Know your English

IS IT correct to say ``He has good command over English"? (B. Senthil, Madurai)

Careful users of the language would frown on this. They would argue that one can have command over people, but not over language. You can for example say:
He has total command over his men. They will do whatever he wants them to.
But when it comes to language, they would prefer ``of '' to ``over".
We are looking for someone who has good command of English.
Many children in the south have little or no command of Hindi.
I am told that Prakasham has good command of French.
There is a tendency these days however, even among some native speakers, to say ``have good command over English". The purists may not like this, but as the Americans would put it, that's the way the cookie crumbles. To be on the safe side, avoid saying ``command over English".

Which of the following sentences is correct? The Government has many problems ''or ``The Government have many problems"? (D. S. R. Ramaswamy, Bangalore)

Both are acceptable. It depends on how you view the Government. Do you consider the Government to be single impersonal unit, or do you look upon it as consisting of separate small units? If you view it as a single unit, then you can use a singular verb ``The Government has many problems". If, on the other hand, you view the Government as comprising several different units, then you can use the plural verb ``have''; ``The Government have many problems". There are many words in English, which can take either the singular or the plural verb - family, jury, committee, staff, team are just some of the nouns. Here are a few examples.
The jury was/were beginning to look bored.
The family was/were planning to move to Australia.

What is the meaning and origin of the term ``son of a gun"? (Dr. T. Muralidharan, Palakkad)

This is an expression that is frequently heard in American English. It is used to express different emotions. It is often used to indicate surprise and shock.
Son of a gun! I can't believe that they actually bombed New York.
The expression is also used to refer to a man who is unpleasant.
I wouldn't go anywhere near Anand. He's a mean son of a gun.
Don't get too friendly with that man. The son of a gun will take advantage of you.
The son of a gun tried to steal from his own parents.
It is also used as a term of endearment. When you refer to someone as ``son of a gun", you are indicating your affection for that person. Here are a few examples.
The little son of a gun got an A in the test.
The son of a gun went out of his way to help me.
As to the origin, well to begin with, the expression ``son of a gun'' was a polite way of referring to an illegitimate child, usually a boy! In the old days, it was standard practice to take women on long voyages. Sometimes these women became pregnant and had the baby on the ship. Usually the maternity ward, if you can call it that, was the midsection of the ship, next to the cannons. Since all deaths and births on a ship had to be recorded, the newborn baby's record was written up as well. If it was not clear who the father of the child was, then next to the father's name, the word ``Gun'' was written; referring to the cannon next to which the child was born. Against the child's name, the word ``son'' was written. Hence the expression, ``son of a gun".

What is the difference between ``should'' and ``must"? (K.R. Mahalingam, Chennai)

When you tell someone that he should do something, you are advising him to do it. You are not ordering him to do something; you are merely asking him to consider the possibility. It is a request; you are merely suggesting to the individual that it would be a good idea if he were to do it. Here are a few examples.
You should brush your teeth every day before going to bed.
Mohan should work harder.
I think the old rules should be revised.
The word ``must'' is normally used when you wish to order someone. You are no longer requesting, or suggesting, you are telling the person what to do. When a person is told that he ``should'' brush his teeth, he has a choice; he can either follow your advice, or he can ignore it completely. In the case of ``must", the person has no option. He has to brush his teeth. Here are a few examples.
If you want to get through your exams, you must work harder.
I am telling you that you must not marry that girl.
The Chairman said that we must work on Sunday.

What is the meaning of ``ground zero"? (N. Raja Mani, Secunderabad)

This is a term that has been heard quite frequently on CNN the past couple of weeks. ``Ground zero'' was originally used to refer to an atomic explosion; it is the site at which an atomic explosion took place. This is how dictionaries define the term: ``the point on the surface of the earth or water directly below, directly above, or at which an atomic or hydrogen bomb explodes". Today the term is being used informally to mean a place of rapid development or change; a place of violent activity.
About ten years ago no one had heard about Vasudeva Nagar. But today it has become the ground zero from which restaurants and designer shops radiate.
The term ``ground zero'' is also used to mean elementary level; a ``starting point". For example,
Many of my students will be starting at ground zero.
My boss didn't like the ad campaign. Looks like I have to return to ground zero.


S. UPENDRAN

Know your English

WHAT IS the meaning of ``have the blues''? (A. B. Sankaran, Vizag)

The ``blues'' is a kind of music; it is usually slow and sad. This type of music was first made popular by the Blacks who lived in the Southern states of America - the states where slavery was common. I understand that the original blues songs were about the lives of slaves. Nowadays, in most blues songs the singer sings about how terrible his life is or how unlucky he has been in love - not very different from our Indian film songs! When you say that you have the blues, it means that you are in a sad or depressed mood. It is also possible for one to ``get the blues''. Here are a few examples.
*Rahul has had the blues ever since his wife walked out on him.
* A wet day like today always gives me the blues.
*Shanthi gets the blues whenever she watches ``Love Story''. Another expression, which means more or less the same thing, is ``feeling blue'' If you feel blue, you feel sad.
*Prakash has been feeling blue since yesterday.
*Rainy days always make me feel blue.
*I don't know why, but I am feeling blue this morning.

Which of the following sentences is correct? ``Neither Mohan nor Geetha is going home'', or, ``Neither Mohan nor Geetha are going home''. (S. Janaki, Hospet).

