‘Hyperbole’

‘Hyperbole’ means an exaggerated statement. When someone uses `hyperbole’, they usually say nice things about something just to make it sound much more impressive than what it actually is.

Pronunciation: The `y’ sounds like the `y’ in `my’, `by’, and `shy’. The following `e’ is like the `ir’ in `first’, `thirst’, and `dirt’. The `o’ is pronounced like  the `a’ in `china’ and the final `e’ is like the `i’ in `sit’, `bit’, and `hit’. The main stress is on the second syllable `per’.

 Examples: Our politicians use hyperbole all the time * Promod is well known for his use of hyperbole. Whenever someone comes up with an idea, he says, “That is a truly brilliant idea. One day you are going to win the Nobel Prize’.” * I guess a little hyperbole can make a speech effective.

S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, January 7, 2003 

“party pooper”

A party animal is someone who enjoys parties and makes sure that others enjoy it too. A ‘party pooper’ is someone who ruins parties.

 Examples: Don’t invite Mukesh. He is such a party pooper * Please don’t leave so early. Don’t be a party pooper

S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, December 31, 2002

`razz someone’

“This is an expression mostly used in informal contexts in American English. When you `razz someone’ you tease the individual, often in an unkind manner.”

 Examples : At the wedding Sowmya as usual was razzing me about my rotten dress sense * The media will start razzing our players again *

S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, December 31, 2002

“Screamingly funny”

When you say that a joke is screamingly funny, what you are implying is that it is extremely funny. `Screamingly’ means `extremely’ in that context.

 Examples: the movie that I saw yesterday was screamingly boring *I found the comments made by our captain after he had lost the series screamingly funny.”

S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, December 31, 2002

Chagrin

 It’s a feeling of disappointment or annoyance.

Examples: Much to Ganguly’s chagrin he was out without scoring.* We are so used to seeing our team losing abroad that I don’t think that anyone is chagrined by their performance* “Mohan appeared chagrined when he was informed that he hadn’t got the promotion.”

Pronunciation: ( British) “The `ch’ is pronounced like the `sh’ in `ship’, `sheet’, and `shelf’. The following `a’ is like the `a’ in `act’, `apple’, and `fact’. The second syllable is pronounced like the word `grin’ and the main stress is on the first syllable.

Americans pronounce the `a’ like the `a’ in `china’. As for the `i’, well it sounds like the `ea’ in `beat’, `seat’, and `meat’. The stress is on the second syllable.

The word `chagrin’ is normally used in formal contexts.

S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, December 31, 2002

“awry”

Pronunciation: The “a” in the first syllable is like the “a” in “about”, “amount” and “china”. The final “y” is like the “y” in “by”, “fly”, and “my”; the main stress is on the second syllable. The “w”, by the way, is silent.

When you say that something went “awry” what you are implying is that it didn’t go according to plan or along expected lines.

 Here are a few examples. * The students were upset because their carefully laid out plans went awry.* Divyashree was furious when she learned that her plans had gone awry. The word can also be used to indicate that something is not in its normal or proper position.

*The artist was upset when he found that his paintings had been hung awry.

 S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, December 24, 2002 

“zero-sum game”

It is a situation where you have two people competing and when one of them wins something, the exact amount is lost by the other. In other words, when you gain, the other individual loses and when the other person gains, you lose. The important thing to remember is that the amount gained is equivalent to the amount lost.

 Here are a few examples. *The two companies are playing a zero-sum game, where both are competing for the same paltry resources. *Television has become a zero-sum game, with networks gaining audience only at each other’s expense.

S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, December 24, 2002 

“lock stock and barrel”

This is an expression, which has been around for several hundred years. Do you know anything about guns? I understand that the “lock”, “stock” and “barrel” are different parts of a gun; they were originally different parts of a musket. The wooden “stock” was that portion which you placed against your shoulder when you fired the gun. The “lock” ignited the gunpowder and the bullet came out of the “barrel”. Together the “lock, stock and barrel” made up the entire gun. It is not surprising therefore that the idiom means “including everything; every part of something”.

Here are a few examples. *Shyam is moving his company lock, stock, and barrel from Patna to Bangalore. *Ravi wanted to turn over his assets to the Government lock, stock and barrel.

S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, December 24, 2002

Usage: “bus stand”

Though the word “bus stand” is used very frequently by Indians, it does not find a place in many dictionaries because native speakers of English do not use it. They tend to use the word “bus stop” to refer to the place where a bus stops to pick up passengers. A bus stop, which offers protection against the sun, rain, etc., is called a “bus shelter”.

Indians also use the word “bus stand” to refer to the place where buses going to and coming from different destinations are parked. Native speakers refer to such a place as “bus station” or “terminus”.

So, is it wrong to say “bus stand”? Not in the Indian context.

 S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, December 24, 2002

“hearty” and “heartfelt”

When you refer to an individual as being “hearty” you are implying that he is very cheerful and energetic — perhaps overly so.

* Nishkala wants to marry a hearty young man with tons of money. * Madhan was a hearty, athletic young man who often got on other people’s nerves.

The word can also be used to talk about one’s feelings and opinions. Hearty feelings or opinions are those that are strongly felt or held.

Here are a few examples. *The teachers were in hearty agreement with the sentiments expressed. *The Chairman gave his hearty approval to the new plan.

“Heartfelt”, on the other hand, is normally used to refer to one’s feelings. It means deeply or sincerely felt.

 Here are a few examples.* Sailaja, please accept my heartfelt apologies for being late. * My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the remaining members of the family.

S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, December 24, 2002