1. How is the word ‘scintillating’ pronounced?
(T. Jayashree, Bangalore)

Many people pronounce the first syllable like the word ‘skin’. This, however, is wrong. The ‘c’ is silent; therefore, the first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘sin’. The ‘i’ in the second syllable is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘kit’, and the ‘lat’ is pronounced like the word ‘late’. The word is pronounced ‘sin-ti-late-ing’ with the stress is on the first syllable.

A conversation that is ‘scintillating’ is witty, interesting and clever. The word comes from the Latin ‘scintillare’ meaning ‘to sparkle’.

*The conversation during the meal was anything but scintillating.


2. What is the meaning and origin of ‘maverick’?
(Pradeep Kumar, Warangal)

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of the word. The first syllable ‘mav’ rhymes with ‘have’, and the ‘rick’ rhymes with ‘trick’ and ‘brick’. The word can be pronounced ‘mav-rick’ with the stress on the first syllable. Some people pronounce the ‘e’ like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. When this happens, the word is pronounced ‘mav-e-rick’, with the stress, once again, on the first syllable.

A maverick is someone who is very independent; he doesn’t stick to the rules that others follow blindly. This individual is someone who makes his own rules.


*Please don’t make the mistake of listening to the ideas of a maverick.

Samuel Augustus Maverick was the name of a rancher who lived in Texas. In the 19th century, it was standard practice among people who owned cattle to brand their animals; cowboys used branding irons to burn the owner’s names into the flesh of the cows. Maverick, however, refused to brand his animals. He informed his fellow ranchers that all cows that were not branded were his!


3. What is the difference between ‘autopsy’ and ‘post mortem’?
(Rajam, Saligramam)

According to most dictionaries, the two words mean the same thing. When a doctor does a ‘post mortem’ or an ‘autopsy’, he examines the body of a dead person. The body is usually cut open in order to determine the cause of death. Autopsy seems to be the preferred term in the case of a homicide.

*We don’t know the cause of death. We’ll have to do an autopsy/a post mortem.

The word autopsy literally means ‘seeing with one’s own eyes’. ‘Post mortem’, meaning ‘after death’, is actually a shortening of ‘post mortem examination’. Unlike the word ‘autopsy’, ‘post mortem’ can be used in general contexts as well. When you conduct a post mortem of an event, you review it; you usually examine it to determine why the event failed.

*After every match, the coach spends half an hour doing a post mortem.


4. What is the meaning of the expression ‘grow on someone’?
(G. Rajkumar, Chennai)

When we meet someone for the first time, we may not like the person. As we interact with him more and more, we slowly begin to like him. This is what we mean by the expression ‘grow on someone’. We begin to like someone whom we weren’t favourably disposed to in the beginning. The expression can be used with things as well.

*The first time I heard the song, I didn’t like it. Now it’s beginning to grow on me.

* * *

“The saying, ‘Getting there is half the fun’ became obsolete with the advent of commercial airlines.” — Henry J. Tillman




S. UPENDRAN

rather than thanking at each post i thought it very important to express my hearty gratitude for all the efforts being made in this thread.....i mark it...it is tremendous...wonderful.....you will be blessed....
nice work keep it up
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1. What is the difference between ‘license’ and ‘licence’?
(J. Rajeevan, Trivandrum)

There are several pairs like this in English – for instance, advice, advise; practice, practise; licence, license. The British make a distinction between such pairs. The words ‘advice’, ‘practice’, and ‘licence’ are usually used as nouns. ‘Practise’, ‘advise’, and ‘license’, on the other hand, are always used as verbs. A ‘licence’ is what you need to drive a car.

The well known spy, James Bond, has licence to kill. When you grant license to someone, you give them permission. Many hotels in India are not licensed to sell liquor. People in the army are licensed to carry guns.

When it comes to spelling, Americans don’t make a distinction between such pairs. Both the noun and the verb are usually spelt with an ‘s’: practise, advise, and license.