Careful users of the language prefer the use of the singular verb ``is''. In writing, you would be better off using ``is''. In speech, however, it is quite common to hear even native speakers use the plural ``are''. There is a tendency to use the plural verb in speech. This however is not considered to be grammatically correct. The verb that you use will depend on the noun which precedes it. Here are a few examples:
* Neither the father nor his children were willing to go home.
* Neither the children nor the father was willing to go home.

What is the difference between ``biannual'' and ``biennial''? (E. Shyama Sundar, Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh)

An event that is held ``annually'' takes place once a year. The word ``bi'', pronounced ``by'', means ``two''. So an event which is held ``biannually'' is one that is held twice a year. Here is an example.
* The Chairman decided to make the Board Meeting a biannual event.
In this case, the Board will meet twice a year - perhaps every six months.
A ``biennial'' event, on the other hand, is one that takes place once in two years.
* The Chairman decided to make the Board Meeting a biennial event.
In this case, the Board will meet once every two years. If it meets this year(2001), its next meeting will be in 2003.
The stress in both words is on the second syllable. The ``e'' in ``biennial'' is like the ``e'' in ``set'', ``bet'', and ``get''. One of the ways of pronouncing the second ``i'' is like the ``y'' in ``yes'', ``yellow'', and ``young''. The final ``a'' is like the ``a'' in ``China''.

How is the word ``crèche'' pronounced? (P. Laxman, Secunderabad)

The first ``e'', which has an accent mark on it, sounds like the ``e'' in ``set'', ``get'' and ``bet''; the second ``e'' remains silent. It is also possible to pronounce the first ``e'' like the ``ay'' in ``day'', ``bay'', and ``say''. The final ``ch'' sounds like the ``sh'' in ``ship'', ``sheet'', and ``shoot''. A ``crèche'' is a place where babies are looked after while the parents are away at work.

What is the opposite of ``feminist''? (M. Pradeep, Madanapalle, AP)

Most people that I asked this question to, said that the opposite is ``chauvinist''. While surfing the Net, I came across a word which has been part of the English language for nearly a century. The word is ``hominist''. A ``hominist'' is someone who advocates equal rights for men. The ``o'' in the first syllable is like the ``o'' in ``hot'', ``pot'', and ``got'', and the ``i'' in the following two syllables is like the ``i'' in ``bit'', ``hit'', and ``sit''. The main stress is on the first syllable.
*After meeting several feminists, Satish decided to become a hominist.
*Narayan, the General Manager, is a vocal hominist.
*His students say that Bala is a self proclaimed hominist.
The word, I understand, was coined by G. B. Shaw in the preface to his play ``Man and Superman''. While all dictionaries include the word ``feminist'', very few include ``hominist''. Wonder why! (By the way, what do you think is the opposite of ``feminist''? Please do write in.)

When I get a telephone call and the person wants to speak to my mother or father, can I say ``Excuse me'' to mean ``Please wait''? (J. Rajesh, Chennai)

There are several expressions that one could use when asking the person at the other end of the telephone to wait. Some of these are ``Please hold on'', ``Could you please hold on'', ``Hold on, please'', ``Hang on a minute'', ``Just a minute'', ``He/she will be with you in a minute''. You do not say, ``Excuse me'' to the caller. You could however use the expression with the person being called - in this case, your father or mother. You could say ``Excuse me, father. There's a call for you.'' You are using the expression ``excuse me'' to draw the attention of your parent.


S. UPENDRAN

__________________
Lo! man is in a state of loss. (Al-Asr:103:2) And every small and great thing is recorded. (Al-Qamar:54:53) And guard yourselves against a day in which ye will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full that which it hath earned, and they will not be wronged. (Al-Baqara:2:281)

