If an elephant were standing in your room, it would be impossible to ignore it. When you say that a problem is an elephant in the room, you mean it is a very serious problem that everyone is aware of, but chooses to ignore. People try not to talk about it. Another expression which has the same meaning is ‘gorilla in the room’.
*Corruption. The elephant in the room that no politician is willing to talk about.
******
“A fool and her money are soon courted.” — Helen Rowland
Is it okay to say ‘complete novice’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘novice’. The ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘pot’, and ‘got’, and the ‘i’ is like ‘i’ the ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘kit’. The final ‘ce’ sounds like the ‘s’ in ‘sit’, ‘sip’, and ‘sun’. The word is pronounced ‘NO-vis’ with the stress on the first syllable. When you say that someone is a novice, you mean that the person is a beginner; he has no real experience. It is common to hear native speakers of English referring to someone as being a ‘complete novice’. Careful users of the language frown upon this.
*When it comes to tennis, Vijaya is a complete novice.
*When it comes to tennis, Vijaya is a complete novice.
What is the difference between ‘call for’ and ‘call upon’?
When you ‘call on’ or ‘call upon’ someone, you pay a visit to the person. Unlike ‘drop in on’, when you ‘call on’ someone, you usually make an appointment. You let the person know in advance that you are coming. Of the two, ‘call upon’ is considered to be formal.
*While he was in Delhi, the former Prime Minister called upon the President.
*Is it okay if we call on your neighbours this evening?
When you ‘call for’ someone or something, you usually shout for the person or thing. This is just one of the meanings of this phrasal verb.
*Maya stood in front of her house and kept calling for her dog.
*While he was in Delhi, the former Prime Minister called upon the President.
*Is it okay if we call on your neighbours this evening?
When you ‘call for’ someone or something, you usually shout for the person or thing. This is just one of the meanings of this phrasal verb.
*Maya stood in front of her house and kept calling for her dog.
What do you call someone who goes to someone’s party without being invited?
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Are you planning on doing this anytime soon? When you walk into someone’s party or any event without being invited, you become a ‘gatecrasher’. Such people are said to ‘crash’ the party.
*We ran out of food because there were too many gatecrashers.
*We ran out of food because there were too many gatecrashers.
How is the word ‘gaseous’ pronounced?
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There are different ways of pronouncing this word. Some people pronounce the ‘a’ like the ‘ay’ in ‘may’, ‘bay’, and ‘gay’. Others pronounce it like the ‘a’ in ‘ant’, ‘pants’, and ‘apple’. The ‘e’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘kit’, and the final ‘ou’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. No matter how you pronounce the ‘a’, the stress is on the first syllable. The word, meaning ‘consisting of gas or gases’, can be pronounced GAY-si-es or GA-si-es’.
*The teacher told us that steam is water in its gaseous form.
*The teacher told us that steam is water in its gaseous form.
What is the meaning of ‘pencil in’?
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When we write with a pencil, we know it is something that can be erased; it is not permanent. If you ‘pencil in’ an appointment for someone, you are making a temporary appointment for that individual. It is not definite; the appointment can be changed to a later date.
*The dentist said he would pencil me in for next Thursday.
*The dentist said he would pencil me in for next Thursday.
What is the meaning of ‘duh’?
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First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of this word. The ‘u’ is like the ‘u’ in ‘cut’ and ‘but’ and the final ‘h’ is silent. When someone says something, and you respond by saying ‘duh’, you are telling the person that what he has just said is obvious. You are being sarcastic. It’s your way of saying, ‘tell me something I don’t know’. The word, which is considered slang, is frequently used in informal contexts in American English.
Do you know that Ramesh and Sujatha are planning to get married?
Duh!
“Never accept a drink from a urologist.” — Erma Bombeck
Do you know that Ramesh and Sujatha are planning to get married?
Duh!
“Never accept a drink from a urologist.” — Erma Bombeck
What is the meaning of ‘add insult to injury’?
There are times when things don’t go according to the way we had planned. We feel bad about it, and in order to snap out of the terrible mood we are in, we pay a visit to our friends hoping that they will cheer us up. Sometimes, instead of helping us overcome our depression, they succeed in getting us even more upset. The idiom ‘add insult to injury’ means to make a situation that is already bad, worse.
First of all, he was driving on the wrong side of the road, and then to add insult to injury, he proceeded to abuse me for driving slowly!
First of all, he was driving on the wrong side of the road, and then to add insult to injury, he proceeded to abuse me for driving slowly!
How is the word ‘spaghetti’ pronounced?
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The ‘a’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the following ‘ghett’ is pronounced like the word ‘get’. The final ‘i’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘kit’, and the stress is on the second syllable. The word is pronounced ‘spe-GET-i’. It comes from the Italian ‘spago’ meaning ‘thin string’ or ‘twine’. I guess eating twine or little strings is better than eating ‘little worms’: which is what vermicelli means!
How is the word ‘spaghetti’ pronounced?
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The ‘a’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the following ‘ghett’ is pronounced like the word ‘get’. The final ‘i’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘bit’, and ‘kit’, and the stress is on the second syllable. The word is pronounced ‘spe-GET-i’. It comes from the Italian ‘spago’ meaning ‘thin string’ or ‘twine’. I guess eating twine or little strings is better than eating ‘little worms’: which is what vermicelli means!
What is the meaning of ‘designated texter’?
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People nowadays may be able to live without food, water, friends, etc. They may however have problems living without their cell phone! An individual’s life revolves around this wretched instrument. We are so conditioned, that no matter what we are doing — talking to someone, driving, watching a play in a theatre — the moment the cell phone rings, we feel compelled to answer it. These days people don’t just use the cell phone to talk to others, they use it to send and receive messages. In our country, it is not uncommon to see people texting while driving a car or a motorcycle. A ‘designated texter’ is someone who sits next to the driver and reads aloud all the messages that the driver gets on his cell phone during the journey. He also sends messages that the driver wants him to. He makes sure that the driver doesn’t take his eyes off his road.
For some strange reason Abhay is always made the designated texter.
For some strange reason Abhay is always made the designated texter.
What is the meaning of ‘designated texter’?
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People nowadays may be able to live without food, water, friends, etc. They may however have problems living without their cell phone! An individual’s life revolves around this wretched instrument. We are so conditioned, that no matter what we are doing — talking to someone, driving, watching a play in a theatre — the moment the cell phone rings, we feel compelled to answer it. These days people don’t just use the cell phone to talk to others, they use it to send and receive messages. In our country, it is not uncommon to see people texting while driving a car or a motorcycle. A ‘designated texter’ is someone who sits next to the driver and reads aloud all the messages that the driver gets on his cell phone during the journey. He also sends messages that the driver wants him to. He makes sure that the driver doesn’t take his eyes off his road.
For some strange reason Abhay is always made the designated texter.
For some strange reason Abhay is always made the designated texter.
How do you answer the question, ‘What time of day do you like to go swimming?’
