The posts on this blog are edited compilation of 'Know Your English' Columns from 'The Hindu'. Hats off to 'The Hindu' , Mr.Upendran and the team behind 'The Know Your English' column.
Posted by Sunil Jose on March 11, 2008
A potboiler is usually a book written very quickly by an author in order to make some money and since the book has been written quickly, it probably isn’t of good quality.
A `potboiler’ helps to `keep the pot boiling’. In other words, the author writes such books so that he doesn’t go hungry. He makes enough money to keep the pot boiling in his house.
S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, January 14, 2003
Posted in Phrases | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Sunil Jose on March 11, 2008
Careful users of language frown upon the usage, “The shop is surrounded on all sides by the police.”
When you say the police surrounded the criminal, what you mean is that the criminal was in the middle and the police were all around him. In other words, they were on all sides. So, when you say that he was surrounded on all sides, you are merely repeating yourself.
S. Upendran , The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, January 14, 2003
Posted in Usage | Leave a Comment »
