Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 114
505. Why are the hottest days of the year called "dog days"?
The hottest days in Europe mostly occur in the month of July. According to an old superstition, this was also the period when dogs had a tendency to go mad. The expression "dog days" is a translation of the Latin "caniculares dies" and it has been around since the times of the ancient Romans. But contrary to popular belief, "dog days" has nothing to do with dogs on earth; it has more to do with the dog in the sky! In this case, it refers to Sirius, the Dog Star. During the height of summer, the Dog Star, Sirius, rises along with the Sun. The ancient Romans believed that this star added to the heat of the Sun, and in the process caused the weather to become unbearably hot. What is the difference between "adhesive" and "cohesive"? (K. Zakkir Hussain, Calicut) An adhesive is any substance that is used to stick two objects together. Glue, for example, is an adhesive. When you say that something is cohesive, what you mean is that it consists of numerous parts which fit together perfectly. *After several months of training, the team finally became a cohesive unit.
506. What is the difference between "adhesive" and "cohesive"?
An adhesive is any substance that is used to stick two objects together. Glue, for example, is an adhesive. When you say that something is cohesive, what you mean is that it consists of numerous parts which fit together perfectly. *After several months of training, the team finally became a cohesive unit. S. Upendran
507. How is the word "chutzpah" pronounced? What does it mean?
The "ch" is like the "h" in "hat", "have", and "hand"; the following "u" is like the "u" in "pull", "full", and "bull". The "z" is pronounced like the "s" in "sit", "sip", and "so", and the final "ah" is like the "a" in "china". The main stress is on the first syllable "chutz". This word comes from Yiddish, and is normally used to suggest admiration. When you say that someone has "chutzpah" what you mean is that you admire the individual because he is arrogantly self confident; he is not afraid to do or say what he wants to. It is also possible to spell the word "hutzpah". *Keshav had the chutzpah to tell his boss to stop interfering in his work.
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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