“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth your effort.” — Herm Albright


2. Is it okay to say that something was ‘frightfully good’?
(K. Indrani, Chidambaram)

Yes, it is. ‘Frightfully’ does not mean ‘frightening’. When you say that something is ‘frightfully good’, you mean that it is ‘extremely good’ or ‘very good’. This use of the word ‘frightfully’ is mostly heard in British English; it is, however, considered rather old fashioned.

Tapas, you must see the movie. It is frightfully good.

We are frightfully sorry about the commotion we caused last night.


3. What is the meaning of ‘pigeonhole someone’?
(K. Sridevi, Karaikudi)

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘pigeon’. The ‘g’ sounds like the ‘j’ in ‘jam’ and ‘juice’; and the final ‘eon’ is pronounced like the word ‘in’.

The word is pronounced ‘pij-in’ with the stress on the first syllable. When you ‘pigeonhole someone’ or ‘put someone in a pigeonhole’, you put him in a particular category without really considering all his qualities. The opinion you have of the individual remains fixed, and there’s nothing that the person can do to get you to change your mind. Pigeonholing often results in classifying someone in a rather rigid manner. This expression, mostly used to show disapproval, can be used with both people and things.

Kunthala’s grandson has been unfortunately pigeonholed as a problem child.


4. What is the difference between ‘averse’ and ‘adverse’?
(B. Rajasekhar, Tiruchirapalli)

If you are ‘averse’ to something, you are strongly opposed to it. You disapprove of it, and are therefore reluctant or disinclined to do it. The word is usually followed by ‘to’. In British English, ‘averse’ has the stress on the second syllable.

My friend Kalpana is averse to any form of exercise.

Like most politicians, he is not averse to publicity.

‘Adverse’, on the other hand, means ‘having negative or harmful effect on something’. When something adverse happens, something ‘unfavourable’ takes place. The word is normally used to refer to external circumstances.

They decided to call off the match due to adverse weather conditions.

The British put the stress on the first syllable, and the Americans put it on the second.



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1. How is the word ‘sepulchre’ pronounced?
(Michael Wilson, Hyderabad)

The ‘e’ in the first syllable is like the ‘e’ in ‘set’ and ‘pet’; the ‘u’ and the final ‘re’ sound like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘ch’ is like the ‘k’ in ‘king’ and ‘kid’. The word is pronounced ‘se-pel-ke’ with the stress on the first syllable. In American English, the word is spelt ‘sepulcher’. The word ‘sepulchre’ is considered literary, and is used to refer to a tomb or a burial chamber.


2. Which is correct: ‘different from’ or ‘different than’?
(G. Narender, Hyderabad)

Both are correct. It just depends on which side of the Atlantic you are from. Something can be very ‘different from’ or ‘different than’ something else. ‘Different from’ is used in both British and American English, while ‘different than’ is restricted to American English.

*The life that these villagers lead is so different from/than ours.

*My daughter’s new school is very different from/than the old one.

‘Different to’ is used in British English, and it has the more or less the same meaning as ‘different from’.


“Everywhere I go I’m asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don’t stifle enough of them.” — Flannery O’Connor.


3. What is the opposite of ‘uxoricide’?
(J. Venkatesh, Chennai)

When a man kills his wife, it is called ‘uxoricide’. The word ‘uxor’ in Latin means ‘wife’ and ‘cide’ means ‘to kill or cut’. The opposite of ‘uxoricide’ is ‘mariticide’; it is derived from the word ‘maritus’ meaning ‘married’. ‘Mariticide’ is actually the killing of one’s married partner; it could be the husband or the wife. Nowadays, however, the word is being used to refer to the murder of the husband by the wife.

*The police have taken the wife into custody. They say it’s a case of mariticide.


