“blitzkrieg”

The “i” in the first syllable is pronounced like the “i” in “bit”, “pit”, and “hit”. The two vowels in the second syllable sound like the “ee” in “fee”, “see”, and “knee”. The “z” is like the “s” in “sit”, “sip”, and “sin”. The main stress is on the first syllable. In German, “blitz” means lightning or flash, and “kreig” means war.

“Blitzkrieg” refers to an intensive military operation which catches the enemy by surprise. The aim of such a ferocious attack is to subdue the enemy very quickly. “Blitzkrieg” is a word the world became familiar with during the Second World War.

Initially, the word was only used in military contexts. But nowadays, the word is beginning to be used in general contexts as well. The constant ferocious attacks that we sometimes see in newspapers against an individual or a political party can also be called a “blitzkrieg”. So can an advertising campaign for the launching of a new product. It is from “blitzkrieg” that we get the word “blitz”.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 20, 2004

“Day scholar”

 In India, an individual who goes to school/college during the daytime, and returns home in the evening is called a “day scholar”. He is a person who doesn’t stay in the hostel. 

Native speakers of English do not use the term “day scholar”. Instead of using the term “day scholar”, native speakers would probably say something like, “He lives off campus”.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 13, 2004

“Rubberneck”

 When you are reading a newspaper on a train, sometimes you find the person sitting next to you leaning over your shoulder to see what it is that you are reading. The individual stretches his neck in order to do this. Such a person was called a “rubberneck”.

Nowadays, the word is used to refer to someone who stares at someone or something.

A tourist, since he is always staring at something, is often called a “rubberneck”. The word is mostly used in American English and is considered slang.

*The rubberneck in front of me moved at a very slow pace.

The word can also be used as a verb. When you “rubberneck” at something, you are staring at it. *Stop rubbernecking at the screen. Switch off the TV and finish your homework.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 13, 2004

How is the word “shot-put” pronounced?

During the Olympics, you must have noticed that whenever native speakers of English were commentating on the event, they pronounced the second syllable like the word “put”. When the Indian commentators took over, they tended to pronounce the “u” like the “u” in “hut”, “cut”, and “but”. Strangely enough not all dictionaries include the pronunciation of this word. Those that do, indicate that the second syllable is pronounced like the word “put”. The main stress is on the first syllable. One of the meanings of the word “put” is to throw something. So in this context what it means is that you are throwing the “shot”, which is the iron ball.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 13, 2004

“approve” and “approve of”

When an individual in power approves a decision, he allows the decision to be acted on.

*The committee decided not to approve the project for various reasons. *The members of the Board approved the decision to hike the fees.

When a person in authority approves something like a building, what he is saying is that he is satisfied with it and is giving his permission for it to be used. People can move into the building. Similarly, when the Health Ministry approves a drug, what it is saying is that it is satisfied with the product and is allowing it to be sold in the market.

*The United Nations did not approve the Iraq invasion.  

When you “approve of” an individual or a film, what you are saying is that you like the person/film very much.

*The minister approved of the new candidate.

Similarly, when you “approve of” something that is going to happen, you are happy or pleased that it is going to take place.

*We approve of the event taking place on the 13th.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 13, 2004

Which is correct? “To keep the wolf from/off the door”?

If you manage “to keep the wolf from the door”, you are earning enough money to survive — you have enough to eat.

*What Indu makes is barely enough to keep the wolf from the door. *Oh, don’t worry. This cheque will keep the wolf from the door.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 13, 2004

“fanatic” and “bigot”

A bigot is someone who has very strong opinions and prejudices — usually political or religious. He will not change his mind even if you prove him wrong; he is blindly devoted to his beliefs. He is very obstinate and has contempt for those who do not share his beliefs. “Bigot” is a much stronger word than “fanatic” and is always used to show disapproval.

*The religious bigots among the guests ruined the party.

The first syllable is like the word “big” and the “o” that follows is like the “a” in “china”. The main stress is on the first syllable.

The first “a” in “fanatic” is like the “a” in “china”, while the following one is like the “a” in “cat”, “bat”, and “act”. The main stress is on the second syllable and not the first.

When you describe someone as being a political or religious fanatic you are showing your disapproval of him; you think his opinions and behaviour are rather extreme.

*Some of his closest friends include some well-known religious fanatics.

Unlike the word “bigot” which is limited in its use, the word fanatic can be used with other activities as well. If you say that someone is a fanatic about jogging, what you are implying is that in your opinion, the individual is obsessively enthusiastic about jogging. When used in this manner, the word carries with it a hint of irrationality or madness. It is from the word “fanatic” that we get the word “fan” — meaning enthusiast.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 06, 2004

Pronunciation: “bete noire”

When you dislike someone intensely, you can refer to him/her as your bete noire. These are mostly people that annoy you greatly. The word can be used with objects as well.

*Rajeev’s bete noire is attending weddings.

The first word is pronounced like “bet”; the “n” is like the “n” in “net”, “nip” and “nest”. The sound that follows the “n” is like the “w” in “water”, “was” and “wet”. The vowels are pronounced like the “a” in “ask”, “task” and “mask”. The “r” is silent, and the main stress is on “noire”. This is one way of pronouncing the word.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 06, 2004

Is it OK to say, “The subscriber you are calling is switched off”?

People will understand what it means. When an individual “switches off” he stops paying attention; he stops listening.

*The lecture was so boring that many people switched off after five minutes. *Whenever I am with my aunt, I tend to switch off.

Your example suggests that the “subscriber” is not picking up the phone because he is not paying attention. But that is not the case here, is it? He is not picking up the phone because he has switched off the phone; as a result, he cannot hear the phone ring. It is not the subscriber that is switched off, but the phone. A better way of saying the same thing would be, “The subscriber that you are calling has switched off the phone”, or “The number that you are calling has been switched off.”

 The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 06, 2004

“Shilly-shally”

When a person is unable to make up his mind about something, then he is said to be shilly-shallying. It is a word that is mostly used in informal contexts, and when used, indicates disapproval.

*I think it is about time that you stopped shilly-shallying. *Rekha shilly-shallied for two months. It drove Amitabh up the wall.

Any idea where this word comes from? What is the question that we normally ask ourselves when we are undecided about something? It is, “Shall I? Shall I?” It is from this that the word “shilly shally” comes from. With the passage of time “shall I, shall I” changed to “shill I, shall I?” Later, the “I” became part of “shill” and “shall”, and we finally ended up with “shilly-shally”.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 06, 2004