When a person asks you this question, he is not interested in knowing whether you like to go swimming during weekends or weekdays. He is more interested in the time that you like to go swimming. He wants to know whether you like to go swimming in the mornings, afternoons or evenings. So when someone asks you ‘What time of day do you like to go swimming?’ your reply could be, ‘In the mornings/evenings.’
Is it okay to say, ‘He returned back home’?
In India, it is common to hear people say, ‘He returned back the book to the library’ and ‘She returned back from Mumbai yesterday.’ The word ‘return’ means to ‘go/come back’. Therefore, there is no need for you to say ‘return back’: the word ‘back’ is redundant in this case. It is okay to say ‘come back’, ‘turn back’, and ‘get back’, but not ‘return back’.
*Please return the book to the library by this evening.
* * *
“Society, my dear, is like salt water, good to swim in but hard to swallow.” —
Arthur Stringer
*Please return the book to the library by this evening.
* * *
“Society, my dear, is like salt water, good to swim in but hard to swallow.” —
Arthur Stringer
What is the difference between ‘harbour someone’ and ‘house someone’?
The two nouns, ‘house’ and ‘harbour’ can be used as verbs as well. When you ‘house’ someone or something, you are providing shelter to the person or thing.
*It’s not possible to house all your relatives in this small flat of ours.
Unlike ‘house’, the word ‘harbour’ when used as a verb has a negative connotation. When you harbour someone, you are performing an illegal act. You are providing shelter to someone who is wanted by the law. Fugitives and criminals are harboured.
*Harish didn’t know that he was harbouring a terrorist.
*It’s not possible to house all your relatives in this small flat of ours.
Unlike ‘house’, the word ‘harbour’ when used as a verb has a negative connotation. When you harbour someone, you are performing an illegal act. You are providing shelter to someone who is wanted by the law. Fugitives and criminals are harboured.
*Harish didn’t know that he was harbouring a terrorist.
Is it okay to say ‘disabuse something’?
No, it isn’t. The expression you have in mind is ‘disabuse someone of something’. When you attempt to ‘disabuse someone of something’, you try to tell the person that the thing he believes in is not true. You are trying to persuade him that he is mistaken.
*My new boss thinks he’s doing a great job. I’m planning to disabuse him of that notion.
*My new boss thinks he’s doing a great job. I’m planning to disabuse him of that notion.
What is the meaning of ‘profundity’?
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Before dealing with the meaning, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The ‘o’ and the ‘i’ are like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The second syllable sounds like the word ‘fund’, and the final ‘y’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘pit’, and ‘sit’. The word is pronounced ‘pre-FUN-de-ti’ with the stress on the second syllable.
When you talk about the profundity of a statement, you are implying that the meaning of the statement runs deep; the person who has made the remark has a clear and deep understanding the problem.
When you talk about the profundity of a statement, you are implying that the meaning of the statement runs deep; the person who has made the remark has a clear and deep understanding the problem.
What is the meaning of ‘pet peeve’?
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‘Peeve’ rhymes with ‘leave’ and ‘weave’, and it means ‘to annoy’. When you refer to some activity or behaviour as being your ‘pet peeve’, what you mean is that you don’t like the activity or behaviour at all. You, in fact, hate it. It is something that you complain about quite frequently. It is also possible to say, ‘pet hate’.
*Students coming late to class. It’s Meera’s pet peeve.
*Students coming late to class. It’s Meera’s pet peeve.
How is the word ‘statute’ pronounced?
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The ‘a’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘cat’, ‘bat’, and ‘rat’, and the ‘t’ that follows sounds like the ‘ch’ in ‘chat’, ‘chop’, and ‘chips’. The ‘u’ is pronounced like the ‘oo’ in ‘cool’ and ‘pool’, and the final ‘te’ is like the ‘t’ in ‘tip’, ‘tap’, and ‘tin’. The word is pronounced ‘STA-choot’ with the stress on the first syllable. This is one way of pronouncing the word. A ‘statute’ is a law which has been formally approved and written down by a law-making body. The rules that govern educational institutions are usually referred to as ‘statutes’.
What is the difference between ‘callous’ and ‘callus’?
Although spelt differently, the two words are pronounced the same way. The ‘a’ in the first syllable is pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘act’, ‘pact’, and ‘fact’. The ‘ou’ and ‘u’ in the second syllable sound like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. Both words are pronounced ‘KA-les’. If someone accuses you of being ‘callous’, what he means is that you are rather cruel; you have no sympathy for other people.
*It may sound callous. But I don’t’ think you should lend her the money.
If you play a lot of cricket, tennis or shuttle, you will notice that your hands become rather rough. The skin around the area where your fingers meet the palm becomes extremely hard. These areas of thickened skin are called ‘calluses’.
*Ramu’s hands and feet were covered with calluses.
******
“It is better for civilization to be going down the drain than to be coming up it.” — Henry Allen
*It may sound callous. But I don’t’ think you should lend her the money.
If you play a lot of cricket, tennis or shuttle, you will notice that your hands become rather rough. The skin around the area where your fingers meet the palm becomes extremely hard. These areas of thickened skin are called ‘calluses’.
*Ramu’s hands and feet were covered with calluses.
******
“It is better for civilization to be going down the drain than to be coming up it.” — Henry Allen
How is the word ‘litterateur’ pronounced?
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on Thursday, June 18, 2009
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The ‘i’ in the first syllable is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’ and ‘bit’; the vowels in the following two syllables are pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘eu’ in the final syllable sounds like the ‘ir’ in ‘shirt’, ‘dirt’, and ‘birth’. One way of pronouncing the word is ‘lit-e-re-TIR’ with the stress on the final syllable. It comes from the Latin ‘litterator’ meaning ‘critic’. A ‘litterateur’ is a literary person; someone who is devoted to the study or writing of literature. He is usually a man of letters: a professional writer.
*The university is planning to honour some of the well known litterateurs
*The university is planning to honour some of the well known litterateurs
What is the meaning of ‘gobsmacked’?
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on Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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This is a word which is mostly used in informal contexts in British English. It is a combination of two words: ‘gob’ and ‘smacked’. The word ‘gob’ is often used in informal contexts to refer to the mouth. The word ‘smacked’, as we know, means to hit someone rather hard. If someone were to hit you hard on the mouth, how would you react? Your automatic reaction would be to cup your hand over the mouth. You would render yourself speechless for a few seconds. The word ‘gobsmacked’ is used to mean ‘utterly astonished, astounded’; you are left totally speechless.
*When the CEO was arrested, we were, like everyone else, gobsmacked.
*When the CEO was arrested, we were, like everyone else, gobsmacked.
nemesis[nemisis]
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Something causing misery or death
conscience [konshuns]
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Motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
No guilty conscience on liberation struggle
No guilty conscience on liberation struggle
impetus[impitus]
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on Monday, June 15, 2009
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A force that moves something along
The act of applying force suddenly
Considering Team India build-up here, I think they had everything going for them - the momentum and impetus was there.