Know your English

``WEREN'T YOU supposed to come over and have dinner with me yesterday?''
``That's right. But there was a problem. You see...''
``....what was the problem?''
``My cousin rang me up around 6 : 00 and asked me to come over. You see his landlord's son is returning from the U.S. So the landlord wants my cousin to vacate the flat by the end of the month. My cousin and I were out all evening trying to find a suitable accommodation.''
``Did you find one?''
``No. It's so hard to find an accommodation these days.''
``You cannot say `an accommodation'. In British English the word `accommodation' is an uncountable noun. So you shouldn't use `an' before it.''
``Really? I didn't know that! How about this sentence? There is a shortage of cheap accommodation in our city.''
``Sounds pretty good. Some of the delegates wanted to know if we could take care of their accommodation.''
``The university refused to provide the teachers free accommodation.''
``Why should the university provide free accommodation?''
``Good question. Many teachers....''
``...by the way, this cousin of yours. What does he do?''
``He's an academician.''
``He's an academician? Which academy does he belong to?''
``Academy? What are you talking about?''
``Well you said that he was an academician. Which academy does he...''
``...he doesn't belong to any academy. What I meant to say was that he is a teacher. He teaches at the university.''
``A teacher, eh? In that case, the word you are looking for is `academic'.''
``What is the difference between an 'academic' and `academician'?''
``Well, strictly speaking, an `academic' is a person who teaches or does research at the university.''
``I see. How about this example? When I grow up I certainly don't want to be an academic.''
``The example is OK. But the word `academic' has the stress on the third syllable `de'.''
``But a lot of people I know....''
``...tend to put the stress on the second syllable. But the stress is on the third. The `a' in the first syllable is like the `a' in `cat', `bat', and `sat', while the `a' in the second syllable is pronounced like the `a' in `China'. And ....''
``....I think I can guess the rest. The `e' probably sounds like the `e' in `set', `pet', and `get'. The final `i' must be like the `i' in 'sit', `bit', and `hit'.''
``Exactly! Radhakrishnan was an academic before he became the President of India.''
``Everyone knows that. That's why we celebrate Teacher's Day.''
``Exactly!''
``My cousin is the only person in the family who wanted to be an academic. Now tell me, what is the meaning of the word `academician'?''
``First of all, the word has the stress on the fourth syllable `mi'. Usually when you refer to someone as being an `academician', it implies that he/she is a member of an academy or a society....''
``...any type of academy?''
``An academician is usually a member of an academy that is concerned with the arts or sciences. The Royal Academy of Arts, for instance, or the Russian Academy of Sciences.''
``I think I understand the difference now. A professor is an academic. And when that professor becomes a member of an academy which is devoted to either the sciences or the arts, then he becomes an `academician'. Am I right?''
``Absolutely! There is a tendency these days, however, to use the words `academician' and `academic' synonymously. Some people object to it. Most dictionaries have only one definition for the word `academician' - member of a society or academy.''
``I think I understand the difference now.''
``This cousin of yours. What does he teach?''
``Computer Science. And you know something, he is quite a popular teacher.''
``Did he show you the new computer lab?''
``He took me to the lab last week. He has a free access to it, you know.''
``Free access and not `a free access'.''
``What?''
``He has free access to the lab. You cannot say `a free access'.''
``I see. I would like to have access to the building next door. Say after 10 : 00 in the night!''
``That's a bank! No one is going to grant you access to it at 10 : 00 in the evening!''
``That's true!''
``But they may be willing to provide free accommodation! Your cousin....''
``....the academic in my family doesn't need accommodation. Today he received a letter from the university saying that he has been allotted one of their quarters.''
``All's well that ends well!''

``Marriages are made in heaven. But so are thunder and lightning!'' - Anonymous

S. UPENDRAN

__________________
Lo! man is in a state of loss. (Al-Asr:103:2) And every small and great thing is recorded. (Al-Qamar:54:53) And guard yourselves against a day in which ye will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full that which it hath earned, and they will not be wronged. (Al-Baqara:2:281)

"HI I see that the house next door has now become an office. It has a nice name too. Silent World."
"Silent World, indeed. It's a misnomer."
"A what?"
"M..i..s..n..o..m..e..r. The first syllable sounds like the word "miss", while the second sounds like the word 'no'.""The final 'e' is like the 'a' in 'china', I suppose? But what does the word mean?"
"It means that something has been given the wrong name or designation."
"A wrong word has been used to describe something. Is that what you are saying?"
"I guess you could say that. For example, Silent World is a misnomer for the office next door. It should be called 'Noisy World'. It is anything silent."
"Calling Agarkar an 'all rounder' is a misnomer."
"That's a pretty good example. But the stress in 'misnomer' is on the second syllable. Here's another example. 'First class restaurant' is a misnomer for the run down place we have down the street. And do you know..."
"...what's the matter with you today? Why do you look so grumpy?"
"Haven't you told me a million times that I always look grumpy?"
"Not this grumpy. Something go wrong with the presentation you made yesterday?"
"You're smarter than you look. But yes, the presentation went down like a lead balloon."
"Went down like a lead balloon, eh? Is that another way of saying that your presentation flopped?"
"That's right. When you say that something went down like a lead balloon, it means that it was a total disaster. It failed to be funny."
"You tried to make a funny presentation? That was a big mistake. You have no sense of humour. Everyone knows that. Your jokes always go down like a lead balloon."
"They do not. Nobody has ever told me that my...."
".... remember the play you wrote a couple of years ago. You thought it was really funny. But nobody else did. It went down like a lead balloon."
"Well if you keep insulting me like that, you will go down like a ton of bricks."
"Sorry. I didn't mean to insult you. But you ...."
"...Oh never mind. I guess it's about time I forgot all about the presentation."
"Your presentations are usually good. At least that's what you claim. What went wrong this time?"
"I just didn't have time to prepare. I'd spread myself too thin, and...."
".... spread yourself too thin? You certainly don't look it. If you ask me, you have put on weight."
"Spreading oneself too thin has nothing to do with putting on or losing weight. When you say that you have spread yourself too thin, what you are implying is that you are doing too many things at the same time."
"I see. And if you are doing too many things at the same time, then it isn't possible for you to focus on anything in particular."
"Exactly!"
"Many of the students in my class have spread themselves too thin."
"Bala is teaching five courses this semester. I am afraid that he has spread himself too thin."
"I make it a point never to spread myself too thin."
"You are a completely different case. You make it a point to work as little as possible. Now then,...."
"...o.k. Grumpy, did you ask the people what they thought of your presentation?"
"I did try to sound out a couple of people, but they weren't very...."
".... `sound out people'. That's an interesting expression."
"When you sound someone out, you...."
"....I think I can guess the meaning. When you sound someone out, you probably try and find out what he/she thinks about something."
"Excellent. That's exactly what it means."
"Suresh was keen on knowing what Suparna thought of his new movie. He wanted me to sound her out."
"That's a good example. My boss is planning to bring about big changes in our company. He wants me to sound everyone out."
"...this presentation that you were making was for some private company, right?"
"That's right."
"Are you going to get paid for it?"
"Get paid for it? You must be joking. The poor owner is running it on a shoestring budget."
"A shoestring budget? What does that mean?"
"When you run something on a shoestring it means that you running it at a very low cost. You are running it on a small or inadequate budget."
"I see. And does this...."
"....let me give you another example. The ...."
"....let me try. My cousin started a restaurant on a shoestring budget."
"My uncle's company was able to produce high quality material on a shoestring budget."
"That's great! What's the company called?"
"Shoestring!"