4. How is the word ‘caveat’ pronounced?
(V. L. Santhosh, Erode)

The ‘ca’ in the first syllable is like the ‘ca’ in ‘cat’ and ‘cab’; the ‘at’ in the final syllable is pronounced like the word ‘at’. The ‘e’ sounds like the ‘i’ in ‘it’ and ‘bit’. The word is pronounced ‘ka-vi-at’ with the stress on the first syllable. Some people pronounce the ‘a’ in the first syllable like the ‘ay’ in ‘say’ and ‘may’. A ‘caveat’ is a warning or a caution. The word comes from the Latin ‘cavere’ meaning ‘let him beware’. ‘Caveat’ is frequently used in the context of law to mean ‘a formal notice to suspend action until the party that filed the action can be heard’.

*I think we can go ahead with the plan, but with certain caveats.


5. What is the meaning and origin of the idiom ‘roll out the red carpet’?
(Bipin, New Delhi)

This is something that people do when they wish to welcome or entertain someone whom they consider to be special. When you roll out the red carpet for someone, you are giving him a very special welcome. When you give someone the ’red carpet treatment’, you treat the person like royalty.

*When he arrived in Mumbai, the actor was given the red carpet treatment.

In the old days whenever the king and the queen stepped out of the palace, a red carpet was spread out for them to walk on. Nowadays it is rolled out for everyone: heads of state, actors, sportsmen, etc. There was a time when people thought that walking on the red carpet was “fit only for the feet of gods.”



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1. What is the meaning of `tease' in `tease something out of someone'?
(B. Sanjay, Chennai)

The word `tease' has several different meanings. When you `tease someone', you make fun of the person. When you attempt to `tease something out of someone', you try to extract information from that person - you usually succeed in getting what you want.

*Ask Rohini to talk to him. I'm sure she'll be able to tease the information out of him.

The expression can also be used to mean `to lure something out of something by teasing or tempting'.

*Usha managed to tease the puppy out from under the bed with a slice of bed.

The act of running your fingers or comb through your hair in order to remove the tangled knots is also called `teasing'.

*Gayathri spent a couple of hours teasing out the knots in her daughter's hair.

* * *

"Today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence they can't read them either." -Gore Vidal

2. Is it ok to say, `I was confident on hitting the shot'?
(J. Naresh, Hyderabad)

We Indians are very fond of the word `on'. We often hear people say that they are `angry on' someone and `confident on' doing something. The word `confident' is not followed by `on'; one is seldom `confident on' doing something. One is always confident `of' doing something.

*Girija was confident of defeating her inexperienced opponent.


3. Which is correct: `grumble about' or `grumble at'?
(R. Venugopal, Warangal)

Both are correct. One can `grumble about' someone or something, but one can only `grumble at' someone. When you grumble about someone or something, you are complaining to a person about someone or something in a bad-tempered way. You are making it obvious to the listener that you are rather unhappy about someone or something.

*Janaki is constantly grumbling about something or the other.

When you `grumble at' someone, you are complaining to the individual.

*I'm sick of listening to your complaints. Go grumble at someone else.


4. How is the word `angst' pronounced?
(L. Govindan, Bangalore)

The `an' in the first syllable is like the `an' in `sang', `bang', and `pang'. The `g' is like the `k' in `kiss' and `kid', and the final `st' is pronounced like the `st' in `stop', `step', and `stink'. The word consists of only one syllable and is pronounced `ankst'. In German, it means `fear' or `anxiety'. In English, the word is mostly used to refer to the feeling of unhappiness or insecurity that we get from time to time.

*Don't worry about it too much. I'm sure it's just teenage angst.


5. What is the meaning and origin of `pull out all the stops'?
(J. Ananatha Padmanabhan, Srirangam)

This is an idiom which has been part of the English language for several centuries. When you pull out all the stops, you do everything possible to make something a success.

*The local police pulled out all the stops to find the terrorists.

The expression comes from the world of music. The pipe organ, an instrument which is usually played in church, has small knobs which are referred to as stops. These knobs or `stops', control the amount of air flowing through the pipes of the organ. When a stop is pulled out, the volume increases. The more stops you pull out, the louder the organ gets.



S. UPENDRAN

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P.R.

