Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 41
201. What is the difference between ‘flabby' and ‘chubby'?
Both words can be used to refer to people who are overweight — the difference is one of degree. The word ‘chubby' is usually used with children who are slightly overweight in an attractive sort of way. Chubby children are usually pleasant to look at.
*The chubby little boy standing there is my son.
If you refer to someone as being ‘flabby', it shows disapproval. The word suggests that the individual is extremely overweight; he/she has loose flesh hanging which shakes when the individual walks or runs — making him/her look very unattractive. A flabby individual is an eyesore.
*Govinda's flabby stomach wobbled as he walked across the room.
201. What is the difference between ‘flabby' and ‘chubby'?
Both words can be used to refer to people who are overweight — the difference is one of degree. The word ‘chubby' is usually used with children who are slightly overweight in an attractive sort of way. Chubby children are usually pleasant to look at.
*The chubby little boy standing there is my son.
If you refer to someone as being ‘flabby', it shows disapproval. The word suggests that the individual is extremely overweight; he/she has loose flesh hanging which shakes when the individual walks or runs — making him/her look very unattractive. A flabby individual is an eyesore.
*Govinda's flabby stomach wobbled as he walked across the room.
202. Does the word ‘wikiot' exist?
Yes, it does, but you won't find it listed in any standard dictionary. The word is a combination of ‘Wikipedia' and ‘ idiot'. In the old days, some people believed whatever they read in a newspaper or saw on TV. Nowadays, many people believe whatever they read on the net. A ‘wikiot' is one who believes that Wikipedia provides accurate information; something which cannot be questioned.
203. Why do lawyers say ‘move the court' and ‘move to strike'?
The meaning of the word ‘move' in these two sentences is not ‘change the position of'. The word ‘move' has many different meanings. One of the meanings of the word is ‘to make a formal proposal'. When a lawyer ‘moves the court for a retrial', he is making a formal proposal or application that the defendant be tried again. A legal dictionary defines ‘move' as “to make a motion in court applying for judicial action, such as an order or judgment.”
204. What is the meaning and origin of the expression ‘talk to the hand'?
When someone is talking to you, and you thrust your hand in front of the speaker's face and say ‘talk to the hand', you mean that you want the individual to stop talking. You are telling him to shut up. If he wants to keep talking, he can talk to the hand because you are no longer listening. The original expression was ‘talk to the hand because the ears are not listening.' The expression is considered slang, and it is a contemptuous way of telling the speaker that you are not paying attention. People who chat on the net, I understand, use this expression quite a bit.
205. How is the ‘v' in ‘Volkswagen' pronounced?
The ‘v' sounds like the ‘f' in ‘fish', ‘feel' and ‘fees'; the first syllable sounds like the word ‘folks'. In German, ‘volks' means ‘people's' and ‘wagen' means ‘car'. The name literally means ‘ the people's car'. Guess who came up with the idea of a people's car? Adolf Hitler!
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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