Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 92
437. What is the meaning of "underwriter"?
This is a term frequently used by organisations that provide insurance. When an organisation "underwrites" an activity, it signs a contract which guarantees payment for any loss or damage to the goods. A company that invests money to help an individual start a new project is called an underwriter. An individual can be an underwriter as well; his primary job is to study the risks involved in an activity and decide how much to charge as insurance. He determines the creditworthiness of a client. He is called an underwriter because he writes his name under the policy. * Do you think that your company would be willing to underwrite our new hospital? Robert Frost
438. How is the word "inexorably" pronounced?
The first syllable is pronounced like the word "in", and the second like the word "ex". The "o" in the third syllable and the "a" in the fourth sound like the "a" in "china"; the final "y" is like the "i" in "pit", "kit", and "sit". The main stress is on the second syllable. "Inexorably" is mostly used in formal contexts. It refers to a process which cannot be changed or stopped; it is something which continues relentlessly. * Many feel that the crisis in Iran is moving inexorably towards war. Robert Frost
439. What is the difference between "anoint" and "appoint"?
People who are "appointed" for a job are chosen by others for a particular position. An appointment is something official. * The members of the Board appointed Dravid captain. "Anoint" has a religious connotation which "appoint" doesn't. When a priest anoints someone, he applies oil or water on some part of the individual; this is usually done as part of a religious ceremony. * The young priest anointed the old man's forehead with sandalwood paste. It is also possible to "anoint" oneself with something. In this case, we are merely smearing ourselves with some sort of liquid. For example, an individual can anoint herself with suntan lotion. When a person in authority, such as a priest, "anoints" someone, he chooses this individual for an important job. * The Archbishop anointed her queen. In this example, the Archbishop is making the individual holy by anointing. In other words, he is consecrating the individual to office. * The former Prime Minister did not anoint anyone as his successor. Robert Frost
440. What is the meaning and origin of "writing is on the wall"?
When Shahid Afridi blazed away to a century in 40-odd balls in the fifth one-day international, most of us knew who was going to win the match. By the end of the 10th over, the writing was on the wall for India. When you say that the handwriting or writing is on the wall, what you mean is that something disastrous or bad is going to happen. * When the team lost in the first round of the playoffs, the writing was on the wall for the coach. * Prabhakar saw the handwriting on the wall when the company fired two more people. The expression "handwriting on the wall" comes from the Bible. The King of Babylon, Belshazzar, sees a hand mysteriously appear and write a message on a wall. Being unable to decipher the message, he summons Daniel. The wise man tells Belshazzar that the message is a warning from God that he will soon be overthrown and his kingdom destroyed. "A diplomat is a man who remembers a woman's birthday, but never remembers her age." Robert Frost
441. What is the difference between "fight with" and "fight against"?
In some contexts, both phrasal verbs have more or less the same meaning. When you "fight against" or "fight with" someone, you do battle against the individual. *I refuse to fight against someone who is twenty years younger than me. In the examples given, one could easily replace one phrasal verb with the other. It is also possible to "fight against" something as well. For example, one can fight against a disease, or one can fight against poverty. In these two cases, you are doing battle against a disease and poverty. "Fight with" has an additional meaning. When you fight with something, you use a weapon as an instrument in your fight. For example, in the old days people fought with spears and swords. Nowadays people fight with guns. Also, when you "fight with" someone, it could mean that you are joining hands with the individual to fight someone or something. In other words, you and the other individual are joining forces and fighting a common enemy. "Fight against" does not have this meaning. *I fought with him in Kashmir against the terrorists
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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