in person. And don't forget to buy her a gift.

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I plan to get her something that won't break the bank. Break the bank? What are you talking about? If you break the bank in order to buy something, you spend a lot of money on it. The thing that you are buying is so expensive that you end up spending all your savings. That's right! You have no money left. You exhaust your resources. It'll hardly break the bank if you buy her a dozen roses. You have a point there. My uncle is planning on sending his son to study in the U.S. He says it'll break the bank to do it. I don't like to spend money. But I guess an occasional movie and dinner won't break the bank. That's a good example. Now then,... Has your cousin graduated? Not yet. He's still a graduand. A what? G..r..a..d..u..a..n..d. The first two syllables are pronounced like the word graduate', and the final syllable like the word and'. So the word is pronounced GRA-ju-and. But what does it mean? A graduand is someone who is about to graduate. He has completed all the necessary formalities. In other words, he has finished his course work, and written the exams. He's... He's finished all that. He hasn't been awarded his degree as yet. He hasn't taken part in the formal ceremony that... Formal ceremony? Oh, you mean where people wear those ridiculous caps and gowns? *** A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that individuality' is the key to success. Robert Orben

The Hindu 2010 Word What is the meaning of the be-all and end-all'?
The expression the be-all and end-all' is mostly used in informal contexts to mean the most important thing; the only thing that matters. *Vinita's adopted children have become the be-all-and end-all of her existence. *My uncle believes that profit should not become the be-all and end-all of business. Shakespeare is believed to have coined this expression in his tragedy Macbeth'. The hero, Macbeth, realises that the only way he can become the King of Scotland is by killing Duncan. Macbeth says, that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all'.

Which is correct: whereabouts are/is?

The word whereabouts' can be used either as a noun or an adverb. When used as a noun, it means, the place where a person or a thing is'. The word can be followed by a singular or a plural verb. *The whereabouts of the famous film star is/are unknown. The word can also be used to mean in what area or location'. *Whereabouts in Hyderabad does the author live? *Whereabouts did the buffoon find the treasure?

What is the difference between utensil' and vessel'?

The word utensil' comes from the Latin utensilia' meaning things for use'. It is an umbrella term for anything that can be used in the kitchen: a plate can be called a utensil, and so can a cup and a spoon. A vessel', on the other hand, is usually a hollow container which is used to hold liquids or other things. Cups, bowls, and pitchers are all vessels. Milk and water are usually boiled in vessels. All vessels are utensils, but not all utensils are vessels.

Does the name Ferrari' mean anything?

Till a couple of years ago, whenever we heard this name, we immediately thought of Michael Schumacher and Formula One racing. Enzo Ferrari was the man who came up with the idea of Scuderria Ferrari' or Team Ferrari'. The name Ferrari', like the name Smith' in the U.S and the U.K, is a very common family name in Italy. It comes from the Italian word ferraro' meaning blacksmith'.

KNOW Y0UR ENGLISH

How was dinner last night? We decided not to go to the new restaurant. We had dinner here.

The Hindu 2010 Word

Your friend Rahul had a vegetarian meal! Unbelievable! Rahul has been an economic vegetarian for a month now. I know what vegetarian means. But what does economic vegetarian' mean? Someone who is forced to become a vegetarian because he cannot afford meat. I see. When Guhan lost his job, he decided to become an economic vegetarian. Several months ago, when there was talk of job cuts, a few of my friends became economic vegetarians. That's understandable. They must have been... What are you doing here so early? Don't you remember? Our college elections. I am... Oh, that's right! You must be pumped for the elections. What are the chances of... Pumped for the elections? What do you mean by that? When you say you're pumped for' or pumped up for' something, you mean that you are tense and at the same time very excited about something. I see. In other words, you are nervous and at the same time eager. Like a player before a big match. Exactly! Our captain says that the team is pumped up for Sunday's big game. Unfortunately, our Indian team never seemed pumped up for any of its matches. Well, according to the coach, our overpaid underachievers were only pumped up for the IPL matches. Don't forget the parties. The waistline and double chin of some players make that pretty obvious. Tell me, why pump up'? What is being pumped? I understand it is adrenaline. Do you think your candidate has the smarts to win the election? Smarts? You mean smart', don't you? No, I mean smarts'. The word is frequently used in informal contexts to mean intelligence'. I definitely have the smarts, but not the confidence. How does that sound? Terrible. What's wrong with the example? You don't have the smarts. You know it, and I know it. Not very funny, I'm afraid. Have you finished your project?