S.UPENDRAN

__________________
Lo! man is in a state of loss. (Al-Asr:103:2) And every small and great thing is recorded. (Al-Qamar:54:53) And guard yourselves against a day in which ye will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full that which it hath earned, and they will not be wronged. (Al-Baqara:2:281)

WHAT IS the meaning and origin of "red letter day"?
(J. Suresh, Chennai)

When you refer to something as being a "red letter day", it implies that it's a very important or a very special day. As far as you are concerned, it's a day on which something memorable happened or will happen. Here are a few examples.
* The day the school won the championship was a red letter day for us.
* Even after twenty-five years, Vasu considers his wedding day a red-letter day.
* The days I spent with Raja Rao were red-letter days.
The expression comes from the practice that was followed in religious calendars. In the old days, saints' birthdays, festivals and other holy days were marked in red. The other days of the month, which were not special, were marked in black. So, the original "red letter day" had a religious significance. It was only during the 18th century that the expression began to take on a general meaning - namely any memorable or important day in an individual's life. You can now refer to the day of graduation as a red-letter day. The day you meet Amitabh Bachchan or Sachin Tendulkar could also be called a red letter day! By the way, this practice of marking special days in red continues even today. For the modern man, Sundays and second Saturdays have become red-letter days as well!

What is the meaning of "misogynist"? How do you pronounce the word? (Anto Maria Santosh, Chennai)

The word "misogynist" is usually used to refer to a man who hates women. Here are a few examples.
* Some scholars believe that Jack the Ripper was a misogynist.
* When his wife ran away with another man, Rahul became a misogynist.
* As expected, the misogynist didn't invite a single woman to the party.
A word about the pronunciation. The `i' in the first syllable is like the `i' in `hit', `bit', and `sit'. The following `o' sounds like the `o' in `hot', `pot', and `lot'. The "y" in the third syllable is pronounced like the "a" in "China", and "about". The "g", by the way, is like the "j" in "jam", "Jew", and "jelly". The final "i" is like the "i" in "kit" and "pit". The main stress is on the second syllable.
This word is another example of how male chauvinistic the English language is. "Misogynist" is a fairly common word; most dictionaries include it. But not all dictionaries include the word, which refers to a woman who hates men! Why? I guess women are supposed to like men. Perhaps there are more women-hating men than men-hating women! Who knows! By the way, do you know what a woman who hates men is called? "Misandrist".

Is it OK to say, "Which class are you studying?" (K. Raghavan, Thiruvananthapuram)

This seems to be a common way of asking the question in our country. Most people accept it the way it is - at least in speech. If you wish to be grammatically correct the word "in" is required. You could either say, "In which class are you studying?" or "Which class are you studying in?" It is also possible to ask a person, "Which class are you in?" Here are a few more examples.
* In which room did the murder take place?
* Which room did the murder take place in?

What is the difference between "martyr" and "victim"? (F.S. Riazuddin, Port Blair)

A martyr is someone who is killed or punished because of his religious or political beliefs. The individual is willing to undergo any amount of suffering for the cause he believes in. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were assassinated because of their political beliefs. Whatever be the reason - political, or religious - the individual in this case is usually punished or killed intentionally.
A "victim", on the other hand, may or may not have any strong political or religious beliefs. He may be killed or punished intentionally or accidentally. A person who is murdered is referred to as a "victim" and so is an individual who dies in a road accident. The word "martyr" carries with it the sense that the individual gave up his life voluntarily for the cause he believed in; that he fought hard for his beliefs. A "victim" may been killed for no apparent reason. He could have merely been an individual who was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

What do the initials FAQ stand? (C.R. Lokanath, Madanapalli)

You find this in many web sites. The letters stand for "frequently asked questions".





S.UPENDRAN

__________________
Lo! man is in a state of loss. (Al-Asr:103:2) And every small and great thing is recorded. (Al-Qamar:54:53) And guard yourselves against a day in which ye will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full that which it hath earned, and they will not be wronged. (Al-Baqara:2:281)

