What is the difference between "apposite" and "opposite"?
(Jeetender Singh, Hyderabad)
The two words have totally different meanings. We all know what "opposite" means. When you say that your brother is the opposite of you, what you mean is that he is very different from you.
"Apposite", on the other hand, means "appropriate" or "relevant". When you say that something is apposite, what you are implying is that it is suitable to what is happening or being discussed. The "a" in the first syllable is like the "a" in "apple". The word is considered to be formal. Both "opposite" and "apposite" have the stress on the first syllable.
*The argument that the student came up with was apposite to the case.
*It was Amrit who came up with an apposite title for the book.
What is the meaning and origin of "be at sixes and sevens"?
(G. Annamalai, Cuddalore)
This is an informal expression meaning to be thoroughly confused. It has another meaning as well. When things in and around the house are at sixes and sevens, it means everything is totally disorganised; in general, things are in a mess.
*When the management changed, we were at sixes and sevens for a week.
*We moved in last week. Everything is at sixes and sevens in the apartment.
There are several different explanations as to the origin of the expression. According to one theory, in the 14th century two companies, "Merchant Taylors" and "Skinners" were set up within a few days of each other. Every year all companies in the city of London took part in a procession; the order in which they appeared was determined by the age of the company. The two companies were listed sixth and seventh, but since they were established at about the same time, the organisation in charge of the parade could not figure out which company was to go sixth and which was to go seventh. There was a lot of confusion. The matter was placed before the Mayor, and he decided that the two companies would alternate. The company that went sixth this year would go seventh the following year. This is one theory. Some others believe that the expression comes from the world of gambling — playing dice.
What is the difference between "hoodwink into" and "hoodwink out of"?
(K. Prakash, Madurai)
When you hoodwink someone into doing something you trick him into doing it. For example, salesmen often try to get you to buy things that you do not really need. They trick or hoodwink you into buying things.
*My girlfriend hoodwinked me into cleaning her room.
When you "hoodwink" someone out of something, what you are doing is taking something from him by tricking him. This is what some placement companies do. They promise that they will find a job for you somewhere abroad. They proceed to take a lot of money from you. When you give them the money, they run away with it. They hoodwink you out of your money. We read about such things in newspapers every day.
*Virender tried to hoodwink the old lady out of her savings.