1. What is the meaning of ‘be up with the larks’?
(G. Vana Narayanan, Chennai)

A lark is a bird which starts singing quite early in the morning. Therefore, when you say that you were up with the larks, what you mean is that you got up very early in the morning. Australians say ‘be up with the crows’.

I’m feeling rather sleepy. I was up with the larks this morning.

“Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.” — Claud Cockburn


2. What is the difference between ‘prescribe’ and ’proscribe’?
(S. Karthigeyan, Coimbatore)

When you ‘prescribe’, you are advising someone as to what he must do. The word can also mean ‘order the use of’. You are laying down rules as to what it is that needs to be done. When a doctor prescribes medicine, he is telling us how it should be taken. The word ‘prescribe’ is related to ‘prescription’.

My nephew believes that the doctor may prescribe a course of injections.

When the government ‘proscribes’ someone from doing something, it is forbidding or banning the individual from doing it. ‘Proscribe’ is mostly used in formal contexts.

Some of the prescribed books are written so badly, they should be proscribed.


3. How is the word ‘potpourri’ pronounced?
(M. Balachander, Chennai)

The ‘t’ is silent; the ‘po’ in the first syllable rhymes with ‘so’ and ‘no’. The ‘ou’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the final ‘i’ is like the ‘ee’ in ‘bees’, ‘fees’ and ‘sees’. The word is pronounced ‘po-pe-REE’ with the main stress on the final syllable. This is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word. A bowl of potpourri usually consists of an assortment of dry petals and leaves from different plants and flowers. It is usually placed in a room to give the place a pleasant smell. The word has acquired a general meaning as well. It can be used to mean ‘medley’ or ‘mixed bag’: a collection, consisting of unrelated things is also called ‘potpourri’.

My favourite author’s latest book is a potpourri of essays and short stories.


4. What is the meaning of ‘academic bulimia’?
(Aparna Rao, Bangalore)

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘bulimia’. The ‘u’ in the first syllable is like the ‘u’ in ‘full’, ‘pull’, and ‘bull’. Some people pronounce the first ‘i’ like the ‘ea’ in ‘feat’, ‘meat’ and ‘seat’; others pronounce it like the ‘i’ in ‘it’ and ‘bit’. Whether you pronounce the word ‘bu-LIM-ia’ or ‘bu-LEEM-ia’, the stress is on the second syllable. These are just two of the ways of pronouncing the word.

Bulimia is a disorder. Some people have a craving for food, and when they eat, they proceed to stuff themselves. Once they have finished eating, they usually rush to the bathroom and force themselves to vomit. This act of eating enormous amounts of food and then proceeding to vomit everything is called ‘bulimia’.

Academic bulimia is something that we Indians specialise in. What is it that we do during the time of exams? We usually mug up the answers to all possible questions, and the following day we reproduce everything we have memorised; most of the time, with little or no understanding. This ability that we have to ‘disgorge’ answers is called ‘academic bulimia’.

Don’t be fooled by his marks. He doesn’t know a thing. What you see on paper is academic bulimia.



S. UPENDRAN

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P.R.

1. What is the meaning and origin of the idiom ‘take something with a grain of salt’?
(Padma Durairaj, Coimbatore)

This is an idiom which has been part of the English language since the mid-17th century. When someone tells you something, and you take it with a grain or pinch of salt, you do not believe everything he has said: you are sceptical about some of the information that has been given to you. You have certain reservations.

*Politicians exaggerate. You must take whatever they say with a grain/pinch of salt.

The idiom is a translation of the Latin ‘cum grano salis’. According to some scholars, Pliny the Elder, in his book Naturalis Historia, wrote that Pompey (Julius Caesar’s son-in-law) had discovered that his enemy, Mathridates, had found the perfect antidote to poison. Pliny said that for this antidote to work effectively, it had to be taken with a pinch of salt! Readers however thought that the reference to salt was a tongue-in-cheek remark: something that was not to be taken seriously. Another theory which has been put forward is that the idiom comes from the world of dining: a sprinkling of salt can make something insipid a little more palatable.


