Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 37
181. Is it okay to say, ‘These cakes are moreish'?
My initial reaction was to say, ‘No way', but then I would have been wrong. ‘Moreish', I understand, is a word which is often used in informal contexts in British English. When you say that the cakes are moreish, you mean they are so delicious that you want to eat more. The word is mainly used with food and drink items. ‘Moreish' finds a place in several standard dictionaries.
*The gulab jamuns are rather moreish, aren't they?
*The laddus you get in that shop are very moreish.
182. How is the word ‘oeuvre' pronounced?
The ‘oeuv' in the first syllable sounds like the ‘erv' in ‘serve', ‘nerve' and ‘deserve'. The final ‘e' sounds like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The word is pronounced ‘ERV-re' with the stress on the first syllable. In French, ‘oeuvre' means ‘work'. This rather literary word refers to the complete works of an artist — writer, painter, etc.
*If it's Wodehouse you are interested in, talk to Bala. He's familiar with his oeuvre.
183. What is the meaning and origin of ‘fifth column'?
The expression has a negative connotation. It is mainly used to refer to a group of people who work against the country they are living in. They secretly help the enemy by spying for them. They are the enemy within who also carry out sabotage activities. Nowadays, the term is being used to refer to someone who is a traitor or a spy. A group of people who work against the organisation they are a part of what can be called ‘fifth column'. Every person belonging to such a column is called a ‘fifth columnist'.
The expression was first used during the Spanish Civil War that took place between 1936 and 1939. According to some scholars, the term was coined by Queipo de Llano, a Lt. General in the rebel army. During one of his radio broadcasts, he claimed that the rebel army consisting of four columns would be marching on the city of Madrid. He said, “We have four columns on the battlefield against you and a fifth column inside your ranks.” The expression became popular in English thanks to Ernest Hemingway's play ‘The Fifth Column'.
184. What is the difference between ‘overhear' and 'eavesdrop'?
In both cases you end up hearing something that was not meant for your ears. When we are travelling by train or sitting at the airport, we sometimes ‘overhear' the conversation taking place between two people. We may not be really interested in what these people are saying, but because of their proximity or the loud manner in which they speak, we end up hearing what they are saying. When you overhear, it is not intentional. ‘Eavesdrop', on the other hand, suggests that you are keen on listening to the conversation taking place between two people without them being aware of it. It is usually a deliberate act; one that is sometimes planned ahead of time. The word has a negative connotation.
*Be careful with Nandu. He has the habit of eavesdropping on other people's conversation.
*I was sitting in the next room and I overheard everything you said.
185. How is the word ‘supine' pronounced?
The ‘u' sounds like the ‘oo' in ‘cool', ‘pool', and ‘school', and the following syllable rhymes with the words ‘dine', ‘mine', and ‘shine'. Some people rhyme the first syllable ‘su' with the words ‘due', ‘few', and ‘cue'. One way of pronouncing this rather formal word is ‘SOO-pine' with the stress on the first syllable. When an individual lies flat on his back looking up, he is said to be supine.
*Revathi walked past a row of supine bodies snoring in unison.
The word also has a negative connotation. When you refer to someone as ‘supine', you mean that he is a spineless individual who is willing to be bossed around by others. It can also be used to mean ‘lazy'.
*The Vice Chancellor flouted all rules, and there was little opposition from the supine staff.
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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