"WHAT'S THE matter with you? You look terrible."
"I have been thinking about our Indian cricket team. I feel absolutely miserable whenever they lose."
"Don't eat your heart out about a bunch of overpaid underachievers!""Eat my heart out? I haven't come across that expression before."
"When you tell someone not to `eat his heart out' about something or someone, you are telling him not to grieve or feel sad about something or someone. For example, I can say, Pandey spent a lot of time eating his heart out after the company he was working for folded."
"Sumithran has been eating his heart out ever since his neighbour sold her house and moved to another town."
"My cousin Anuradha ate her heart out when she was forced to sell her grandmother's diamonds."
"Our team didn't win. But don't eat your heart out."
"That should be the attitude. By the way, the expression, `eat your heart out' has another meaning as well. It can mean, `to be jealous'."
"I see. How about this example? When my friend heard that I had won twenty lakhs in a lottery, he ate his heart out."
"That's a good example. Do you think you will ever win twenty lakhs in a lottery?"
"Who knows? Some day fate may decide to smile on me."
"It already has. That's why you have a friend like me! Anyway, here's another example. Look you guys; these five new cars belong to me. So eat your heart out."
"That's a nasty thing to say."
"I know! And you know what the sad part is? I'll never get a chance to say something like that in real life."
"Thank god for that. By the way, I've started taking tennis lessons. Hewitt, eat your heart out. How does that sound?"
"You expect Hewitt to be jealous because you have started playing tennis?"
"Yes, because pretty soon I will be beating him!"
"Keep dreaming. I don't think the fact that you are learning tennis is going to eat away at Hewitt."
"Eat away at Hewitt? What does that mean?"
"When something `eats away at someone' or `eats at someone', it troubles or worries the person. This is one of the meanings of the expression. For example, the fact that he would soon be out of a job was eating away at Jaichand."
"The terrible state of the company was eating away at Raju."
"Vinita's financial problems ate away at her day and night."
"Vinita has financial problems? But I thought she was very rich."
"Her father is very rich, that's true. But..."
".... so why doesn't she ask her father for some money?"
"Ask him for money! Are you crazy? He'll eat her out."
"He'll eat her out? What does that mean? Does it ...."
".... when someone eats you out, what ...."
".... the expression probably means to scold someone severely. Am I right?"
"I am impressed. Can you give me an example?"
"The Principal ate the teacher out and put the fear of God into her."
"Didn't the other teachers protest?"
"That was just an example. The Principal that we have now is too timid to eat anyone out."
"The coach ate the player out for playing an irresponsible shot."
"When the students walked in half an hour late, the Professor really ate them out."
"That was a good example. By the way, how did you guess the meaning of `eat someone out'?"
"Well, `eat someone out' sounds like `chew someone out'. And I know that `chew someone out' means to scold someone."
"Very good. And like the expression `chew someone out', `eat someone out' is mainly used in informal contexts. In fact, `chew someone out' is considered to be slang."
"The teacher chewed me out for coming late to class.''
"The coach gave the entire team a good chewing out."
"John Wright has to probably give our players a good chewing out every other day. Unfortunately, it seems to have no effect on them."
"It's getting late. I'd better go. Are you eating out today?"
"No, I am eating in for a change."
"Eating in? Is it the opposite of `eating out'?"
"That's right! When you say that you are eating in, what you are actually saying is you are eating at home. I am feeling very tired today. Why don't we just eat in?"
"My grandmother is a great cook. Whenever we go to her place, we always eat in."
"That's a good example. People who travel a lot generally hate eating out. When they get back home, they prefer to eat in."
"Well, I'd better be going. Today being a weekday we'll all be eating in. I don't want my father to chew me outfor being late."
"What will you be having for dinner? Any idea?"
"The usual rice and sambar."
"I am planning to make pizza."
"I love pizza."
"Eat your heart out, kid!"


S. UPENDRAN

__________________
Lo! man is in a state of loss. (Al-Asr:103:2) And every small and great thing is recorded. (Al-Qamar:54:53) And guard yourselves against a day in which ye will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full that which it hath earned, and they will not be wronged. (Al-Baqara:2:281)

Know your English

WHAT IS the meaning and origin of the expression "to give someone an even break"?
(A. Ramaniah, Secunderabad)


When you give someone an even break you are giving the person the same opportunities as others to do something. In other words, you are giving a fair chance to the individual; you are being impartial. Here are a few examples.
*Sarita has tonnes of talent. All she needs is someone to give her an even break and she could be at the top.
*If you don't have a Godfather, then no one will be willing to give you the even break you need to prove how good you are.
*Prasanna gave the even break Sneha was desperately looking for. She will always be grateful to him.
There are several explanations as to the origin of this expression. I will deal with only one here. According to some scholars, the expression comes from the sport of dog racing. In the old days it was common practice for people to take bets on whose dog was faster and which one was better skilled at "hare coursing". In order to determine this, the owners held the animals tightly by the leash and released them at the same time. This letting go of the leash at the same moment - so that neither dog was at an advantage - was referred to as an "even break." In case you are wondering what "hare coursing" is, well, a poor hare was let loose and the dogs were made to chase and kill the frightened animal. A cruel sport, indeed! By giving the dogs an even break, the faster and more skilled animal was likely to catch the hare. Later, the expression "to give someone an even break" began to be used with horse racing as well. Here it refers to the clean start to a race; where all the horses start off at the same time.


Can we say 7 into 20 is 140?
(S. Mohan, Kovaipudur)
This is the standard practice in India. When we want to multiply, we say one of the following: multiply, into, or times. Native speakers of English, on the other hand, tend to use either "multiply" or "times". For example, a native speaker might say, "Three hundred and twenty times twenty is six thousand four hundred" He may also say, "Three hundred and twenty times twenty makes six thousand four hundred". For a simple sum like the one that you have given, the native speaker would say, "Seven twenties are one hundred and forty". Notice that it isn't "is", but "are". Two fives are ten. Three tens are thirty.
The word "into" is normally reserved for division and not multiplication. For a native speaker, ten "into" one hundred and twenty would mean one hundred twenty divided by ten. The answer in this case is twelve. But for many Indians the answer would be one thousand two hundred - because we tend to associate "into" with multiplication.


