86. What is the meaning of ‘megaphone diplomacy'?
A megaphone, as we know, is a cone-shaped device which people speak into when they are in a crowd in order to make their voice sound louder. In the past, film directors used this device to amplify their voice. Countries or parties which don't see eye to eye about many things, usually meet and discuss their problems, and try to find a solution. Instead of doing this, sometimes, a country may choose to let the other know what it should do through press releases and various announcements. This is known as ‘ megaphone diplomacy'. The aim is to force the other country into doing what you want them to.
* If we are to achieve peace in this region, it's not going to be through megaphone diplomacy.
87. How is the word ‘paraprosdokian' pronounced?
This is a word of Greek origin and it literally means, ‘beyond expectation'. The first two syllables sound like the word ‘para'; the ‘o' in the third is pronounced like the ‘a' in ‘ china'. The ‘do' rhymes with the words ‘so', ‘no', and ‘toe' and the final ‘ ian' sounds like the ‘ian' in ‘librarian', and ‘historian'. The word is pronounced pa-ra-pres-DO-ki-en with the stress on the fourth syllable. A ‘paraprosdokian sentence' is mostly used by stand-up comedians to create an effect. In such type of sentences, the second half is so unexpected that it usually surprises the listener, compelling him to reinterpret the first half. Here are a few well-known examples. ‘War does not determine who is right – only who is left', and ‘ Where there is a will, I want to be in it.'
88. What is the meaning and origin of ‘to the bitter end'?
When you tell someone that you will be with him to the bitter end, you mean that you will stay with the individual till the very end. You will be with him through thick and thin, come what may. Usually, the end is rather unpleasant.
* We may have lost, but we fought to the bitter end.
In the early days of shipping, the anchor rope was tied to a device on the ship's bow called the ‘ bitt'. The portion of the rope that was tied to the ‘bitt' was called ‘bitter end'. When the anchor was tossed overboard, and you reached the bitter end, it implied that there was no more rope to be ‘paid out'. You had come to the very end.
89. “Why do you have a towel wrapped around your head?”
“I have a splitting headache. Had a two hour meeting with my new boss.”
“The meeting was that boring, eh?”
“The meeting was ok. But my new boss is an airplane talker.”
90. “Airplane talker? Did he bore you by talking about planes all the time?”
“No. An airplane talker is someone who sits or stands close to you and talks in a loud voice.”
“Exactly! You feel totally helpless because there is no escaping the person. Your friend Dileep is a total airplane talker.”
“I agree. Several of my uncles are airplane talkers.”
“I feel that some of the news anchors are airplane talkers. They seem....”
“You are absolutely right. Some of them forget that they have a mike.”
“They don't need one, if you ask me.”
“True. So, what's your new boss like?”
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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