Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 66
321. What is the difference between ‘a home away from home’ and ‘a home from home’?
There is no difference in meaning between the two expressions. The idiom ‘a home away from home’ is mostly used in American English, while the British and the Australians prefer ‘a home from home.’ When you say that a place is your home away from home, what you mean is that you feel as comfortable and as relaxed there as you do in your own home. My brother-in-law visits Mumbai so often that it’s become his home away from home.
322. How is the word ‘officious’ pronounced? What does it mean?
The ‘o’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the following ‘ffic’ is pronounced like the word ‘fish’. The ‘iou’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’, and the final ‘s’ is like the ‘s’ in ‘sit’, ‘stand’, and ‘sip’. The word is pronounced ‘e-FISH-es’ with the stress on the second syllable. ‘Officious’ has nothing to do with the word ‘official’. When you say that someone is officious, what you mean is that the person is rather meddlesome. The individual pokes his nose in other people’s affairs; he is eager to offer advice. Such people are overly aggressive in their desire to help, and usually have a very high opinion of themselves. The word is mostly used to show disapproval. It’s not surprising that the officious little man has no friends.
323. What is the meaning of ‘everything but the kitchen sink’?
This is an expression that is mostly used in informal contexts. If you are planning on taking a trip, and you pack everything but the kitchen sink, it means you’re taking almost everything you own. It’s an exaggerated way of saying that the individual has packed too many things. It was the first time they were travelling with the baby. They packed everything but the kitchen sink. “A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” — Herm Albright
324. What is the difference between ‘misdemeanour’ and ‘misbehaviour’?
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation of ‘misdemeanour’. The first syllable sounds like the word ‘miss’, and the ‘e’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and ‘sit’. The following syllable is pronounced like the word ‘mean’, and the final ‘our’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced ‘mis-di-MEAN-e with the stress on the third syllable. Both ‘misdemeanour’ and ‘misbehaviour’ can be used to mean ‘bad unacceptable behaviour’; an act which breaks a rule. Of the two, misdemeanour is considered to be formal. *The young bride wasn’t aware of her husband’s past misdemeanours. Misdemeanour is also used in the context of law. When you commit a ‘misdemeanour’, you are breaking the law; you are committing a crime which is not very serious. Since the offence is minor, the penalty is usually a fine; sometimes, the person is put in prison for a very short period of time. Petty theft, simple assault, trespass, etc are all examples of misdemeanours. A ‘felony’ is a serious crime.
325. What is the meaning of ‘all hell broke loose’?
The expression is mostly used in informal contexts in American English. ‘Hell’ is usually associated with chaos; therefore, when you say, ‘all hell broke loose’, what you mean is that the situation went completely out of control. There was pandemonium; people started shouting and screaming at each other, and at times resorted to violence. *All hell broke loose when the CEO saw the article in the magazine.
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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