The Hindu 2010 Word

Almost. We're on the home stretch. Home stretch? Does it mean you're almost done? That's right. When you say you're on the home stretch, it means you're in the final stages of something. It could be a journey, a project, a... Ok, ok, I understand. Pankaj told me he is on the home stretch with his dissertation. Another two weeks, and he'll be done. Wow, that was quick. He must have spent the last two months writing. It is also possible to say, in the stretch'. We would have arrived earlier, but our car broke down in the stretch. What does home stretch' refer to? The expression comes from the world of horse racing. The distance between the last turning on the race track and the finish line is called the home stretch'. Do you think your candidate will win? Not sure. He is trailing right now. Let's hope he moves ahead in the stretch. ******* Gossip is what you say about the objects of flattery when they aren't present. P.J. O'Rourke

What is the difference between a homophone' and a homonym'?

First, let's begin with the pronunciation of the two words. The o' in the first syllable is like the o' in hot', got', and pot', while the o' in the second is like the a' in china'. The words are pronounced HO-me-fone' and Ho-me-nim'; in both cases, the stress is on the first syllable. Though there is a difference in meaning between the two words, people tend to use them interchangeably. Homophone' comes from the Greek homo' meaning same' and phone' meaning sound'. Careful users of the language use the term to refer to words which sound alike, but have a different spelling and meaning. Examples of homophones are: bear, bare; fair, fare; and where, were. A homonym, on the other hand, is used to refer to words which have the same spelling and pronunciation, but have a different meaning. For example, ball' (dance), ball' (something to play with), ruler (scale), ruler (king), and rock (music), rock (stone). This subtle distinction is seldom maintained in everyday conversation; of the two, homonym' seems to be the preferred term.

What is the difference between stumble over' and stumble on'?

When you stumble over something or someone, you trip over the object or person. You lose your balance; you may or may not end up falling. At the party, Harish stumbled over the chair and fell into the swimming pool. There are several people sleeping in the drawing room. Don't stumble over any of them. The expression stumble on' can also be used to mean to trip over someone or something.

The Hindu 2010 Word

Gayathri stumbled on the step and hurt herself quite badly. When we find something quite accidentally, we can say, we stumbled on/upon it. The expression can be used with people as well. The children were looking for the ball when they stumbled on the cute puppy.

How is the word trenchant' pronounced?

The first syllable rhymes with the words French', drench', and wrench'. The following a' is like the a' in china'. The word is pronounced TRENCH-ent' with the stress on the first syllable. It comes from the Old French trenchier' meaning to cut'. When someone presents a trenchant argument, he makes one which is forceful or vigorous. The word can also be used to mean caustic' or critical'. *The writer's trenchant argument for a unified state made interesting reading.

What is the meaning of annus horribilus'?

First, let's deal with the pronunciation of this Latin expression. The first syllable of annus' is pronounced like the name Ann', while the second sounds like the word us'. The o' in horribilus is like the o' in hot' and got', while the following i' is like the ee' in fees', sees', and bees'. The i' and the u' in the final two syllables are like the i' in kit', kid', and sit'. The expression is pronounced ANN-us ho-REE-bi-lis. It literally means horrible year'. *According to experts, 2009 was an annus horribilus for the corporate sector. The opposite of this expression is annus mirabilis' meaning year of wonders'.

What is the difference between fragile' and frail'?

Both words come from the Latin fragilis' meaning easily broken'. The word fragile' can be used with both things and people. When you say that the contents of a box are fragile, it means that the things inside are rather delicate and can be easily broken. The contents need to be handled with care. *Please don't let Madhav handle any of the fragile plates. When used with people, the word means physically or emotionally weak. *Don't make fun of her. She's very fragile. The English pronounce the final ile' like the ile' in mile', while', and pile'. The Americans pronounce the i' like the a' in china'. In both cases, the stress is on the first syllable. Frail' is used with people, usually old, who are in poor health. When used with things, it refers to objects which can be easily damaged. *After two weeks in hospital, Janaki was too frail to climb the stairs. *Given the frail economy, it is not surprising that people are not investing.