The act of applying force suddenly
Considering Team India build-up here, I think they had everything going for them - the momentum and impetus was there.
impetus[impitus]
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A force that moves something along
The act of applying force suddenly
Considering Team India build-up here, I think they had everything going for them - the momentum and impetus was there.
The act of applying force suddenly
Considering Team India build-up here, I think they had everything going for them - the momentum and impetus was there.
irked[urk]
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Irritate or vex
prompting media speculation of a rift - something which clearly irked Dhoni.
prompting media speculation of a rift - something which clearly irked Dhoni.
irked[urk]
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Irritate or vex
prompting media speculation of a rift - something which clearly irked Dhoni.
prompting media speculation of a rift - something which clearly irked Dhoni.
Does the word `yellular' exist?
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You won't find this word listed in any standard dictionary, but it is being used. It is a combination of `yell' and `cellular'. When someone gets a call on his cell phone, and the connection is bad, what does the person do? In order to be heard, he usually shouts: as if the yelling will make the connection any better! This act of shouting in the hope that you will be audible is called `yellullar'.
* Some idiot on the train went yellular at three in the morning.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
* Some idiot on the train went yellular at three in the morning.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
Does the word `yellular' exist?
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You won't find this word listed in any standard dictionary, but it is being used. It is a combination of `yell' and `cellular'. When someone gets a call on his cell phone, and the connection is bad, what does the person do? In order to be heard, he usually shouts: as if the yelling will make the connection any better! This act of shouting in the hope that you will be audible is called `yellullar'.
* Some idiot on the train went yellular at three in the morning.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
* Some idiot on the train went yellular at three in the morning.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
What is the difference between `complacent' and `complaisant'?
Let's deal with the pronunciation of the two words first. The `o' in the first syllable is like the `a' in `china'. The same is true of the `e' and `a' in the final syllable of both words. The second syllable in `complacent' is like the word `place', while the second syllable in `complaisant' is pronounced like the word `plays'.
The two words are pronounced `kem-PLAY-sent' and `kem-PLAY-zent'. The stress, in both cases, is on the second syllable.
Complacent means `self satisfied'; when you become complacent about something, you are so pleased with yourself and your abilities that you don't feel the need to put in the extra effort required to make something a success. The word is used to show disapproval.
* After winning two tournaments in a row, he became complacent.
Someone who is `complaisant' is ready to oblige people. His main aim is to please people, and is willing to do whatever they want him to.
* If you are looking for a secretary who will be complaisant, hire Hema.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
The two words are pronounced `kem-PLAY-sent' and `kem-PLAY-zent'. The stress, in both cases, is on the second syllable.
Complacent means `self satisfied'; when you become complacent about something, you are so pleased with yourself and your abilities that you don't feel the need to put in the extra effort required to make something a success. The word is used to show disapproval.
* After winning two tournaments in a row, he became complacent.
Someone who is `complaisant' is ready to oblige people. His main aim is to please people, and is willing to do whatever they want him to.
* If you are looking for a secretary who will be complaisant, hire Hema.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
What is the difference between `complacent' and `complaisant'?
Let's deal with the pronunciation of the two words first. The `o' in the first syllable is like the `a' in `china'. The same is true of the `e' and `a' in the final syllable of both words. The second syllable in `complacent' is like the word `place', while the second syllable in `complaisant' is pronounced like the word `plays'.
The two words are pronounced `kem-PLAY-sent' and `kem-PLAY-zent'. The stress, in both cases, is on the second syllable.
Complacent means `self satisfied'; when you become complacent about something, you are so pleased with yourself and your abilities that you don't feel the need to put in the extra effort required to make something a success. The word is used to show disapproval.
* After winning two tournaments in a row, he became complacent.
Someone who is `complaisant' is ready to oblige people. His main aim is to please people, and is willing to do whatever they want him to.
* If you are looking for a secretary who will be complaisant, hire Hema.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
The two words are pronounced `kem-PLAY-sent' and `kem-PLAY-zent'. The stress, in both cases, is on the second syllable.
Complacent means `self satisfied'; when you become complacent about something, you are so pleased with yourself and your abilities that you don't feel the need to put in the extra effort required to make something a success. The word is used to show disapproval.
* After winning two tournaments in a row, he became complacent.
Someone who is `complaisant' is ready to oblige people. His main aim is to please people, and is willing to do whatever they want him to.
* If you are looking for a secretary who will be complaisant, hire Hema.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
boo
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Show displeasure, as after a performance or speech
A cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
A cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
boo
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Show displeasure, as after a performance or speech
A cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
A cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
How is the word `bonhomie' pronounced?
There are several ways of pronouncing this word. I will deal with just two of them. One way is to pronounce the first `o' like the `o' in `pot', `got', and `hot', and the second `o' like the `a' in `china'. The final `ie' sounds like the `i' in `bit', `kit', and `sit'. The word, in this case, is pronounced `BO-ne-mi' with the stress on the first syllable. Some people pronounce the first `o' like the `a' in `bath', `path', and `ask', and the second like the `a' in `china'. They pronounce the final `ie' like the `ee' in `feel', `peel', and `heel'. The word is pronounced `baa-ne-MEE' with the stress on the final syllable. Either way, the `h' remains silent. This word of French origin literally means `good (bon) man (homme)'. The word is mostly used in formal contexts to mean `happy, good natured friendliness.'
* The cheerful bonhomie displayed by the rival candidates surprised everyone.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
* The cheerful bonhomie displayed by the rival candidates surprised everyone.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
How is the word `bonhomie' pronounced?
There are several ways of pronouncing this word. I will deal with just two of them. One way is to pronounce the first `o' like the `o' in `pot', `got', and `hot', and the second `o' like the `a' in `china'. The final `ie' sounds like the `i' in `bit', `kit', and `sit'. The word, in this case, is pronounced `BO-ne-mi' with the stress on the first syllable. Some people pronounce the first `o' like the `a' in `bath', `path', and `ask', and the second like the `a' in `china'. They pronounce the final `ie' like the `ee' in `feel', `peel', and `heel'. The word is pronounced `baa-ne-MEE' with the stress on the final syllable. Either way, the `h' remains silent. This word of French origin literally means `good (bon) man (homme)'. The word is mostly used in formal contexts to mean `happy, good natured friendliness.'
* The cheerful bonhomie displayed by the rival candidates surprised everyone.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
* The cheerful bonhomie displayed by the rival candidates surprised everyone.
* * *
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed for the same reason." - Bumper sticker
Know Your English
“Welcome back! How was your trip to Bombay?”
“Pretty good, actually. It was quite relaxing. No one went off the deep end.”
“What deep end? What are you talking about?”
“When someone goes off the deep end, he becomes angry or hysterical.”
“In other words, the person loses his cool.”
“That’s right! He loses his temper.” “My aunt went off the deep end when her daughter came home well past midnight.”
“That’s a good enough reason to go off the deep end, I guess. My mother went off the deep end when she saw the mess the painters had made.”
“Did your boss go off the deep end when you told him you needed more time to complete the project?”
