Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 25
121. What is the meaning of ‘gone for a toss'?
Very often we hear someone saying, ‘My new cell phone has gone for a toss' or ‘My plans went for a toss.' What do they mean by this? Well, when a teenager says that his cell phone has gone for a toss, he means that it has stopped working or that it is not working properly. Similarly, when someone's plans go for a toss, things don't go the way he/she had anticipated or planned. This frequently heard expression is used only in India; native speakers of English do not say ‘gone for a toss'. They would probably use the word ‘haywire' in some of the contexts. They would say, ‘My cell phone has gone haywire' and ‘My plans went haywire'.
122. What is the difference between ‘tread on' and ‘tread upon'?
As far as the meaning is concerned, there is no difference between the two. When you tread (up) on someone or something, you step on the person or thing. ‘Tread upon' is considered the more formal of the two.
*We've just watered the lawn. Please don't tread (up) on it.
123. Disinterested Uninterested
Much to the dismay of many, the difference in meaning between ‘disinterested’ and ‘uninterested’ has become somewhat blurred, and as a result, there is a tendency to use the two words interchangeably nowadays – especially, in informal contexts. This current practice wouldn’t have gone down well with Isaac Asimov, the prolific writer of science fiction. Talking about the difference between the two words, he once declared emphatically, “I’m very proud of knowing the distinction and insist on it, correcting others freely.”
Most people have no problem in using the word ‘uninterested’. They know it is the opposite of ‘interested’; when you say you are ‘uninterested’ in a topic, you mean that it does not interest you, You perhaps find it boring, and as result, do not wish to learn or know anything about it. ‘Not interested’ can be replaced by ‘uninterested’.
Rahul, as usual, seemed uninterested in what was happening around him.
People are shocked when I tell them I’m uninterested in cricket.
‘Disinterested’, on the other hand, has two very different meanings. Its primary meaning is ‘objective’. Someone who is ‘disinterested’ remains ‘impartial’; like a Judge in the courtroom, he does not take sides. Since he has no personal interest in the matter, he is able to listen to both sides of an argument with an open mind before arriving at a fair or impartial decision.
A good umpire should be disinterested in the outcome of a match.
We need to find a disinterested individual to resolve the problem.
Confusion arises because the second meaning that most dictionaries provide for ‘disinterested’ is ‘not interested’ or ‘uninterested’. Therefore, it is possible for us to say, ‘People are shocked when I tell them I’m disinterested in cricket’. Earlier books on English usage would have frowned on such a sentence; but of late, such sentences have become common. Perhaps what has added to the confusion is that the two words, when they first began to be used, had the opposite meanings of what they have today! When they first came into being several centuries ago, ‘disinterested’ meant ‘not interested’, and ‘uninterested’ meant ‘unbiased’!
124. Is English anti-left
What is it that we have against people who are left-handed? There was a time in the past when a student wrote with his left hand, teachers insisted that he use the right. We teach our children to use their right hand when they offer or receive things. This bias that people have against left-handers is neither local – it isn’t confined to India – nor of recent origin. Although they constitute a mere 8 to 15 percent of the total population, left-handers have been viewed with suspicion worldwide for several hundred years.
Europeans, for example, believed that Satan was left handed, and therefore all ‘southpaws’ were seen as doing the Devil’s work! Centuries earlier, lefties were often burnt at the stake for not mending their ways.
This prejudice against the lefties is reflected in the English language; let’s face it, as far as languages go, English is definitely ‘anti-left’! One needs to only look at words and expressions associated with the word ‘left’ to note how biased the English language is against left-handers. Take for example, the word sinister – not a word that anyone of us would like to be associated with since it carries with it the idea of being ‘evil’. The word comes from the Latin ‘sinister’ meaning ‘left handed/side’. The French word gauche which is currently used in English to mean ‘awkward’ or ‘clumsy’ originally meant ‘left’ or ‘left handed’; left-handers, in general, were believed to be clumsy or awkward.
The sense of evil that the Europeans associate with the left side is reflected in their everyday practices. When Europeans wish to ward off evil, they throw salt over their left shoulder; this is to drive away the Devil who is believed to sit on an individual’s left shoulder.
When your left palm itches, it is a bad omen; it suggests you will be losing money. Similarly, if you experience a ringing in your left ear, it suggests that someone is speaking ill of you. When someone wishes you to put your best foot forward, which foot are you supposed to move first? The right one, of course; moving the left is a no no. A left-handed compliment is not a compliment at all; it is a veiled insult.
In sharp contrast to this, most words associated with the ‘right side’ have a positive connotation. For example, a person who is highly skilled at doing something is usually referred to as being dexterous. The word comes from the Latin ‘dexter’ meaning ‘right handed’. Someone who can use both hands equally efficiently is called ambidextrous – what you are implying is that the person has two right hands! Another word which has the same meaning as dexterous is adroit; it is derived from the French ‘a droit’ which means ‘to the right’. Everyone wishes to be the top man’s right hand man and not his left! If your right palm itches, you are going to receive money, and if there is ringing in your right ear, someone is praising you.
So, if the right side is the ‘good’ side, then why is it that people wear the wedding ring on their left hand? Perhaps they know that their happy days are behind them! Just kidding.
125. “Did you enjoy yourself on New Year's eve?”
“I had too much on my plate. So couldn't go to the party.”
“Too much on your plate? What are you talking about?”
“It means I had too many things to do. I was extremely busy.”
“I see. When Mala asked if I could help, I told her I had too much on my plate.”
“You can also say, ‘I told her my plate was full'.”
“So, what did you do on New Year's eve?”
“Stayed at home and prepared my presentation. Had to make one on January 1.”
“On January 1! Did your boss listen to what you had to say? Was he even awake?”
“Well, he went through the motions. But he...”
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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