What is the difference between "despise" and "hate"?
(T. Aparna Raman, Mysore)
When you "hate" someone, you dislike the person intensely. Here are a few examples.
*I hate all politicians.
*There was a time when Reshma hated her Principal.
*When she was young, Janaki hated her sister.
"Despise" is a stronger word than "hate". When you say that you despise someone, it implies that you "hate" that person, but it also carries with it the sense that you have contempt for him/her. In other words, when you hate someone, you dislike the individual intensely, but when you "despise" him, you not only dislike him, but you also look down on him. So, when you despise someone, you consider him being beneath you; you may think that the individual is worthless. The word "hate" does not carry with it this negative connotation. You can hate someone who is superior to you. Here are a few examples.
*Nandita despises her new boss.
*I am told that Tara despises the company I work for.

Which is correct? "Co-brother" or "co son-in-law?"
(V. S. Rama Sarma, Cuddapah)
Indians, particularly those from the south, use the terms "co- brother" and "co son-in-law" to refer to one's wife's sister's husband. Native speakers of English however do not use these terms. Co-brother and co-son in law are terms used in Indian English alone. If you were to introduce someone as your "co- brother" to a native speaker of English, he/she would not understand you. Within the Indian context, I guess, we can continue to use the terms.


How is the word "exposi" pronounced?
(N. Visvanathan, Chennai)
The first syllable "ex" is pronounced like the prefix "ex". The "o" in the second syllable is like the "o" in "go", "so" and "no". The following "s" is like the "z" in "zoo", "zip" and "zing". The final "i" sounds like the "ay" in "say", "gay", and "may". The stress is on the second syllable "po". It is also possible to have the main stress on the final syllable. In order to do that, you must pronounce the "o" in the second syllable like the "a" in "China" and "India". By the way, the final "i" has an accent mark on it.
An exposi is generally a story in the mass media - radio, television, newspapers, etc - which reveals the truth about something to the public. Here are a few examples.
*The exposi triggered off a parliamentary debate.
*We want an exposi of the shady deals of builders.
*The local newspaper relies on exposi to survive.


S. UPENDRAN

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Lo! man is in a state of loss. (Al-Asr:103:2) And every small and great thing is recorded. (Al-Qamar:54:53) And guard yourselves against a day in which ye will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full that which it hath earned, and they will not be wronged. (Al-Baqara:2:281)

Know Your English

WHAT IS the origin of the expression ``lion's share''?

(V. H. Ninoy, Cochin)

This is an expression which owes its origin to a story from Aesop's Fairy Tales. In the story, a lion and three of his friends - a fox, an ass, and a wolf - go hunting. After they make a kill the lion says that he is going to keep three fourths of the meat for himself. The reasons he provides for keeping the ``lion's share'' are the following: one fourth as his just share, one fourth for his lioness and cubs, and the other one fourth for his courage. The lion then goes on to inform his friends that he is prepared to part with the remaining one fourth provided one of them challenges him to a fight and defeats him. The three friends refuse to take him on and as a result leave the entire kill to the king of beasts. ``Lion's share'' as you can guess from the story means the larger share of something. Here are a few examples.

* Promod claimed the lion's share of the credit for winning the match.

* As usual, Vishnu took the lion's share of the pizza.

* They were supposed to divide the money equally between themselves, but Narender took the lion's share.

How is the word ``dilettante'' pronounced? (D. Devayani, Hyderabad)

* The `i' in the first syllable and the final ``e'' are pronounced like the `i' in `pit', `sit', and `hit'. The vowel ``e'' in the second syllable is like the ``a'' in ``china''. Some people pronounce the ``a'' like the `a' in `act', `pact', and `hat'. Others pronounce it like the ``a'' in ``bath'' and ``path'' (British English). The main stress is on the third syllable. Any idea what the word means? Well, a `dilettante' is someone who tries to cultivate an area of interest without really making the necessary commitment. The person may do a course in painting for example, without taking the subject seriously. He merely dabbles in the subject. Here are a few examples.

* I wouldn't take him too seriously. He is a musical dilettante.

* He often refers to his writings as the musings of a dilettante.

* The critics, as expected, did not take the young dilettante poet seriously.

What is the difference between ``corrigenda'' and ``errata''? (Chhoto Gawai, Nagpur)

Both ``corrigenda'' and ``errata'' refer to the errors - usually in spelling - that occur in writing or printing. The words are mainly used to refer to the list of errors in a book along with their corrections. Of the two words ``errata'' is the more common. The errata or corrigenda are usually appended to the book - one usually finds this page at the back. The singular of `corrigenda' is `corrigendum'; while that of ``errata'' is ``erratum''. A note about the pronunciation of ``corrigenda''. The `o' in the first syllable is like the `o' in `cot', `pot', and `hot', while the `i' in the second is like the `i' in `pit', `sit', and `bit'. The `gen' in the next syllable sounds like the `gen' in `gentle' and `gentleman'. The `a' in the final syllable is like the `a' in `china'. The main stress is on the third syllable.