The Hindu 2010 Word What is the meaning and origin of clean bill of health'?
When you visit the doctor and he gives you a clean bill of health, you should be happy because it is an assurance that there is nothing wrong with you physically. The doctor is informing you that you are in the pink of health! When used with things, the idiom means that the object is in good condition. *Of the 20 buildings inspected, only four were given a clean bill of health. The bill' in the idiom has nothing to do with the amount of money you have to pay the doctor. Such bills seldom bring happiness! In the old days, the captain of a ship was handed over a document by the port authority which certified that there was no infection or epidemic at the port from which the vessel set sail. This document was called the Bill of Health and unless it was presented at the next port, the ship was refused entry.

Who or what is a fax potato'?

We have several different types of potatoes these days. A couch potato' is someone who sits in a chair or a sofa and watches TV all day; he eats and drinks sitting in front of the tube. A mouse potato' is someone who spends his time sitting in front of a computer, surfing the web. A fax potato', another addition to the growing list of human potatoes, is someone who specialises in sending faxes to people: the receiver may be less than a hundred feet away, but instead of getting out of his chair and talking to the person concerned, he sends him/her a fax. Like the couch potato, the fax potato is rather lazy and remains glued to his seat.

What is the meaning and origin of wing it'?

The expression is mostly used in informal contexts. When you get up on stage and wing it', you give an impromptu speech. You have had no time to prepare, and therefore end up speaking extemporaneously. The expression has more or less the same meaning as off the cuff'. Shanthi left her notes in the taxi. In class, she had to wing it. The expression comes from the world of theatre. The sides of a stage which cannot be seen by the members of the audience are called wings'. Actors often wait here before they make their entry. Sometimes, actors go on stage without really knowing their lines. In such circumstances, they depend on the prompters hiding in the wings to whisper the lines to them. If they cannot hear the prompter, they make up their lines. They wing it!

What is the difference between momentary' and momentous'?

Something that is momentary' lasts for a very short period of time. The word is pronounced MO-men-tri' with the stress on the first syllable. There was a momentary pause before the child started screaming again. The word can also be used to mean constant' or present at every moment'. Revathi lived in momentary fear of being found out. Momentous', on the other hand, means very important. When you make a momentous decision, you make one which has serious consequences.

The Hindu 2010 Word

The signing of the treaty was a momentous occasion for both countries. The word is pronounced me-MEN-tes' with the stress on the second syllable.

Is it okay to say, His condition got deteriorated on Saturday'?

Careful users of the language would avoid using got' with deteriorate'. If you are keen on using the word got', you can say, His condition got worse on Saturday'. The ageing star's condition suddenly deteriorated on Sunday. *** Balancing the budget is like going to heaven. Everybody wants to do it, but nobody wants to do what you have to do to get there. Phil Gramm

Is it okay to say, `She was terminated by her publisher'?

In terms of grammar, there is nothing wrong with the sentence. It suggests that this person was killed by her publisher! Of course, given the times we are living in, authors getting bumped off by their publisher wouldn't be considered unusual. If you want to say that the publisher didn't kill, but merely fired the individual, then the sentence should be written in the following manner: `Her services were terminated by her publisher.' Not all publishers are like Arnold Schwarzenegger; they are not `Terminator(s)'.

What is the difference between `nervous' and `edgy'?

A person who is nervous or edgy is tense or worried about something. Of the two, `nervous' is the more general term. Someone who is nervous need not necessarily show that he is worried about something. He may be outwardly very calm, but on the inside, he may be extremely agitated. A person who is `edgy' shows he is worried; the tension is there for all to see. He is anxious and is therefore very irritable. Small things set him off; he may argue or fight with those around him. *Gayathri said she was nervous, but she certainly didn't look it during the presentation. *The soldiers were edgy as they waited for their orders from the Captain.

What is the meaning and origin of `turncoat'?

In India, when a politician is denied a `ticket' to contest in an election, he usually quits the party, and joins another. People who switch allegiances or change their opinion radically whenever they find it convenient to do so are called `turncoats'. The word is mostly used to show disapproval. *Why would you want that political turncoat to preside? In the old days in Europe, people used to wear reversible coats. When one side of the coat became dirty, the owner turned the coat inside out and wore it. According to one story, it was the Duke of Saxony who made the word `turncoat' popular. This individual lived very close to the French border, and therefore made it a point to keep both the Saxons and the French in good humour. The Duke's reversible coat was blue on one side, and white on the other. Traditionally, blue was the colour of the Saxons. Whenever a Frenchman visited his place, the Duke was seen wearing a white coat. When he wanted to please the Saxons, the Duke turned the coat inside out, and wore the blue side

The Hindu 2010 Word Is it okay to say, bouquet of flowers'?

