“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