What is the meaning of "pie in the sky"?
(B. Narayan, Koilpathi)
If you come up with a plan and someone says that it is nothing more than pie in the sky, what he means is that though the plan looks good on paper, it is unlikely to succeed. In other words, your plans will never be realised. A pie in the sky is the reward that you are hoping to get some time in the future. Chances are it will not happen. This is an expression mostly used in informal contexts.
*Rajeev's plans of setting up his own business are nothing more than pie in the sky.
*Jai's ideas about reforming the tax system are nothing more than pie in the sky.
It is believed that the expression was made popular in the U.S. by the radical labour union organiser, Joe Hill.
How is the word "incommunicado" pronounced?
(G. K. Karthigaikumara, Delhi)
The first syllable is like the word "in" and the following three syllables sound like the first three syllable of the word "communicate". The "a" sounds like the "a" in "bath", "path", and "half"; and the final "o" is like "o" in "go", "so", and "no". The main stress is on the fifth syllable "ca".
When you are held incommunicado, you are not allowed to be in contact with others. You are kept in a place where you cannot see or talk to anyone. It's like being in solitary confinement. Very often, people choose to be incommunicado. In this case, they do not wish to be disturbed by others; they want to be left alone.
*I am told that many prisoners are held incommunicado.
*Yogesh has gone to some remote village. He will be incommunicado for a few days.
*Till I finish this project, I wish to be incommunicado.
*Benazir Bhutto was held incommunicado few days earlier.
What does "netizen" mean?
(I. Pattabhi, Mangalore)
We all know what "citizen" means. Well, a "netizen" is a citizen of the Internet; he is a citizen of the Internet community. The word was coined by Michael Hauben in 1992. Another word which has the same meaning is "cybercitizen".
Is it OK to say, "Cut jokes in class"?
(K. C. Vasudevan, Kozhikode)
In India everyone "cuts" jokes. Native speakers of English, however, do not use the word "cut" with jokes. They prefer to "tell", "crack", or "share" a joke.
What's the difference between "He is honest" and "He is being honest"?
(T. Rajendran, Poovathadi)
The first sentence implies that he is a trustworthy individual. Honesty is ingrained in him; it is not something temporary. He is a dependable being, one who doesn't lie. When you say that he is being honest, what you are implying is that he is telling the truth in this particular case. For example, if you say, "Radha is being honest about the incident," what you are saying is as far as the incident is concerned she is telling the truth. She may not be telling the truth about other things, but as far as the incident goes, she is. Radha may not tell the truth all the time, but she is telling the truth in this case.
What is the difference between "contagious" and "infectious"?
(A. R. N. Mani, Trichy)
A disease that is "contagious" is usually passed on from one individual to another through touch — the contact could be with the individual who has the disease, or with an object that the individual has touched. Measles and chicken pox, I am told, are contagious.
"Infectious" suggests that the disease is either air-borne or water-borne; one doesn't need to be in direct contact with the infected individual. The germs that invade your body multiply, causing the body to become weak. Both words can be used figuratively as well.
For example, one can talk about "infectious enthusiasm" or "contagious enthusiasm". You can also refer to someone's laughter being "contagious" or "infectious". In both these cases, the words can be used interchangeably.