Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 127
544. What is the meaning of `heartsink patient'?
This is not a patient with a heart problem; in fact, he is one who creates problems for the poor doctor. We have all met individuals who constantly complain about their health. They may not have any problem at all, but every time they see us, they buttonhole us and give us a long lecture about their imaginary ailments. These individuals not only bore us, but also their unfortunate doctors; they visit the poor man repeatedly and complain persistently about their unidentifiable ailments. Whenever the doctor sees one such patient walking into his office, how do you think he feels? Pretty depressed, right? His heart sinks on seeing him. Hence the expression, `heartsink patient'.
545. What is the meaning and origin of `like a cat on a hot tin roof'?
How do you think a cat is likely to react when it lands on a tin roof that is pretty hot? It's going to be pretty jumpy, right? The poor animal will probably jump from one spot to another, trying to find a cool place to stand. When you say that an individual is like a cat on a hot tin roof, what you mean is that he looks very nervous; he is unable to sit or stand still in one place. *You should have seen Surendran before the interview. He was like a cat on a hot tin roof.
*What's wrong with Hema? She is like a cat on a hot tin roof.
546. Is it OK to say, `None of them have... '?
People who love their grammar would argue that the sentence is wrong. They would want `none' to be followed by the singular verb `has'. In informal contexts, however, there is a tendency, even among native speakers of English, to use the plural `have'. In American English, it is very common for people to say, `None of the movies were a hit' and `None of the guys were good looking'.
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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