2. What is the meaning of ‘tchotchke’? How is it pronounced?
(P. Ponnu Rathinam, Trichy)

First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of this Yiddish word. The word can be spelt in different ways and also pronounced differently. The ‘tch’ at the beginning and end of the first syllable is pronounced like the ‘ch’ in ‘cheese’, ‘cheat’, and ‘cheap’. The ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘got’, and ‘pot’, and the final ‘e’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced ‘CHOCH-ke’ with the stress on the first syllable.

The word is mostly used in American English to show disapproval. ‘Tchotchke’ refers to the inexpensive toys or trinkets which are sold on the roadside or in small shops. These items are of cheap quality and are of little value. Nowadays, the word is being used to refer to the souvenirs or promotional items which companies hand out at trade shows. These items usually have the company’s name or logo on them.


3. What is the difference between ‘portent’ and ‘portend’?
(Vijay Kumar, Hyderabad)

One is a noun and the other is a verb; the two words are pronounced differently. ‘POR-tent’, which is a noun, has the stress on the first syllable; while ‘por-TEND’, which is a verb, has the stress on the second. A ‘portent’ is an omen; it is a sign that something bad is likely to happen in the future.

*The CEO believes that the last minute cancellation is a portent of the disasters to come.

The verb ‘portend’ means to serve as a warning.

*If you ask me, Yogesh’s unusual silence portends trouble.



S. UPENDRAN

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P.R.

1. Which is correct: sons in law or son in laws?
(P. Vanitharathnam, Pollachi)

There was a time when only ‘sons in law’ was considered correct. Nowadays, there is a tendency to add the plural form to ‘law’: hence we have ‘son in laws’, ‘mother in laws’, ‘sister in laws’, etc. Although both ‘son in laws’ and ‘sons in law’ are correct, careful users of the language still prefer the latter.



“Politics is just show business for ugly people.” — Jay Leno


2. What is the meaning of ‘cousin once removed’?
(Reji Joseph, Perambavoor)

In India, we refer to anyone who is remotely related to us as our ‘cousin’. In most western countries, however, a cousin is someone with whom we share a common ancestor. Your first cousin is someone with whom you share a common set of grandparents. Therefore your mother’s/father’s siblings’ children are your first cousins. In other words, your aunt’s and uncle’s children are your first cousins. Your first cousin’s child is your cousin once removed. You and this person don’t share the same grandparents, but the same great grandparents.


3. What is the meaning of ‘Hippopotomonstro- sesquippedaliophobia’?
(Md. Sowed, Hyderabad)

Pretty long word, isn’t it? Let me tell you it is not the fear of the hippopotamus. We all know what ‘phobia’ means: it is the fear of something. ‘Hippopoto’ comes from ‘hippopotamus’, and ‘monstro’ comes from of ‘monstrum’ meaning ‘monster’. ‘Sesquippedalio’ comes from ‘sesquipedalian’ meaning someone who loves to use extremely long words. ‘Sesquipedalophobia’ means the fear of long words. And that’s what the 15 syllable word hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia means: the fear of long words. The ‘hippopoto’ and ‘monstro’ have been merely added to make the word longer! The word can be spelt in different ways.

*I’m not like you. I suffer from a mild form of hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia.


4. How is the word ‘vouchsafe’ pronounced?
(Bezaleel, Hyderabad)

The first syllable ‘vouch’ rhymes with ‘couch’, ‘pouch’, and ‘ouch’, and the final syllable is pronounced like the word ‘safe’. The word which is mostly used in formal contexts is pronounced ‘vouch-SAFE’ with the stress on the second syllable. When you vouchsafe something to someone, you grant the person something in a rather condescending manner. The word literally means ‘vouch as safe’.

*The eccentric billionaire vouchsafed his driver three bars of gold.


5. What is the meaning and origin of ‘at the fall of a hat’?
(Sanjana Kumar, Trichy)

The expression is ‘at the drop of a hat’ and not ‘at the fall of a hat’. When you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it suddenly, without any real preparation. Whatever you do, you do at the spur of the moment.

