Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 152
"Where have you been? I've been waiting for over half an hour." "I'm sorry. I had the misfortune of running into my new neighbour. He... " "You didn't like him, eh?" "No, I didn't. I found his manner very off-putting." "Off-putting? Don't think I've heard the expression before. What does it mean?" "When you say that someone's behaviour is `off-putting', what you mean is that it is rather strange or unpleasant." "Since the behaviour is unpleasant, there is no way you can like the guy!" "Exactly! Here's an example. The strong language used in the letter was offputting." "The behaviour of teenagers nowadays is off-putting.
"You're beginning to sound like my father! Not all of them are bad, you know. Tell me... ." "First, you tell me. How do you pronounce the word c..u..s..s..e..d? "Well that depends on the meaning of the..." "This article talks about a cussed old man." "In that case, the first syllable `cuss' rhymes with the words `fuss' and `bus'. The `ed' that follows sounds like the `ed' in `wanted', `hunted', and `slanted'. The main stress is on the first syllable." "But what does the word mean?" "When you refer to an individual as being `cussed', what you mean is that he is very stubborn; he doesn't readily agree or cooperate with people." "I see. So a cussed person is someone who doesn't help others?" "You could say that! That's one of the meanings of the word. `Cussed' is considered rather old fashioned, and is normally used in informal contexts." "And it's probably used to show disapproval!" "Exactly! Here's an example.
Gayathri, my cousin's daughter, is so cussed that she always does the opposite of what her parents tell her to." "Sounds good. Anyway, what is the article you are reading? Is it interesting?" "It's an article on places that one can visit during the summer. Tell me, what does the expression `teeming with' mean?" "When you say that the river is teeming with fish, what you mean is that the river is full of fish." "In other words, `teeming with' means in great numbers." "Yes, that's right! It also means that the people or animals are moving around quite a bit." "I see. How about this example? I'm told that during summer, most hill stations are usually teeming with tourists." "Sounds good. So, tell me, what do you think... ." "It is also possible to use the expression `teem with' figuratively. For example, Sujatha says her mind is teeming with ideas." "That's what Vinay, our school cricket captain, says as well! He believes... " "Vinay? You mean that chunky boy is the captain of your school team?" "Chunky? What does it mean? Does it mean `fat'?"
"Not necessarily. When you say that someone is `chunky', what you mean is that the person is rather short and heavy." "In other words, he is stocky!" "Exactly! The person is broad built. For example, according to the coach, some of our superstars are chunky." "Remember, the word is normally used in informal contexts." "I will, oh chunky one!" "Doing nothing is very hard to do... .you never know when you're finished!" — Leslie Nielsen
"Not necessarily. When you say that someone is `chunky', what you mean is that the person is rather short and heavy." "In other words, he is stocky!" "Exactly! The person is broad built. For example, according to the coach, some of our superstars are chunky." "Remember, the word is normally used in informal contexts." "I will, oh chunky one!" "Doing nothing is very hard to do... .you never know when you're finished!" — Leslie Nielsen
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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