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 Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 38

186. What is the meaning of ‘fits and starts'?

When you say that you exercise in fits and starts, it means that exercising is not an activity you do on a regular basis. You do it for a few days, stop, and then resume the activity after some time — there are several starts and stops. It is possible to say ‘in fits and starts' or ‘by fits and starts'.

*It is going to take longer than expected. Work is progressing in fits and starts.

*The response to our questionnaire is arriving by fits and starts.

The expression has been around since the 1500s, and when it was first used, it was ‘by fits'. ‘Fits' in the context of the idiom referred to the strong emotion that people were sometimes overcome by — one of sorrow, joy, anger, etc. It was only in the 1600s that ‘and starts' was added to the idiom.

187. Does the word ‘cheater' exist?

We've all heard the expression ‘cheaters never prosper'. Indians, in fact, use the word ‘cheater' quite liberally. During the recent World Cup, when Billy Bowden gave Ian Bell not out, the crowd in chorus started chanting ‘cheater'. Funnily enough, this word does not find a place in all dictionaries. Those that do list it claim that the word is mainly used in the U.S. The English seem to prefer to use ‘cheat' instead of ‘cheater'.

*Akshay is a cheat. I will have nothing to do with him.

188. How is the word ‘succour' pronounced?

The ‘succ' is pronounced like the word ‘suck', and the final ‘our' sounds like the ‘a' in ‘china'. The word is pronounced ‘SUCK-e' with the stress on the first syllable. Succour is considered to be a literary word which can be used both as a noun and a verb. The word comes from the Latin ‘succurrere' meaning ‘run to help'. The help that is given to someone who is desperately in need of it is called succour. In American English, the word is spelt ‘succor'.

*Raja went to the hospital every week to give succour to the terminally ill.

189. Why are people who try to influence politicians called ‘lobbyists'?

Maybe it's because these people hang around in the lobby of the various buildings that politicians frequent. The word ‘lobbyist' has been around for several centuries now. According to the British, the word lobby referred to the large entrance hall to the House of Commons. It was possible for the common man to meet Members of Parliament in the ‘Lobby' and talk to them. Very often, he used this opportunity to influence an MP. The Americans, on the other hand, believe that the word ‘lobbyist' was coined by President Ulysses S. Grant. When he was the President, Grant made it a point to get away from the White House for a few hours every day. In the evenings, he visited the Willard Hotel in Washington for brandy and cigars. People who wanted something done used to wait in the hotel lobby for Grant to arrive. According to one story, Grant started referring to these individuals as ‘lobbyists'.

190. What is the meaning and origin of the expression ‘to bite the bullet'?

When you tell someone that he must bite the bullet, you mean that he should put on a brave face in trying circumstances. The expression can also be used to mean to force oneself to do something that is rather unpleasant — something that the individual really doesn't want to.

*The price of petrol is going up next week. Looks like we'll have to bite the bullet again.

*I'm afraid you'll have to bite the bullet, and apologise to her.

The expression has been around for several centuries. Before the days of anaesthesia, surgeons usually placed an object in the patient's mouth for him to bite on. This was usually a piece of wood/iron or a pad of leather. The belief was that biting into an object would not only help the patient withstand the pain, but also prevent him from biting his own tongue. Having something to bite on also ensured that the patient didn't scream into the poor doctor's ears! During wars, soldiers who had to undergo surgery were given bullets to bite on

A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper 

Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above