*The Vice-Chancellor kept changing the rules at the drop of a hat.

The expression comes from the world of boxing and racing. Nowadays, the commencement of a boxing bout is signalled by the ringing of a bell. The same is true of a horse race. In the old days, people did not use a bell. Instead, they preferred to use a hat. Why a hat? Because everyone wore one: it was fashionable for both men and women to wear hats. In order to signal the beginning of a fight, the referee used to remove his hat from his head and then drop it. Once the hat was dropped, the boxers came out swinging.



S. UPENDRAN

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P.R.

1. How is the word `manoeuvre' pronounced?
(S. Jayanthi, Vishakapatnam)

The `a' in the first syllable and the `re' in the final syllable are like the `a' in `china'. The `oeu' sounds like the `oo' in `cool', `pool', and `fool'. The word is pronounced `me- NOO-ve' with the stress on the second syllable. It can be used both as a noun and a verb. A manoeuvre is a movement or a set of movements needing a certain amount of skill to be carried out.

These are the manoeuvres you have to do to be part of this dancing troupe. When used as a verb, the word means to manipulate a situation in order to achieve a particular goal. In other words, you cleverly plan everything so that you get what you want. The word at times has a negative connotation.

The students manoeuvred the Vice Chancellor into dropping the charges.


2. What is the meaning of `demarche'?
(S. Mullappally, Bangalore)

First, let's deal with the pronunciation of the word. The first syllable `de' is pronounced like the word `day'. The following `ar' is like the `a' in `path', `ask', and `bath'; the final `che' sounds like the `sh' in `ship', `sheet', and `shin'.

The word is pronounced `DAY-maash' with the stress on the first syllable. Some people put the stress on the second. In the world of diplomacy, the word is used to mean a formal appeal or protest by a diplomat. A demarche is a formal diplomatic representation which one country makes to another. In this representation, a country states its official position on a particular subject. The word can also be used to refer to the written statements or protests presented to the public officials by private citizens.


3. What is the difference between `talk to' and `talk with'?
(Visweswaran, Mettupalayam)

The expression `talk to' has several different meanings. When you talk to someone, you speak to him. You may spend a short time or a long time speaking to the in dividual.

I'll talk to my wife and let you know what she thinks. The expression can also be used to mean to scold or lecture someone. In this case, it's more of a monologue than a dialogue.

I think you should give your daughter a good talking to. She's hasn't been doing her assignments. When you talk with someone, you discuss something with him. The amount of time that you spend with the individual is usually long: in this case, there is a conversation.

Ananya spent an hour talking with her father about her new bat.


4. What is the meaning and origin of `baker's dozen'?
(R. Pandey, Nagpur)

Number 13 is believed to be an unlucky number by a lot of people. Many hotels, in fact, do not have a room which is numbered 13. In some high rise buildings, you may find the 13th floor missing! When you say that you want a baker's dozen of something, it means you want 13 pieces of it. Baker's dozen means 13.

How many loaves do we need? I'd say a baker's dozen. This is an idiom which owes its existence to a practice that was started during medieval England. In 1266, a law was passed in Parliament which specified exactly how much each loaf of bread must weigh. When a baker sold a loaf that was less than the specified amount, a heavy penalty was imposed on him. To prevent this from happening, a baker always added an extra loaf. If you bought twelve loaves of bread, the baker gave you 13: just to make sure that he wasn't penalised.


"Those who go to college and never get out are called professors." - George Givot


S. UPENDRAN

upendrankye@gmail.com

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P.R.

First of All thanks to your post...

in my opinion, if u go through minimum 1000 idioms then a sense of understanding develops in ur mind; it becomes easy to understand the meaning of unseen idiom in the paper...

best of luck to all viewers.

Wasim

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"Rishtoon ki khoobsurti aik dosry ki baat ko bardasht kerna hay.
Be-aib insaan talaash mat kero, warna akele reh jao gay."
Hazrat Ali (R.A)