Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 91
432. What is the difference between "acquittal" and "exoneration"?
Very often an innocent man is accused of a crime and dragged to court. After the judge has heard both sides of the case, he usually finds him not guilty; the judge acquits the man of the crime. This formal declaration made by the judge in a court of law is called an acquittal. The "a" in the first and final syllable is pronounced like the "a" in "china". The second syllable, which has the main stress, is pronounced like the word "quit". *The trial resulted in an acquittal for the three men charged with first-degree murder. The word "exoneration" has more or less the same meaning as "acquittal". When a judge exonerates someone of something, he is pronouncing the person not guilty. He doesn't find any evidence that the accused has done anything wrong. Unlike the word "acquittal", someone other than a judge can exonerate a person. For example, in government offices whenever something goes wrong, a committee is formed to determine the causes. The chairperson is also asked to find out if any particular individual is to be blamed for the failure. If the committee finds that no one is to be blame, then everyone is exonerated. The official report that the person in authority writes exonerates everyone. *The long awaited report exonerated the teachers.
433. What is the difference between "beautiful" and "pretty"?
Both words are normally used to refer to the pleasing appearance of the face — usually that of women. Beautiful is the stronger word of the two. When you say that something is "beautiful" what you mean is that it is very close to perfection — at least according to the person looking at the object. Remember, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is subjective, what is considered beautiful in one culture may not be considered beautiful in another. One can use the word "beautiful" to talk about things that can be seen. For example, you can refer a woman's face as being beautiful, a house as being beautiful, and a scene as being beautiful. In fact, you can even use the word with things that cannot be seen. For example, you can talk about a "beautiful plan" or a "beautiful smell". The word "pretty", on the other hand, is not as complimentary as beautiful. When you refer to a woman as being "pretty" what you mean is that she is attractive; she is graceful and full of life, but lacks the perfection. She doesn't have the qualities to make her beautiful. Pretty is seldom used with people or objects that are big; the word is usually restricted to objects that are small. You cannot refer a 30-storey building as being a "pretty building". You can talk about a "pretty house" or "pretty shoes", but not a pretty building. Similarly, a woman who is big built can be "beautiful", but not "pretty". The word "pretty" suggests that the person or object is pleasant to look at, but not necessarily impressive.
434. What is the meaning of "set the cat among the pigeons"?
What would happen if you were to set a cat loose among the pigeons? How do you think the birds would react? They would be pretty worried, wouldn't they? The presence of the cat would create a great deal of disturbance. When you set a cat among the pigeons, you say or do something suddenly or unexpectedly. This often leaves the people worried or angry. It is also possible to say, "put the cat among the pigeons." *The principal set the cat among the pigeons when he informed the students that the annual day was likely to be cancelled.
435. How is the word "voyeurism" pronounced?
The "v" sounds like the "v" in "vet", "vest", and "veil"; the following "oy" is like the word "why". The "eu" in the second syllable is pronounced like the "a" in "china" and the final "ism" is like "ism" in "prism", "fundamentalism", and "cubism". The main stress is on the first syllable "voy". The Americans tend to pronounce the word differently. They pronounce the "voy" like the "voy" in the word "voyage". The following "eur" is like the "er" in "herd", "her", and "nerd". The main stress, in this case, is on the second syllable.
436. What is the meaning of "desk jockey"?
Anyone whose job involves sitting behind a desk most of the time can be called a "desk jockey." The individual remains glued to his desk most of the time. Bank officers, accountants and most government officials can be called "desk jockeys." These people are either constantly shuffling papers or on the phone most of the time. If you are a "desk jockey", maybe you should consider calling yourself a "D.J". Who knows, people may start looking at you differently! *Zaheer's father is a desk jockey in the new pharmaceutical company. ***** ***** ***** "Conscience is a mother-in-law whose visit never ends." — H. L. Mencken
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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