Some people would argue that of flowers' is unnecessary because bouquet means an attractive arrangement of flowers. But there is nothing wrong in saying bouquet of flowers'. The ou' in the first syllable, by the way, is like the oo' in fool', cool', and school'. The following q' is like the k' in king' and kiss', and the final uet' rhymes with say' and bay'. The word is pronounced boo-KAY' with the stress on the secondsyllable.

What is the meaning and origin of windfall'?

The amount of money that you win or receive from someone rather unexpectedly is called windfall'. It's a sudden stroke of luck. *When Gayathri visited her uncle after her marriage, she got a windfall of Rs. 75000. Fruit that falls down from a tree because of heavy wind is also called windfall. In this context, we can also say windfalls'. *Sameer's garden was covered with windfalls. In the old days in England, landowners were not allowed to cut down trees which were on their property. The law stipulated that all trees were the property of the Royal Navy, and the wood was to be used in the building of ships. If however, heavy wind made a tree fall, the windfall' became the owner's property. Since in the old days such windfall' was not common, the word began to mean unexpected good fortune.

What is the difference between demise' and death'?

While both words mean end or ending of life', demise is mostly used in formal contexts to refer to the death of someone or something very important or well known. One usually talks about the demise of a Prime Minister or a celebrity; the word is seldom used with ordinary people. *The sudden demise of the Prime Minister created a political vacuum. The word can also be used to indicate the failure of an enterprise. *The demise of the well-known company had many investors worried. Death' is a much more general term, and unlike demise', can be used with things and animals. *Neelam became very upset when she heard about the death of her puppy. *It was the death of all her plans.

Know your english

What is the meaning of New York minute? An extremely short period of time. It's actually less than a minute. It took the students less than a New York minute to find a solution to the problem. The new CEO arrived at a decision in a New York minute.

The Hindu 2010 Word

Tell me what you want. I'll give you a New York minute. But why New York and not some other city? When people from other cities came to New York in the late 19 {+t} {+h} century, they found that life in this city was extremely fast. New Yorkers seemed to be constantly rushing from one place to another without having any time to relax. It's the same feeling that some of us have today when we visit Mumbai. Anyway, did you take a look at the document I gave you? Are the instructions clear? The instructions are clear as mud. Clear as mud? But mud isn't very clear. It isn't, and that's the point. When you say something is clear as mud, you mean it isn't clear at all. So what you are saying is that the instructions are difficult or impossible to understand. Exactly! The directions that Sujatha gave to reach her house were clear as mud. I've read his chapter twice, and it's as clear as mud to me. Alok's presentation was clear as mud. Talking about mud, there is some good news! The weatherman says we'll have a heavy downpour tomorrow. If the weatherman says that, it'll probably rain kittens and puppies. Kittens and puppies? You mean cats and dogs, don't you? When you say it's raining cats and dogs, you mean that it is pouring or raining heavily. When the rain is light, it is possible to say... You can say that it's raining kittens and puppies. That's right! Now then... Does the expression really exist or are you trying to fool me? The expression does exist. I see. How about this example, then? Forget the umbrella, it's just raining kittens and puppies. That's a good example. To solve the water problem, we need it to rain cats and dogs. Not kittens and puppies. That's true. By the way, why are you home so early? Not well or something? I'm fine. I've taken a couple of days off.

The Hindu 2010 Word

You've taken a couple of days off! That's rather unusual. What do you plan on doing? I'll probably be kicking it at home. Kicking it? Looks like the World Cup fever has got to you too. You'll be kicking the ball around... No, no, no! When you say you'll be kicking it, you mean you'll be relaxing. In other words, you'll be chilling at home. I guess you could say that. For example, after a hectic two weeks, the champion kicked it on the beach with his family. My friends and I are kicking it at the mall tomorrow. Would you like to join us? You must be joking. Arvind's new job doesn't allow him to kick it in the mornings. That's too bad. Yes, it certainly is. *** I just need enough to tide me over until I need more. Bill Hoest

TILL 12 JULY