Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 12

 56. “The anger that you sometimes feel trying to unwrap something is called ‘wrap rage'.”

“I see. That's a nice term. The video game that my parents had bought was so tightly packed that it took me nearly twenty minutes to open it. That was the first time I ever experienced wrap rage.”

“I understand wrap rage is quite common in the U.S. and Britain during Christmas.”

“That's not at all surprising. I'm sure...”

“Whenever I buy something for my grandparents, I always repack it so that it's easy to open. I certainly don't want them to experience wrap rage.”

“I wish some of my friends had done the same. By the way, did you send me a gift?”

 

57. “Wishful thinking. But I did call, remember?”

“That's right! But it's cheaper to send a message.”

“True, but it takes me too long. I'm textually challenged.”

“Textually challenged? Does it mean you find it difficult to text?”

“Yes, it does. Someone who is textually challenged finds it difficult to send messages on his cell. He makes the receiver wait because it takes him a long time to type out a simple message.”

“I guess that's the reason my grandfather never responds to my messages. He's textually challenged.”

“That may be true.”

 

58. What is the meaning of ‘be on the horns of a dilemma'?

The expression has more or less the same meaning as ‘between the devil and the deep blue sea'. When you are on the horns of a dilemma, you have to choose between two rather unpleasant options; no matter what you choose, you end up losing.

*If I sell the shares now, I won't make a profit. If I don't sell them, I won't be able to repay the loan. I'm on the horns of a dilemma.

The word ‘dilemma' comes from the Greek ‘dilemma' meaning ‘double proposition', and the expression ‘horns of a dilemma' comes from the world of rhetoric. In a debate, when you present your opponent a ‘dilemma', you provide him with two choices. It does not matter which option he chooses to respond to because either way he will lose the argument; he is in a no-win situation. You are asking your opponent to choose between two horns of a bull, and whichever one he chooses, he is going to be gored.

 

59. What is the difference between ‘worrisome' and ‘worrying'?

In terms of meaning, there is no difference. Americans seem to prefer ‘worrisome' in formal contexts. In British English, ‘worrying' is the preferred form; ‘worrisome' is seldom used by the English because it is considered to be rather old fashioned.

*The Minister said that the increase in petty crime was worrisome indeed.

 

60. How is the word ‘realtor' pronounced?

The ‘e' is like the ‘ee' in ‘fees', ‘bees', and ‘knees', and the ‘a' and ‘o' that follow like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The word is pronounced ‘REE-el-te' with the stress on the first syllable. In American English, ‘realty' is synonymous with ‘real estate'. A ‘realtor', therefore is someone who deals in real estate; unlike the ‘real estate agent' in India, he is a professional who is licensed to sell real estate.

 

A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper

Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above