Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 103
471. Does the word "regift" exist?
Yes, it does. When you get married you usually get a lot of gifts. Sometimes two or three people end up giving you the same thing. For example, you may end up getting three or four clocks. What are you going to do with so many clocks? If you are sensible, then what you would do is to wait for one of your friends to get married. When he/she does, you give one of the extra clocks as a gift. This is what we mean by "regifting". *Geetha is planning to regift the ugly vase that she got from Bala.
471. Does the word "regift" exist?
Yes, it does. When you get married you usually get a lot of gifts. Sometimes two or three people end up giving you the same thing. For example, you may end up getting three or four clocks. What are you going to do with so many clocks? If you are sensible, then what you would do is to wait for one of your friends to get married. When he/she does, you give one of the extra clocks as a gift. This is what we mean by "regifting". *Geetha is planning to regift the ugly vase that she got from Bala.
472. How is the word "ensemble" pronounced?
The "e" in the first and second syllable is pronounced like the "o" in "pot", "hot", and "cot". The final "e" is usually silent and the main stress is on the second syllable. Musicians, actors and dancers who always perform together can be referred to as an "ensemble". *Rahul is a member of a jazz singing ensemble in Hyderabad. Things that combine well together can also be called an ensemble. *Prithi bought the whe ensemble — the dress, the matching earnings, and the shoes
473. What is the meaning of "armchair critic"?
There are plenty of people in our country who have never played cricket in their life, but who are capable of giving a lengthy lecture on the subject. They can tell you why Sachin should start using a lighter bat, and what was wrong with Ganguly's field placement during a particular match. They seem to be very knowledgeable about the subject of cricket; but what they know is based on one of two things — they have either gathered the information from books or by listening to people who know about the subject. In other words, armchair critics are people who have little or no practical experience. They have become knowledgeable by sitting in their favourite armchair and reading. *If you want words of wisdom from an armchair critic, you can go to Laxman. *I want someone who has dealt with this problem, not some armchair critic. People who learn a lot about places by reading about them are called "armchair travellers". "A fine is a tax for doing something wrong. A tax is a fine for doing something right." — Unknown
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
Post a Comment