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“That’s understandable. Met our old friend Sujatha yesterday. Asked me to meet her at the Taj. She said that dinner would be on her.”
“That was nice of her. Did you go to the...”
“But how can dinner be ’on’ someone? You can have dinner ’with’ someone. How can you have it ’on’ someone?”
“When you have dinner with someone, you are...”
“You are eating along with that person. I know that!”
“When you inform someone that dinner is on you, you are telling him that you are treating him. You are going to...”
“In other words, you’ll be paying for the meal. It’s your treat.”
“Exactly! Why don’t you come around one o’clock tomorrow? Lunch will be on me." Sounds tempting, but I can’t. Have to go to the station tomorrow. Why don’t you take your colleague, Arjun?”
“No way! He’ll end up telling me about the niteflix he had the previous...”
“Niteflix? Never came across that word before. What does it mean?”
“Some people, as you know, have very long and complex dreams...”
“I know quite a few people, actually. Some of the dreams that my friend has are as long as a feature film.”
“And that’s what a ’niteflix’ is. A long, complex dream.”
“I see. Do you have niteflix?”
“No, I don’t. My father says he has niteflix every time he goes to sleep.”
“That’s interesting. I wonder if some of our well-known film directors have niteflix?”
“Why don’t you write to them and find out. Anyway, what did Sujatha have to say about her new job?”
“Nothing much, actually. Just said that her new boss doesn’t like her at all.”
“When he hired her, he probably thought she would become his echo chamber. But you know how...”
“Echo chamber? What does it mean?”
“An echo chamber is someone who agrees with everything another person says.”
“The person probably does this because he/she wants to please the other person.”
“Exactly! I’m told Shankar is his wife’s echo chamber.”
“ Why are you going to the station tomorrow?”
“Have to pick up Veeru’s father. You remember Veeru, don’t you? My neighbour who died as a very rich man.”
“One doesn’t die as something. One simply dies. Veeru died a rich man.”
“My uncle too died a very rich man.”
“Too bad you didn’t get any of the money!”
* * *
“The New England Journal of Medicine reports that 9 out of 10 doctors agree that 1 out of 10 doctors is an idiot.” — Jay Leno
“Pretty good, actually. It was quite relaxing. No one went off the deep end.”
“What deep end? What are you talking about?”
“When someone goes off the deep end, he becomes angry or hysterical.”
“In other words, the person loses his cool.”
“That’s right! He loses his temper.” “My aunt went off the deep end when her daughter came home well past midnight.”
“That’s a good enough reason to go off the deep end, I guess. My mother went off the deep end when she saw the mess the painters had made.”
“Did your boss go off the deep end when you told him you needed more time to complete the project?”
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“That’s understandable. Met our old friend Sujatha yesterday. Asked me to meet her at the Taj. She said that dinner would be on her.”
“That was nice of her. Did you go to the...”
“But how can dinner be ’on’ someone? You can have dinner ’with’ someone. How can you have it ’on’ someone?”
“When you have dinner with someone, you are...”
“You are eating along with that person. I know that!”
“When you inform someone that dinner is on you, you are telling him that you are treating him. You are going to...”
“In other words, you’ll be paying for the meal. It’s your treat.”
“Exactly! Why don’t you come around one o’clock tomorrow? Lunch will be on me." Sounds tempting, but I can’t. Have to go to the station tomorrow. Why don’t you take your colleague, Arjun?”
“No way! He’ll end up telling me about the niteflix he had the previous...”
“Niteflix? Never came across that word before. What does it mean?”
“Some people, as you know, have very long and complex dreams...”
“I know quite a few people, actually. Some of the dreams that my friend has are as long as a feature film.”
“And that’s what a ’niteflix’ is. A long, complex dream.”
“I see. Do you have niteflix?”
“No, I don’t. My father says he has niteflix every time he goes to sleep.”
“That’s interesting. I wonder if some of our well-known film directors have niteflix?”
“Why don’t you write to them and find out. Anyway, what did Sujatha have to say about her new job?”
“Nothing much, actually. Just said that her new boss doesn’t like her at all.”
“When he hired her, he probably thought she would become his echo chamber. But you know how...”
“Echo chamber? What does it mean?”
“An echo chamber is someone who agrees with everything another person says.”
“The person probably does this because he/she wants to please the other person.”
“Exactly! I’m told Shankar is his wife’s echo chamber.”
“ Why are you going to the station tomorrow?”
“Have to pick up Veeru’s father. You remember Veeru, don’t you? My neighbour who died as a very rich man.”
“One doesn’t die as something. One simply dies. Veeru died a rich man.”
“My uncle too died a very rich man.”
“Too bad you didn’t get any of the money!”
* * *
“The New England Journal of Medicine reports that 9 out of 10 doctors agree that 1 out of 10 doctors is an idiot.” — Jay Leno
Know Your English
“Welcome back! How was your trip to Bombay?”
“Pretty good, actually. It was quite relaxing. No one went off the deep end.”
“What deep end? What are you talking about?”
“When someone goes off the deep end, he becomes angry or hysterical.”
“In other words, the person loses his cool.”
“That’s right! He loses his temper.” “My aunt went off the deep end when her daughter came home well past midnight.”
“That’s a good enough reason to go off the deep end, I guess. My mother went off the deep end when she saw the mess the painters had made.”
“Did your boss go off the deep end when you told him you needed more time to complete the project?”
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“That’s understandable. Met our old friend Sujatha yesterday. Asked me to meet her at the Taj. She said that dinner would be on her.”
“That was nice of her. Did you go to the...”
“But how can dinner be ’on’ someone? You can have dinner ’with’ someone. How can you have it ’on’ someone?”
“When you have dinner with someone, you are...”
“You are eating along with that person. I know that!”
“When you inform someone that dinner is on you, you are telling him that you are treating him. You are going to...”
“In other words, you’ll be paying for the meal. It’s your treat.”
“Exactly! Why don’t you come around one o’clock tomorrow? Lunch will be on me." Sounds tempting, but I can’t. Have to go to the station tomorrow. Why don’t you take your colleague, Arjun?”
“No way! He’ll end up telling me about the niteflix he had the previous...”
“Niteflix? Never came across that word before. What does it mean?”
“Some people, as you know, have very long and complex dreams...”
“I know quite a few people, actually. Some of the dreams that my friend has are as long as a feature film.”
“And that’s what a ’niteflix’ is. A long, complex dream.”
“I see. Do you have niteflix?”
“No, I don’t. My father says he has niteflix every time he goes to sleep.”
“That’s interesting. I wonder if some of our well-known film directors have niteflix?”
“Why don’t you write to them and find out. Anyway, what did Sujatha have to say about her new job?”
“Nothing much, actually. Just said that her new boss doesn’t like her at all.”
“When he hired her, he probably thought she would become his echo chamber. But you know how...”
“Echo chamber? What does it mean?”
“An echo chamber is someone who agrees with everything another person says.”
“The person probably does this because he/she wants to please the other person.”
“Exactly! I’m told Shankar is his wife’s echo chamber.”
