“Face the music”

When you decide to do something on your own and everything goes completely wrong, how do people react? Usually they criticise you; sometimes, they even punish you. When you “face the music”, you accept the criticism or punishment that is in store for you. In other words, you take responsibility for your mistakes.

*The partners ran away and poor Venu was left to face the music. *Listen Meera, sooner or later you will have to face the music.

There are several explanations as to the origin of this idiom. According to some scholars, it comes from a practice that was common in the British military. When an officer was court-martialed, the charges against him were read out for all to hear. The man was made to stand in front of the military band and while the charges were being read out, drummers used to tap their drums. Since the prisoner was facing the band and the drums were being played, he was literally “facing the music”. This practice of tapping the drums while the charges were read out gave rise to another expression as well — “drummed up charges”.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 30, 2004

“Rendezvous”

When you have a rendezvous with an individual you have a meeting with him at an appointed time. The word is used in formal contexts.

*This coffee shop has become a rendezvous for college students.

The “e” in the first syllable is like the “o” in “on”, “don”, and “con”. The “e” that follows in the second syllable sounds like the “i” in “it”, “hit”, and “fit”. The final “ous” sounds like the “oo” in “cool”, “pool”, and “fool”. The “z” is silent and the main stress is on the first syllable.

 The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 23, 2004

“nought” and “naught” – difference

As far as the pronunciation is concerned there is no difference. Both words are pronounced like the word “not”. Careful users of the language use “nought” to refer to the number “zero”. The word is used mostly in British English; Americans do not employ it at all.

*Our star batsman scored a nought in the first innings. *How many noughts are there in one million?

Both “naught” and “nought” can be used to mean “nothing”. One way to remember the difference between the two words is that the word meaning zero is spelt with an “o” — which looks like zero! When you make an effort to do something and it doesn’t succeed, you can say that your efforts have come to naught/nought.

*His attempts to overthrow the President came to naught. *All her efforts came to naught.

Some people think that “naught” and “nought” are old fashioned. Did you know that “naughty” and “naught” are related? The original meaning of a “naughty child” was a “good for nothing child”.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 23, 2004

Which is correct? “Curd” or “curds”?

Both are correct. Usually in speech, we use the plural “curds”. Remember the nursery rhyme “Little Miss Muffet”? She was sitting on her tuffet and eating her “curds and whey”. We ask someone whether he would like to have “curds”. When the word is used before a noun, it has to be “curd” and not “curds”. We ask someone if he would like to have “curd rice” or “curd cheese”. In both these cases, the word “curds” cannot be used. Americans do not use “curd”, they prefer to use the word “yoghurt” instead.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 23, 2004

Is it correct to say, “Both Rahul as well as Peter live in Hosur”?

No, it is not. In such a sentence you can either use “both” or “as well as”. You cannot include the two in the same sentence. You can say, “Both Rahul and Peter live in Hosur” or “Rahul, as well as Peter, lives in Hosur”. Notice that in the second case, the verb is “lives” and not “live”. When you use “as well as” the verb that follows usually agrees with the noun that precedes “as well as” — especially when “as well as” is separated by commas.

*The teacher, as well as the students, is going to Chennai.

*The students, as well as the teacher, are going to Chennai.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 23, 2004

“square meal”

A square meal, as you probably know, is a nutritious meal; one which is big enough to satisfy your hunger. In India, we are often told that we must have three such meals every day! The origin of the expression dates back to the 18th century when living conditions on ships were terrible. British sailors were given very little to eat. Breakfast and lunch consisted of a few slices of bread and a beverage. Dinner, however, was something more substantial; it included meat and a few other items. Unlike breakfast and lunch, dinner was served on a tray. Guess what the shape of the tray was? Yes, it was square. Hence the expression, “square meal”. This is one of the theories going around.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 23, 2004

How should you greet a couple after they have been married for a month?

Native speakers sometimes talk about a “one month anniversary”. So I suppose you could wish the couple a “Happy one month anniversary”. This seems to be a contradiction though. We normally associate the word “anniversary” with events that occur every year and not every month. I don’t think there is a special way to greet someone who has been married for just 30 days. If a couple succeeds in staying together for a year, then you can wish them a “Happy Cotton Wedding Anniversary”. On this day, you are supposed to present the couple with things made of cotton.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 16, 2004

Is “tiffin” an English word?

Well, the word is included in many dictionaries. Most of them state that it is a word of Anglo Indian origin. Native speakers of English, however do not use this word to refer to a light meal. They prefer to use the word “snack” instead of “tiffin”. According to some scholars, “tiffin” comes from “tiff”. One of the meanings of “tiff” in British English is “to sip or drink”. Did you know that Tiffin is also the name of a place?

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 16, 2004

Brouhaha

The word comes from the French “brouhaha” meaning “noisy chattering”. The word became popular in English after the Second World War. Nowadays, the word is normally used in informal contexts to mean a commotion or an angry complaint about something.

*There is a report on the recent brouhaha over the non-payment of the bonus.

The first syllable “brou” is pronounced like the word “brew”, and the “a” in the following two syllables sounds like the “a” in “art”, “part”, and “cart”. The British put the stress on the first syllable, while the Americans place it on the second.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 16, 2004

“affect” and “effect”

When something “affects” you, it influences you. The word is usually used as a verb.

*The unusually hot weather affected people in different ways. *The doctor said that the disease had affected Dilip’s liver.

The word “effect” can be used as a noun and a verb. An “effect” is a change that has been brought about by something else.

*He is studying the effect of TV violence on child behaviour. *The rising fuel prices had an immediate effect on the economy.

When you “effect” something, what you are doing is bringing about changes. Example, ‘’The Prime Minister has effected many changes by introducing the bill”.

The expression “have an effect on” has the same meaning as “affect”. Example, ‘’The drinking has had an effect on his liver’’.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 16, 2004.