In the case of ``errata'', the first ``a'' is pronounced like the ``a'' in ``cat'', ``bat'', and ``hat'', while the second sounds like the ``a'' in ``china''. The stress is on the second syllable.

One of my teachers keeps telling us to ``chill out''. What exactly does he mean by that? (Vinta Manohar, Adoor)

Well, if your teacher is asking you to ``chill out'' it says a lot about your class. Are you a noisy bunch? Do you and your friends talk non-stop in class? Do you allow your teacher say his piece? If the teacher has to use the expression ``chill out'' very often in class, then chances are you are not allowing him to talk in class! By asking you to ``chill out'', the teacher is asking you to calm down, to relax - in other words he is pleading with you to stop talking! The plight of most teachers these days! Here are a few examples.

* Most people like to chill out during weekends.

* The argument was turning nasty. So I told the guys to chill out.

* You have had a pressure packed week. Take a couple of days off and chill out.

It is also possible to say ``chill''. ``Chill out'' and ``chill'' both mean the same thing. Chillin' is another word, which is used very often in American English. Any idea what it means? It means ``great or excellent''. Here are a few examples.

* I made some chillin' friends during the holidays.

* Asmita said that she had a chillin' time yesterday.

* The movie was chillin'.

* By the way, all three expressions are used in informal contexts.

What is the correct spelling of ``whiskey''? Is it ``whiskey'' or ``whisky''? (P. Ramanujam, Hyderabad)

It depends on which part of the world you are from. I understand the Americans spell it ``whiskey'' while the British spell it ``whisky''. The English have been influenced by the way the Scots spell the word. The Americans, on the other hand, have been influenced by the way the Irish spell the brew. As you know when America was discovered, a lot of people from Ireland went to settle down there.

***

``I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants.''

- A. Whitney Brown

S. UPENDRAN

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Devil-may-care

Know Your English



When someone sneezes why do people say, ``Bless you''? (Mita Paul, Vishakapatnam)

This is based on a superstition. People in the old days believed that whenever someone sneezed, the individual's soul came out with the sneeze. (Some people believed that the devil entered the individual!) And what would happen if the soul escaped? The individual would die, of course! To prevent the soul from escaping, they sought divine intervention - they called upon the Almighty to ``bless'' the sneezer and keep his/her soul inside. This is just one of the theories going around. Although people these days do not believe that an individual's soul will escape along with a sneeze, the expression ``Bless you'' continues to be used.

How do you pronounce ``joie de vivre''? What is its meaning? (B. Sajith, Calicut)

The ``j'' is pronounced like the ``s'' in ``pleasure'', ``measure'', and ``treasure''. The next sound is like the ``w'' in ``wet'', ``web'', and ``wed''. The final sound in ``joie'' is like the ``a'' in ``path'', ``bath'' and ``ask'' - the way these words are pronounced in British English. The ``e'' in the second word ``de'' sounds like the ``a'' in ``China''. The ``i'' in ``vivre'' is like the ``ee'' in ``meet'', ``see'', and ``bee''. The final ``e'' is once again like the ``a'' in ``China''. The main stress is on the first syllable of ``vivre''. And what does the word mean? It is a French expression which means ``joy of living''. Here are a few examples.

* For a woman who is nearly 90, she is full of joie de vivre.

* The students were filled with joie de vivre.

* Sonya's joie de vivre was the envy of many of her colleagues.

People tend to say, ``the media is''. Shouldn't it be ``the media are''? (Satish Pradhan, Pune)

The word ``media'' is the plural of ``medium'' and it is generally used to refer to radio, television, newspapers, etc - things generally associated with mass communication. Since the word is considered to be plural, it is only logical that the verb that follows it should be plural too. Careful users of the language frown on those who use a singular verb. These days however, ``media'' can be followed by a singular or a plural verb. In the beginning we thought of the various media as being separate entities. When we use a singular verb after ``media'' we are thinking of the various media as a single entity. Here are a few examples from dictionaries which show that the word ``media'' can be followed by either a singular or a plural verb.

* The news media are interested only in bad news.

* The manager feels that the media is biased.

What is the difference between ``a few'' and ``few''? (V. P. Acharya, Tirupathi)

Let's take a hypothetical situation. Suppose there is a 'bandh' and you don't expect anyone to come to work. You go to your office and you find that ten of your colleagues have turned up. You are quite surprised and happy. In this context you would say, ``A few people turned up for work''. ``A few'' means ``some''. In this case, your focus is on the number of people who turned up for work, and not on those who did not. In other words, you are looking at the positive side of things. If, on the other hand, your focus is more on the negative aspect - you are worried about the people who didn't turn up for work rather than those who did- then you would say ``few''. Few people turned up for work. In this context ``few'' means ``hardly any''. Here are a few more examples.

* Few CDs were available. (Hardly any CDs were available)

* A few CDs were available. (There were some CDs available)

* Few people in my school speak Hindi. (Hardly anyone in my school speaks Hindi)

A few people in my school speak Hindi. (Some people in my school speak Hindi)

What is the meaning of the expression ``to carry coals to Newcastle''? (D. Sudheer Kumar, Nagarjun Sagar, AP)

Newcastle is a place in the north of England and it is well known for its coal mines! So if you are carrying coals to Newcastle, you are merely wasting your energy; you are doing something unnecessary. It is also possible to say ``take coals to Newcastle''.