“ Why are you going to the station tomorrow?”
“Have to pick up Veeru’s father. You remember Veeru, don’t you? My neighbour who died as a very rich man.”
“One doesn’t die as something. One simply dies. Veeru died a rich man.”
“My uncle too died a very rich man.”
“Too bad you didn’t get any of the money!”
* * *
“The New England Journal of Medicine reports that 9 out of 10 doctors agree that 1 out of 10 doctors is an idiot.” — Jay Leno
“Pretty good, actually. It was quite relaxing. No one went off the deep end.”
“What deep end? What are you talking about?”
“When someone goes off the deep end, he becomes angry or hysterical.”
“In other words, the person loses his cool.”
“That’s right! He loses his temper.” “My aunt went off the deep end when her daughter came home well past midnight.”
“That’s a good enough reason to go off the deep end, I guess. My mother went off the deep end when she saw the mess the painters had made.”
“Did your boss go off the deep end when you told him you needed more time to complete the project?”
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“That’s understandable. Met our old friend Sujatha yesterday. Asked me to meet her at the Taj. She said that dinner would be on her.”
“That was nice of her. Did you go to the...”
“But how can dinner be ’on’ someone? You can have dinner ’with’ someone. How can you have it ’on’ someone?”
“When you have dinner with someone, you are...”
“You are eating along with that person. I know that!”
“When you inform someone that dinner is on you, you are telling him that you are treating him. You are going to...”
“In other words, you’ll be paying for the meal. It’s your treat.”
“Exactly! Why don’t you come around one o’clock tomorrow? Lunch will be on me." Sounds tempting, but I can’t. Have to go to the station tomorrow. Why don’t you take your colleague, Arjun?”
“No way! He’ll end up telling me about the niteflix he had the previous...”
“Niteflix? Never came across that word before. What does it mean?”
“Some people, as you know, have very long and complex dreams...”
“I know quite a few people, actually. Some of the dreams that my friend has are as long as a feature film.”
“And that’s what a ’niteflix’ is. A long, complex dream.”
“I see. Do you have niteflix?”
“No, I don’t. My father says he has niteflix every time he goes to sleep.”
“That’s interesting. I wonder if some of our well-known film directors have niteflix?”
“Why don’t you write to them and find out. Anyway, what did Sujatha have to say about her new job?”
“Nothing much, actually. Just said that her new boss doesn’t like her at all.”
“When he hired her, he probably thought she would become his echo chamber. But you know how...”
“Echo chamber? What does it mean?”
“An echo chamber is someone who agrees with everything another person says.”
“The person probably does this because he/she wants to please the other person.”
“Exactly! I’m told Shankar is his wife’s echo chamber.”
“ Why are you going to the station tomorrow?”
“Have to pick up Veeru’s father. You remember Veeru, don’t you? My neighbour who died as a very rich man.”
“One doesn’t die as something. One simply dies. Veeru died a rich man.”
“My uncle too died a very rich man.”
“Too bad you didn’t get any of the money!”
* * *
“The New England Journal of Medicine reports that 9 out of 10 doctors agree that 1 out of 10 doctors is an idiot.” — Jay Leno
What is the meaning of ‘greased lightning’?
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We know what ‘grease’ is. It’s a lubricant that we frequently apply to machinery so that it runs smoothly. When a machine is greased, it runs much faster and smoother. So what would happen if lightning were to be greased? It would move even faster. When you say that someone moves like ‘greased lightning’, you mean he moves very fast. This expression, which originated in the U.S., can also be used to mean ‘powerful’.
*Don’t let the dented body fool you. This little car is greased lightning.
******
“Nothing is often a good thing to say, often a clever thing to say.” — Will Durant
*Don’t let the dented body fool you. This little car is greased lightning.
******
“Nothing is often a good thing to say, often a clever thing to say.” — Will Durant
What is the meaning of ‘greased lightning’?
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We know what ‘grease’ is. It’s a lubricant that we frequently apply to machinery so that it runs smoothly. When a machine is greased, it runs much faster and smoother. So what would happen if lightning were to be greased? It would move even faster. When you say that someone moves like ‘greased lightning’, you mean he moves very fast. This expression, which originated in the U.S., can also be used to mean ‘powerful’.
*Don’t let the dented body fool you. This little car is greased lightning.
******
“Nothing is often a good thing to say, often a clever thing to say.” — Will Durant
*Don’t let the dented body fool you. This little car is greased lightning.
******
“Nothing is often a good thing to say, often a clever thing to say.” — Will Durant
Is it okay to say, ‘He doesn’t want to go to anywhere’?
No, it isn’t. The word ‘anywhere’, like ‘somewhere’, is not preceded by prepositions like ‘in’, ‘at’, and ‘to’. We cannot say, ‘The Registrar is going to somewhere/anywhere.’ It is also important to remember that the words ‘there’, ‘here’, ‘upstairs’, and ‘downstairs’ are never preceded by ‘to’ either.
*The children are too tired to go anywhere.
*The children are too tired to go anywhere.
Is it okay to say, ‘He doesn’t want to go to anywhere’?
No, it isn’t. The word ‘anywhere’, like ‘somewhere’, is not preceded by prepositions like ‘in’, ‘at’, and ‘to’. We cannot say, ‘The Registrar is going to somewhere/anywhere.’ It is also important to remember that the words ‘there’, ‘here’, ‘upstairs’, and ‘downstairs’ are never preceded by ‘to’ either.
*The children are too tired to go anywhere.
*The children are too tired to go anywhere.
How do you refer to someone who in his 60s?
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sexagenarian['seksujunehreeum]
Someone whose age is in the sixties
You must be thinking of the people in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. They are all pretty old, aren’t they? A person who is in his 60s is usually referred to as a ‘sexagenarian’. The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘sex’, and the following ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘g’ is like the ‘j’ in ‘juice’ and ‘joke’, and the ‘e’ like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’, ‘bit’, and ‘pit’. The ‘a’ is like the ‘ai’ in ‘fair’, ‘hair’, and ‘pair’. The word is pronounced ‘sex-a-ji-NAI-ri-en with the stress on the fourth syllable.
*The teenager said she was in love with a sexagenarian.
Someone whose age is in the sixties
You must be thinking of the people in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. They are all pretty old, aren’t they? A person who is in his 60s is usually referred to as a ‘sexagenarian’. The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘sex’, and the following ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘g’ is like the ‘j’ in ‘juice’ and ‘joke’, and the ‘e’ like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’, ‘bit’, and ‘pit’. The ‘a’ is like the ‘ai’ in ‘fair’, ‘hair’, and ‘pair’. The word is pronounced ‘sex-a-ji-NAI-ri-en with the stress on the fourth syllable.
*The teenager said she was in love with a sexagenarian.
How do you refer to someone who in his 60s?
