KNOW YOUR ENGLISH

Q. What is the meaning of "run with the hare and hunt with the hounds"? (N.Vijayaselvam, Srivilliputtur)

ANS: Very often when two people have an argument, they go to a third person and ask him to be a judge. If the person is timid and is afraid to take a decision, he will end up saying that both parties are in the right. He will support both sides of the argument because he doesn't want to hurt the feelings of his friends; sometimes, he does this with an ulterior motive in mind. This desire to be on friendly terms with both warring factions by supporting their arguments is what we mean by the expression, "running with the hare and hunting with the hounds." The individual is trying to be both the rabbit (hare) and the dog (hound). He wants to be the hunted as well the hunter; and this is just not possible. This idiom is considered rather old fashioned.
*Latha is a very clever person. She runs with the hare and hunts with the hounds.

Q. Is there a difference in meaning between "between "amuse" and "bemuse"?
(Jayashree, Pune)

ANS: Yes, there is a difference — a big difference. The two words are not synonymous, as some people believe. When something "amuses" an individual, it makes him laugh or smile. He finds it funny or entertaining.
*The principal found the comments made by the students very amusing.
"Bemuse", unlike amuse, has nothing to do with making people laugh. When you are "bemused" by something, you are bewildered by it. It leaves you confused or puzzled. For example,
*When the stranger walked into the classroom, the children looked at her with a bemused expression.

What is the meaning of "lost in the shuffle"? (L. Keshav, Hyderabad)

ANS: This is an expression that comes from the world of card games and is mostly used in American English. When you shuffle a pack of cards, you mix them up; you don't know where a particular card is. When a plan or an idea gets lost in the shuffle, it doesn't get the attention that it deserves. The expression can be used with reference to people as well.
*In refugee camps, orphans often get lost in the shuffle and are left without food for days.


Q. What is the meaning and origin of `Garrison finish'?
(K. Prabhakar Rao, Tirupati)

ANS: Early this year, our one-day team pulled off a couple of sensational victories. When we thought that the match had been lost, someone or the other did something incredible and helped the team win the match. This come-from-behind victory is called `Garrison finish'.
*It was a Garrison finish. Our team scored three goals in the last two minutes.
The expression comes from the world of horse racing. Edward H. Garrison, nicknamed `Snapper', was a famous American jockey who raced in the late 19th century. He was famous for his spectacular come-from-behind victories. Whenever he participated in a race, Garrison always began by staying at the back of the pack. He made his move (he speeded up his horse) only during the last stretch of the race. Since he always won his races by staying back till the last minute, a come-from-behind victory began to be called `Garrison finish'.

Q. What is the difference between `break a sweat' and `break into a sweat'?
(S. Venunathan, Kozhikode)

ANS: When you do something `without breaking a sweat', you do it without any difficulty. You find the task so easy that you don't have to exert yourself at all; you perform the task very easily or quickly. There is no need for you to sweat.
*Rahul answered all the questions without breaking a sweat.
Another expression that has more or less the same meaning is `no sweat'.
*Listen, I'll carry the two large suitcases. No sweat at all.
When you `break into a sweat', you actually start sweating. And when is it that we begin to sweat? When we exert ourselves or when we are extremely nervous or frightened about something.
*The children broke into a sweat when they heard strange noises coming from the bedroom.
*Uma broke into a sweat when she saw the policeman walking towards her.

Q. What is the difference between `I read your article' and `I did read your article'? (T. Vasanthi, Chidambaram)

ANS: The first sentence is a statement. It could be the reply to the question, `Did you read my article?' The second sentence is what you would tell someone if they didn't believe that you had actually read the article. The `did' is used to add emphasis; you are saying that you have indeed read the article. You are not lying.

Q. Is there such a word as `auto dentist'? (K. Lavanya, Pondicherry)

ANS Yes, the word does exist; it has been around for a few years now. You may be surprised to know that the word `dentist' in this case does not refer to the doctor who looks after people's teeth! As you walk along the road and look at the various parked cars, scooters and motorcycles, what is it that strikes you? What is it that the vehicles have in common? Most of them have `dents'; there are very few cars in India that do not have dents. An `auto dentist' is someone who repairs the dents and other minor damages in cars. Auto means `car' and `dentist' means `one who repairs dents'

Q. How is the word `honcho' pronounced, and what does it mean? (J. Reddy, Chennai)

ANS: The first `o' is pronounced like the `o' in `hot', `pot', and `dot'; the second sounds like the `o' in `so', `go', and `no'. The `ch' is like the `ch' in `chips', `cheap', and `chew'. The main stress is on the first syllable `hon'. The word is considered slang, and is mostly used in American English in informal contexts. It can be used both as a noun and a verb. Anyone who is the boss or the leader can be referred to as a `honcho'. The word is of Japanese origin and can be used with both men and women.
Meera, the top honcho in the accounts department, listened patiently to our problem.
When used as a verb, `honcho' means to manage or direct something.
Did Revathi tell you who is likely to honcho the project?
Amrit is honchoing preparations for the forthcoming seminar.

Q. What is the meaning of `pull the rug from under someone's feet'?
(K. M. Karthik, Vizag)

ANS: If someone were to pull the rug on which you are standing, what do you think is likely to happen? You will probably fall and hurt yourself, and in the process create problems for yourself. When someone pulls the rug from under your feet, what he is doing is taking away the support or help that you have been receiving. By taking away your support rather unexpectedly, he creates all kinds of problems for you.
Prabhu pulled the rug from under his children's feet by denying them their allowance.
The company was losing money. It decided to pull the rug from under the ill-fated project.

Q. Is it okay to say, "It took Mohan six months to recover from his fatal accident"? (B. Akshay, Pune)

ANS: No, it isn't. The word `fatal' usually has a negative connotation. An accident or an illness that is described as `fatal', usually results in the death of an individual. As you probably know, it is difficult for a person to recover from death!
The ailing chief minister suffered a fatal heart attack around midnight.
Several policemen were fatally wounded during the encounter with the militants.
The word `fatal' can also be used to mean `undesirable' or `causing disaster'.
The captain made the fatal mistake of asking Agarkar to bowl the final over.
Sahu's injury proved fatal to our plans of winning the trophy.


S.UPENDRAN