* Mohan was trying to sell ice cream to the Italians. That's like carrying coals to Newcastle.

* Exporting pine to the Scandinavians is like carrying coals to Newcastle.

* Giving money to Suresh is like taking coals to Newcastle.

What is the opposite of Utopia? (S. Dilip, Chennai)

Utopia is the imaginary world created by Sir Thomas Moore where everything is perfect. The word is used figuratively to mean one's idea of perfection. For example.

* Free beer and watching cricket on TV is Atul's idea of Utopia.

* Looking after the poor people is Vinita's idea of Utopia.

* The opposite of ``Utopia'' is ``dystopia''. Atul's idea of Utopia is Maitabi's idea of dystopia.

***

``I wasn't kissing her, I was whispering in her mouth.'' -Chico Marx

S. UPENDRAN

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Know Your English

WHAT IS the difference between ``spectators'' and ``audience''?

(Dr. S. P. Gupta, Agra)

Strictly speaking ``spectators'' usually come to ``see'' something. They come to see an event, a ``spectacle.'' The people who go to see a sporting event like a football game, a boxing bout, or a cricket match are called spectators. Usually in such events the focus is on what you ``see'' rather than what you ``hear.'' If you are walking along the road and you ``see'' two of your favourite stars shooting for a film, then you would be ``spectator.'' But when you go to the cinema hall and watch the film which you saw while it was being made, then you become part of the audience. The word audience is related to the word ``audio.'' You are at a specific event to listen to something. An audience is an assembly of `hearers.' People who are part of the audience listen to or watch a performance. When you go to a music concert, a play, or a movie, you are part of an audience. It is interesting that when you go to the stadium to see a cricket match, you are a spectator, but when you watch the same match on television, you are part of the audience.

As you know, there is an exception to every rule. Readers are usually associated with the word ``audience'' - although reading has more to do with ``seeing'' rather than ``hearing''! This could be because in the old days not many people knew how to read or write. The illiterates had to be read to - they had to ``listen'' to other people reading aloud.

What is the meaning of ``tete-a-tete''? How do you pronounce the word?

(B. Abdul Haleem, Alappuzha, Kerala)

While the first ``e'' in ``tete'' is pronounced like the ``ay'' in ``bay'', ``say'', and ``gay'', the second one is silent. The word rhymes with the words ``date'', ``late'', and ``hate.'' In some American dictionaries, however, the word rhymes with ``set'', ``bet'', and ``get.'' The following ``a'' is like the ``a'' in ``bath'', ``calf'', and ``path.'' Some people however pronounce the ``a'' like the ``a'' in ``china'' and ``amount.'' The main stress is on the second ``tete.''

When you have a ``tete-a-tete'' with someone, you have a private conversation with him/her. Itusually involves an intimate conversation between two people. You know what they say, ``Two is company, three is a crowd.'' The word is French in origin. The first ``e'' of ``tete'' and the ``a'' have accent marks on them. Here are a few examples.

* Braj and Yamuna had a cosy tete-a-tete after the interview.

* I understand they had a romantic tete-a-tete after dinner.

What is the meaning and origin of the expression ``curate's egg''?

(K. Siddharth, Secunderabad)

This is an expression which became quite popular because of a cartoon drawn by George du Maurier in Punch magazine in 1895. The cartoon shows a curate (a priest) and a bishop eating breakfast. The curate, unfortunately, has been served a bad egg. The bishop remarks, ``I am afraid you have got a bad egg.'' Since the curate doesn't want to offend his host, he replies, ``Oh, no My Lord, I assure you! Parts of it are excellent!'' So when you say that something is a ``curate's egg'', it means that it has both good and bad qualities. It is partly good and partly bad. This is a term that is mostly used in British English. Film and drama critics often use this expression to mean that the film or drama being reviewed is passable - it's neither good nor bad. Here are a few examples:

* My favourite hero's latest film is a bit of a curate's egg.

* The University is something of a curate's egg. Elegant old buildings surrounded by ugly modern architecture.

One of the ways of pronouncing the ``u'' in ``curate'' is like the ``u'' in ``book'', ``took'', and ``cook.'' The ``a'' sounds like the ``i'' in ``pit'', ``sit'', and ``hit.'' Some people pronounce it like the ``a'' in ``china.'' The final ``e'' is silent. The stress is on the first syllable.

Which of the following sentences is correct? ``Anyway, I will meet you on Sunday'' or ``Anyways, I will meet on Sunday.''(V. Ravindran, Bangalore)

American English will accept both. You will find that Americans tend to use both ``anyways'' and ``anyway'' in their speech. But they do not accept ``anyways'' in formal writing. The second sentence will be unacceptable in writing.

When I call someone up, should I say, ``Can I speak to...?'', ``May I speak to...?'', or ``Could I speak to ....?''(C. Maneesh Goel, Faridabad)

It depends on the person you are talking to. If you are talking to someone whom you do not know and wish to sound polite, then you could say, ``May I'' or ``Could I.'' Of the two, ``May I'' is considered to be more polite. If, on the other hand, you are talking to someone you know fairly well, then you could say, ``Can I.'' The use of these three will depend on the person you are talking to and how you wish to sound. If you wish to sound polite, use ``May I'' or ``Could I.''

* * *

``The light at the end of a tunnel may be an oncoming train.'' - Anon

S. UPENDRAN

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Devil-may-care