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sexagenarian['seksujunehreeum]
Someone whose age is in the sixties
You must be thinking of the people in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. They are all pretty old, aren’t they? A person who is in his 60s is usually referred to as a ‘sexagenarian’. The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘sex’, and the following ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘g’ is like the ‘j’ in ‘juice’ and ‘joke’, and the ‘e’ like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’, ‘bit’, and ‘pit’. The ‘a’ is like the ‘ai’ in ‘fair’, ‘hair’, and ‘pair’. The word is pronounced ‘sex-a-ji-NAI-ri-en with the stress on the fourth syllable.
*The teenager said she was in love with a sexagenarian.
Someone whose age is in the sixties
You must be thinking of the people in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. They are all pretty old, aren’t they? A person who is in his 60s is usually referred to as a ‘sexagenarian’. The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘sex’, and the following ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘g’ is like the ‘j’ in ‘juice’ and ‘joke’, and the ‘e’ like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’, ‘bit’, and ‘pit’. The ‘a’ is like the ‘ai’ in ‘fair’, ‘hair’, and ‘pair’. The word is pronounced ‘sex-a-ji-NAI-ri-en with the stress on the fourth syllable.
*The teenager said she was in love with a sexagenarian.
Calligraphy [ ku'ligurufee]
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Calligraphy is an art that just about anyone can do. All you need is a pen and paper, and you're ready to do calligraphy! Indeed, it requires very few materials - you don't need very much space - and, since you can probably write anyway, you already know the basics!
Calligraphy is an art form in which patience and attention to detail are more important than artistic talent. That means you don't have to be an "artist" to be good at calligraphy!
Calligraphy is a whole lot of fun and can be enjoyed by young and old alike. I have had students as young as 7 years old and as old as...(well, maybe I"d better leave that one unsaid!). It is one of the most enjoyable skills that a person can acquire. In short, calligraphy is really FUN!
There are some wonderfully gifted calligraphers (see links) whose work can inspire us to strive for excellence. However, no one should ever look at work of this calliber and conclude that there is no room for amateurs. Remember, in the end, we are obligated to please just one critic - ourselves.
There are a lot of ways that people can use use their calligraphy. Just look at the list below of things you can create. What's more, you'll have the opportunity to use your calligraphy skills every time you write!
Calligraphy is an art form in which patience and attention to detail are more important than artistic talent. That means you don't have to be an "artist" to be good at calligraphy!
Calligraphy is a whole lot of fun and can be enjoyed by young and old alike. I have had students as young as 7 years old and as old as...(well, maybe I"d better leave that one unsaid!). It is one of the most enjoyable skills that a person can acquire. In short, calligraphy is really FUN!
There are some wonderfully gifted calligraphers (see links) whose work can inspire us to strive for excellence. However, no one should ever look at work of this calliber and conclude that there is no room for amateurs. Remember, in the end, we are obligated to please just one critic - ourselves.
There are a lot of ways that people can use use their calligraphy. Just look at the list below of things you can create. What's more, you'll have the opportunity to use your calligraphy skills every time you write!
Calligraphy [ ku'ligurufee]
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Calligraphy is an art that just about anyone can do. All you need is a pen and paper, and you're ready to do calligraphy! Indeed, it requires very few materials - you don't need very much space - and, since you can probably write anyway, you already know the basics!
Calligraphy is an art form in which patience and attention to detail are more important than artistic talent. That means you don't have to be an "artist" to be good at calligraphy!
Calligraphy is a whole lot of fun and can be enjoyed by young and old alike. I have had students as young as 7 years old and as old as...(well, maybe I"d better leave that one unsaid!). It is one of the most enjoyable skills that a person can acquire. In short, calligraphy is really FUN!
There are some wonderfully gifted calligraphers (see links) whose work can inspire us to strive for excellence. However, no one should ever look at work of this calliber and conclude that there is no room for amateurs. Remember, in the end, we are obligated to please just one critic - ourselves.
There are a lot of ways that people can use use their calligraphy. Just look at the list below of things you can create. What's more, you'll have the opportunity to use your calligraphy skills every time you write!
Calligraphy is an art form in which patience and attention to detail are more important than artistic talent. That means you don't have to be an "artist" to be good at calligraphy!
Calligraphy is a whole lot of fun and can be enjoyed by young and old alike. I have had students as young as 7 years old and as old as...(well, maybe I"d better leave that one unsaid!). It is one of the most enjoyable skills that a person can acquire. In short, calligraphy is really FUN!
There are some wonderfully gifted calligraphers (see links) whose work can inspire us to strive for excellence. However, no one should ever look at work of this calliber and conclude that there is no room for amateurs. Remember, in the end, we are obligated to please just one critic - ourselves.
There are a lot of ways that people can use use their calligraphy. Just look at the list below of things you can create. What's more, you'll have the opportunity to use your calligraphy skills every time you write!
Which is correct: None of you have/has answered the question correctly.
Both are correct. The word ‘none’ is actually from ‘not one’. Based on this, people have argued that when ‘none of’ precedes a plural noun, the verb that follows it must be singular. Nowadays, it is okay to use either a singular or a plural verb with ‘none of’. In formal contexts, the British prefer a singular verb. The Americans, on the other hand, mostly use a plural verb after ‘none of’.
*None of my father’s articles have/has been published in that journal.
*None of my father’s articles have/has been published in that journal.
Which is correct: None of you have/has answered the question correctly.
Both are correct. The word ‘none’ is actually from ‘not one’. Based on this, people have argued that when ‘none of’ precedes a plural noun, the verb that follows it must be singular. Nowadays, it is okay to use either a singular or a plural verb with ‘none of’. In formal contexts, the British prefer a singular verb. The Americans, on the other hand, mostly use a plural verb after ‘none of’.
*None of my father’s articles have/has been published in that journal.
*None of my father’s articles have/has been published in that journal.
litterateur
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on Monday, June 8, 2009
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The ‘i’ in the first syllable is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’ and ‘bit’; the vowels in the following two syllables are pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘eu’ in the final syllable sounds like the ‘ir’ in ‘shirt’, ‘dirt’, and ‘birth’. One way of pronouncing the word is ‘lit-e-re-TIR’ with the stress on the final syllable. It comes from the Latin ‘litterator’ meaning ‘critic’. A ‘litterateur’ is a literary person; someone who is devoted to the study or writing of literature. He is usually a man of letters: a professional writer.
*The university is planning to honour some of the well known litterateurs
*The university is planning to honour some of the well known litterateurs
litterateur
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The ‘i’ in the first syllable is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’ and ‘bit’; the vowels in the following two syllables are pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘eu’ in the final syllable sounds like the ‘ir’ in ‘shirt’, ‘dirt’, and ‘birth’. One way of pronouncing the word is ‘lit-e-re-TIR’ with the stress on the final syllable. It comes from the Latin ‘litterator’ meaning ‘critic’. A ‘litterateur’ is a literary person; someone who is devoted to the study or writing of literature. He is usually a man of letters: a professional writer.
