Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 86
415. "Did you read the review of your favourite author's latest book in today's paper?" "Not yet. But I heard that whoever wrote it did a hatchet job on the... ." "... a hatchet job? Don't think I have heard that expression before." "Americans usually refer to an axe as a hatchet. When you say that some reporter did a hatchet job on you, what you mean is that he criticisd you severely in the media." "Is it fair or unfair criticism?"
416. "Usually, unfair. It's criticism that ruins your reputation. For example, the reporter did a hatchet job on the new school. The editor called it investigative journalism." "How about this example? The news channels did a hatchet job on the Chief Minister's visit to the drought hit areas." "Sounds good." "How would you react if someone were to do a hatchet job on something you had written?" "I would be surprised if they didn't! Any news about your father's transfer?" "Nothing so far. By the way, did Sujatha ask your boss for a transfer?" "Yes, she did. Believe it or not, he sailed into her for making such a request." "How did he manage to do that sitting in his office? Don't tell me his office is on a boat!" "Don't be silly. One of the meanings of `sail into someone' is to attack or scold someone. It's an expression usually used in informal contexts." "I see. So can I say, when the team failed to enter the final, the coach sailed into the players?" "You certainly can. Here's another example. The young bride sailed into her husband for bringing guests unannounced." "Over the years, a lot of teachers have sailed into me for not doing my homework. Anyway, does this mean that you are not going to ask your boss for a raise?" "In the mood that he is in right now, most definitely not. I suspect that he would think twice about giving a raise. If he does, he will be opening a new can of worms." "Your boss sounds pretty strange. He `sails into' people and he keeps opening cans of worms. Tell me, does he sail into people with his can of worms?" "Very funny. When someone says that he is going to do something, and you tell him not to open a can of worms, you are warning him not to do anything. You are suggesting that the situation is so complicated that if he starts dealing with the problem, he will only succeed in creating more problems for himself." "In other words, by trying to solve the problem he will be creating more problems?" "Exactly! Here's an example. Introducing my best friend's sister to my parents has opened up one big can of worms." "I bet it did. By appointing someone who doesn't have the basic qualifications for the job, the Minister has opened a new can of worms for himself and the ruling party. Does that sound OK?" "Sounds fine. I don't think you should write about corruption in the police force. You will be opening a can of worms." "Don't worry about me, I am a vegetarian. I won't go anywhere near the worms." "Aren't worms vegetarian?
417. What is the difference between "choose" and "pick"?
Although many people tend to use the words synonymously these days, careful users of the language maintain a distinction between the two. Do you "choose" your life partner, or do you "pick" one? Normally people "choose" their significant other. Choose suggests that you have opted for the individual after giving the matter some serious thought. You have weighed the pros and cons of an issue — in this case, marrying a person — and have arrived at a considered decision. It is voluntary. Pick also means "selection", but in this case, there may not be any serious thinking involved. The word suggests that you have opted for something in a very casual manner — there may not be any decision making or discrimination involved. For example, when you go to the supermarket and see several cans of the same product, you normally don't take too much time thinking about which can to buy. Since the same company has made them, you "pick" the can that is nearest you. Most of us do not select our life partner in this casual manner. Similarly, we "choose" a present for someone we really like and care about — we buy the present keeping in mind the person's likes and dislikes. If we "pick" a present, what we are doing is buying something in a casual manner. We don't keep in mind the individual's likes and dislikes; it suggests that we buy the first thing we see in the shop.
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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