WHAT IS the difference between a "vendor" and a "seller"?
(K. Mubarak, Chennai)
The word "seller" is English in origin, while "vendor" is French. Both were initially used synonymously to refer to someone who sold things.
But nowadays, "vendor" is normally used to refer to people who sell things on the street; "sellers" usually sell things in a shop. For example,
we talk about an ice cream vendor or a vegetable vendor. Native speakers use the term "vendor" to refer to someone who is selling property. A vendor can also be someone who supplies goods and services to other companies. Here are a few examples.
* When I grow up, I want to be an ice cream vendor.
* The vendor of the house wants the contract signed by next Monday.
* Raju's company deals with nearly forty vendors.
"Seller" is a more general word than "vendor". Anyone can be a seller. If I decide to sell my old scooter, I become a seller, not a vendor.
How do you pronounce the word "envelope"?
(A.J. Venkatasubramanyam, Bangalore)
There are two different ways of pronouncing this word. The first syllable can be pronounced like the "en" in "pen", "den", and "hen". The following "e" is like the "a" in "china", while the final syllable rhymes with "hope", "pope", and "joke". Another way is to pronounce the vowel in the first syllable like the "a" in "father", "path", and "bath". In both cases, the main stress is on the first syllable.
The word can also be used as a verb. When used as a verb, it is spelt "envelop". The first syllable, in this case, is pronounced like the word "in", while the following "e" is like the "e" in "wet", "bet", and "set". The final "o" is like the "a" in china; the main stress is on the second syllable. Any idea what the word means?
It means to cover or surround something. Here are a few examples.
* We couldn't see the house because the mist had enveloped it.
* Runa was enveloped in a dress that was obviously too big for her.
* When Atul heard the news, gloom enveloped him.
What is the meaning and origin of the expression "red herring"?
(Ranjeet Gujati, Patna)
Sometimes when you are talking to someone, he/she asks you some very embarrassing questions. What do you normally do in these circumstances? You say something which you hope will distract his/her attention. You try to get the individual to talk about something else. This ploy that you use to divert the individual's attention is called a red herring.
A "red herring" is normally used by people to divert the attention of others from something important; from the central point that is being considered. And who are the people who are well-known for introducing a red herring every now and then? Politicians, of course! 
Here are a few examples.
*
The Minister said that he wouldn't answer the question because it involved national security; but that was a red herring to avoid a discussion of the terrible mistakes he had made.
* The detectives followed all the leads, but unfortunately they were all red herrings.
* The debate was getting really interesting, when unfortunately one of the questions the panelist raised proved to be a bit of a red herring.
A "herring" is a kind of fish. I understand it turns red only when it is "cured" - that is, when it is smoked and salted. The fish emits a very strong smell and in the past criminals made use of it to help them in their bid to escape. Convicts used the herring to help them throw dogs off the scent. Since the herring had a very strong smell, the police dogs followed the scent of the herring rather than that of the escaped convict!
The original expression was "drag a red herring across the trail", but now it's been reduced to "red herring".
How do you greet someone who has just had a baby?
(N. Dharmeshwaran, Guduvancherry)
The normal expression is "congratulations". This is more than sufficient.