*The university is planning to honour some of the well known litterateurs
*The university is planning to honour some of the well known litterateurs
effigy[efigee]
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on Sunday, June 7, 2009
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Nouneffigy[efigee]
1.A representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
1.A representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
effigy[efigee]
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Nouneffigy[efigee]
1.A representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
1.A representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
‘beyond his ken’
The word ‘ken’ is Scottish in origin, and it is means ‘to know someone or something’. Therefore, when you say that something is ‘beyond your ken’, what you mean is that you do not know anything about it. It is something that is beyond your understanding.
*Please don’t talk to me about grammar. It is just beyond my ken.
*Please don’t talk to me about grammar. It is just beyond my ken.
‘beyond his ken’
The word ‘ken’ is Scottish in origin, and it is means ‘to know someone or something’. Therefore, when you say that something is ‘beyond your ken’, what you mean is that you do not know anything about it. It is something that is beyond your understanding.
*Please don’t talk to me about grammar. It is just beyond my ken.
*Please don’t talk to me about grammar. It is just beyond my ken.
homage[hómiji]
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on Friday, June 5, 2009
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Noun:homage
1.Respectful deference
The ‘o’ in the first syllable sounds like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘pot’, and ‘got’, while the ‘a’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and ‘sit’. The ‘g’ is pronounced like the ‘j’ in ‘just’, ‘jump’, and ‘juice’, and the final ‘e’ is silent. The word is pronounced ‘HO-mij’ with the stress on the first syllable. When you pay ‘homage’ to someone, you usually show respect to him and say nice things about him. You have great admiration for the person, and as a result praise him for his achievements.
*We must pay homage to the man and his incredible achievements.
1.Respectful deference
The ‘o’ in the first syllable sounds like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘pot’, and ‘got’, while the ‘a’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and ‘sit’. The ‘g’ is pronounced like the ‘j’ in ‘just’, ‘jump’, and ‘juice’, and the final ‘e’ is silent. The word is pronounced ‘HO-mij’ with the stress on the first syllable. When you pay ‘homage’ to someone, you usually show respect to him and say nice things about him. You have great admiration for the person, and as a result praise him for his achievements.
*We must pay homage to the man and his incredible achievements.
homage[hómiji]
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Noun:homage
1.Respectful deference
The ‘o’ in the first syllable sounds like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘pot’, and ‘got’, while the ‘a’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and ‘sit’. The ‘g’ is pronounced like the ‘j’ in ‘just’, ‘jump’, and ‘juice’, and the final ‘e’ is silent. The word is pronounced ‘HO-mij’ with the stress on the first syllable. When you pay ‘homage’ to someone, you usually show respect to him and say nice things about him. You have great admiration for the person, and as a result praise him for his achievements.
*We must pay homage to the man and his incredible achievements.
1.Respectful deference
The ‘o’ in the first syllable sounds like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘pot’, and ‘got’, while the ‘a’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and ‘sit’. The ‘g’ is pronounced like the ‘j’ in ‘just’, ‘jump’, and ‘juice’, and the final ‘e’ is silent. The word is pronounced ‘HO-mij’ with the stress on the first syllable. When you pay ‘homage’ to someone, you usually show respect to him and say nice things about him. You have great admiration for the person, and as a result praise him for his achievements.
*We must pay homage to the man and his incredible achievements.
heydays[heydey]
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1.The period of greatest prosperity or productivity
heydays[heydey]
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1.The period of greatest prosperity or productivity
rift
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Noun rift
1.A gap between cloud masses
"the sun shone through a rift in the clouds"
2.A narrow fissure in rock
3.A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)
1.A gap between cloud masses
"the sun shone through a rift in the clouds"
2.A narrow fissure in rock
3.A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)
rift
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Noun rift
1.A gap between cloud masses
"the sun shone through a rift in the clouds"
2.A narrow fissure in rock
3.A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)
1.A gap between cloud masses
"the sun shone through a rift in the clouds"
2.A narrow fissure in rock
3.A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)
shutterbugs
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Noun: A photography enthusiast
They smiled nervously and struck happy poses for the shutterbugs and TV cameras.
They smiled nervously and struck happy poses for the shutterbugs and TV cameras.
shutterbugs
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Noun: A photography enthusiast
They smiled nervously and struck happy poses for the shutterbugs and TV cameras.
They smiled nervously and struck happy poses for the shutterbugs and TV cameras.
Cold shoulder
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Verb:Cold-shoulder kówld' shówldu()
1.Pay no attention to, disrespect
2."She cold-shouldered her ex-fiancé"
Noun: Cold shoulder
1.A refusal to recognize someone you know
Dhoni giving Viru the cold shoulder?
1.Pay no attention to, disrespect
2."She cold-shouldered her ex-fiancé"
Noun: Cold shoulder
1.A refusal to recognize someone you know
Dhoni giving Viru the cold shoulder?
Cold shoulder
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Verb:Cold-shoulder kówld' shówldu()
1.Pay no attention to, disrespect
2."She cold-shouldered her ex-fiancé"
Noun: Cold shoulder
1.A refusal to recognize someone you know
Dhoni giving Viru the cold shoulder?
1.Pay no attention to, disrespect
2."She cold-shouldered her ex-fiancé"
Noun: Cold shoulder
1.A refusal to recognize someone you know
Dhoni giving Viru the cold shoulder?
face-off[feys óf]
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Noun: face-off [feys óf]
1.A hostile disagreement face-to-face.
2.(ice hockey) the method of starting play; a referee drops the puck between two opposing players
Verb : face of
1.Start a game by a face-off
ex:Dhoni & Sehwag had an ugly face-off during a team meeting
1.A hostile disagreement face-to-face.
2.(ice hockey) the method of starting play; a referee drops the puck between two opposing players
Verb : face of
1.Start a game by a face-off
ex:Dhoni & Sehwag had an ugly face-off during a team meeting
face-off[feys óf]
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Noun: face-off [feys óf]
1.A hostile disagreement face-to-face.
2.(ice hockey) the method of starting play; a referee drops the puck between two opposing players
Verb : face of
1.Start a game by a face-off
ex:Dhoni & Sehwag had an ugly face-off during a team meeting
1.A hostile disagreement face-to-face.
2.(ice hockey) the method of starting play; a referee drops the puck between two opposing players
Verb : face of
1.Start a game by a face-off
ex:Dhoni & Sehwag had an ugly face-off during a team meeting
‘medical tourism’?
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on Thursday, June 4, 2009
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It is the practice of visiting other countries for medical reasons. Visiting a doctor has become very expensive these days. People living in the so called ‘developed’ countries have a similar problem: some just cannot afford healthcare. When such people are advised to undergo a medical procedure, many choose to pack their bags and set off to a ‘developing’ country like India where they can get the procedure done for a fraction of the cost. These people who visit other countries for medical reasons are called ‘medical tourists’.
“Falling in love consists merely in uncorking the imagination and bottling the common sense.” — Helen Rowland
“Falling in love consists merely in uncorking the imagination and bottling the common sense.” — Helen Rowland
‘medical tourism’?
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It is the practice of visiting other countries for medical reasons. Visiting a doctor has become very expensive these days. People living in the so called ‘developed’ countries have a similar problem: some just cannot afford healthcare. When such people are advised to undergo a medical procedure, many choose to pack their bags and set off to a ‘developing’ country like India where they can get the procedure done for a fraction of the cost. These people who visit other countries for medical reasons are called ‘medical tourists’.
“Falling in love consists merely in uncorking the imagination and bottling the common sense.” — Helen Rowland
“Falling in love consists merely in uncorking the imagination and bottling the common sense.” — Helen Rowland
‘straw in the wind’?
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What would happen if you were to leave a straw in the wind? It’ll probably get blown away; but in the process, it will tell you something. It will give you information about the direction in which the wind is blowing. When you say that something is a straw in the wind, what you mean is that it is a sign of things to come; a small hint of what is likely to happen in the future.
*There are straws in the wind which suggest that the two companies will go belly up.
*The constant bickering is a straw in the wind indicating future problems for the newly married couple.
*There are straws in the wind which suggest that the two companies will go belly up.
*The constant bickering is a straw in the wind indicating future problems for the newly married couple.
‘straw in the wind’?
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What would happen if you were to leave a straw in the wind? It’ll probably get blown away; but in the process, it will tell you something. It will give you information about the direction in which the wind is blowing. When you say that something is a straw in the wind, what you mean is that it is a sign of things to come; a small hint of what is likely to happen in the future.
*There are straws in the wind which suggest that the two companies will go belly up.
*The constant bickering is a straw in the wind indicating future problems for the newly married couple.
*There are straws in the wind which suggest that the two companies will go belly up.
*The constant bickering is a straw in the wind indicating future problems for the newly married couple.
‘apoplexy’ and ‘apocalypse’?
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First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘apoplexy’. The ‘a’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘cat’, ‘bat’, and ‘hat’, and the following ‘o’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. ‘Plex’ rhymes with ‘flex’, and the final ‘y’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’ and ‘bit’. The word is pronounced ‘A-pe-plek-si’ with the stress on the first syllable. When someone has a fit of apoplexy, he becomes extremely angry.
In a fit of apoplexy, the CEO threw the paperweight at the plasma TV.
The word can also be used to refer to a stroke caused by a brain haemorrhage. ‘Apoplexy’ comes from the Greek ‘apoplexia’ meaning ‘disable/cripple by a stroke’.
The ‘a’ in the first and third syllable of ‘apocalypse’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘o’ is pronounced like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘got’, and ‘pot’; and the final ‘lypse’ sounds like the word ‘lips’. The word is pronounced ‘e-PO-ke-lips’ with the stress on the second syllable. When you talk about ‘the Apocalypse’, you are talking about the total destruction of the world.
Some people became rather uncomfortable when the priest talked about the Apocalypse.
The word can also be used in everyday contexts to refer to an event which brings about destruction and radical change.
The documentary was about what happens after a great nuclear apocalypse.
In a fit of apoplexy, the CEO threw the paperweight at the plasma TV.
The word can also be used to refer to a stroke caused by a brain haemorrhage. ‘Apoplexy’ comes from the Greek ‘apoplexia’ meaning ‘disable/cripple by a stroke’.
The ‘a’ in the first and third syllable of ‘apocalypse’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘o’ is pronounced like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘got’, and ‘pot’; and the final ‘lypse’ sounds like the word ‘lips’. The word is pronounced ‘e-PO-ke-lips’ with the stress on the second syllable. When you talk about ‘the Apocalypse’, you are talking about the total destruction of the world.
Some people became rather uncomfortable when the priest talked about the Apocalypse.
The word can also be used in everyday contexts to refer to an event which brings about destruction and radical change.
The documentary was about what happens after a great nuclear apocalypse.
‘apoplexy’ and ‘apocalypse’?
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SOORAJ
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First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘apoplexy’. The ‘a’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘cat’, ‘bat’, and ‘hat’, and the following ‘o’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. ‘Plex’ rhymes with ‘flex’, and the final ‘y’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘sit’ and ‘bit’. The word is pronounced ‘A-pe-plek-si’ with the stress on the first syllable. When someone has a fit of apoplexy, he becomes extremely angry.
In a fit of apoplexy, the CEO threw the paperweight at the plasma TV.
The word can also be used to refer to a stroke caused by a brain haemorrhage. ‘Apoplexy’ comes from the Greek ‘apoplexia’ meaning ‘disable/cripple by a stroke’.
The ‘a’ in the first and third syllable of ‘apocalypse’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘o’ is pronounced like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘got’, and ‘pot’; and the final ‘lypse’ sounds like the word ‘lips’. The word is pronounced ‘e-PO-ke-lips’ with the stress on the second syllable. When you talk about ‘the Apocalypse’, you are talking about the total destruction of the world.
Some people became rather uncomfortable when the priest talked about the Apocalypse.
The word can also be used in everyday contexts to refer to an event which brings about destruction and radical change.
The documentary was about what happens after a great nuclear apocalypse.
In a fit of apoplexy, the CEO threw the paperweight at the plasma TV.
The word can also be used to refer to a stroke caused by a brain haemorrhage. ‘Apoplexy’ comes from the Greek ‘apoplexia’ meaning ‘disable/cripple by a stroke’.
The ‘a’ in the first and third syllable of ‘apocalypse’ sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘o’ is pronounced like the ‘o’ in ‘hot’, ‘got’, and ‘pot’; and the final ‘lypse’ sounds like the word ‘lips’. The word is pronounced ‘e-PO-ke-lips’ with the stress on the second syllable. When you talk about ‘the Apocalypse’, you are talking about the total destruction of the world.
Some people became rather uncomfortable when the priest talked about the Apocalypse.
The word can also be used in everyday contexts to refer to an event which brings about destruction and radical change.
The documentary was about what happens after a great nuclear apocalypse.
‘paean’
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The first syllable rhymes with the words ‘bee’, ‘see’, and ‘fee’. The ‘ea’ in the second syllable sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced ‘PEE.en’ with the stress on the first syllable.
A ‘paean’ was originally a song sung in honour of the Greek god Apollo. Nowadays, the word is being used to refer to any work — film, song, piece of writing, etc — which praises someone or something.
The song is a paean to love and commitment.
A ‘paean’ was originally a song sung in honour of the Greek god Apollo. Nowadays, the word is being used to refer to any work — film, song, piece of writing, etc — which praises someone or something.
The song is a paean to love and commitment.
‘paean’
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The first syllable rhymes with the words ‘bee’, ‘see’, and ‘fee’. The ‘ea’ in the second syllable sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced ‘PEE.en’ with the stress on the first syllable.
A ‘paean’ was originally a song sung in honour of the Greek god Apollo. Nowadays, the word is being used to refer to any work — film, song, piece of writing, etc — which praises someone or something.
The song is a paean to love and commitment.
A ‘paean’ was originally a song sung in honour of the Greek god Apollo. Nowadays, the word is being used to refer to any work — film, song, piece of writing, etc — which praises someone or something.
The song is a paean to love and commitment.