Idiom of the day: red tape
Meaning: Strict adherence to rules and regulations
so that a procedure seems to take longer than necessary.
For example: It takes a long time to set up a
company in some countries because of all the red tape involved in getting
government permits.
Phrasal verb of the day: run through
Meaning: to quickly read something like a list or a
speech in order to check the details or look for mistakes.
For example: run through sth Run through the list
and see if you can find anyone called Xavier on it.
Proverb of the day: Haste makes waste
Meaning: Act patiently. Plan every
action in advance. Analyse the plan thoroughly. Alter and amend it wherever
necessary. Never act rashly. That's how one increases the chances of success.
Illustration: Shivaji, the Maratha chief, was on the run. He had suffered a setback in a battle with the Mughals. He and a few of his close associates got away in time. The party moved through the jungle. After a long trek, they reached a junction. Shivaji turned to his men and said, "If we move in a group, we will be easily identified. Let each of us follow a different route. We shall meet three days hence, in the old rest house near Rajgarh Fort."
The men protested. Shivaji overruled their objection. He moved on, all by himself. By dusk he was tired. He needed food and shelter for the night? The flicker of an oil lamp, at a distance, roused his hopes. He moved faster till he reached a hut.
An old woman was watching a pot, boiling on the fire. She raised her head on hearing footsteps. She saw a stranger at the door. She asked, "Who are you?" Shivaji did not introduce himself. For danger stalked him, all around. So he said, "A poortraveller. Ma, I seek help from you. I am terribly hungry. I had been on my feet all day long and had nothing but some nuts and fruits I took from the trees."
"Come, sit down. I will get you a plate of hot, fresh boiled Kodi (grain eaten by poor people). Nothing more. I am poor. I can't serve a grand feast," she made place for Shivaji to sit close to the fire.
Shivaji thanked her. Hewashed hisfaceand handsandsatdown. The woman placed a plate before him and served the- hot steaming food. Shivaji picked up a handful of food from the centre. He wrung his hand in pain. Quickly he dropped the food and waited.
The old woman, who watched him, said, "You are like Shivaji."
"Shivaji! Why?" he asked.
"Shivaji leaves aside small -forts and hurries to capture big ones. He is terribly hasty. He doesn't know that he must move step by step, gain control over the small forts and then attack the big ones. Haste makes waste. It gets one into trouble. You were hasty too. Food, when served hot, cools faster at the edges. Instead of taking food from the edges, where it is cold, you picked up a handful from the centre. And hence, got your fingers burnt."
Shivaji got the message. He thanked the old woman. He cleaned up the kodi. He washed the plate and waited till the old woman had eaten. He helped her clean up the pots. Then she spread a mat on the floor for him to sleep.
Next day, at dawn, he took leave of the old woman. He told her, as he left, "I assure you, I won't be hasty. I know haste gets one into trouble. Thank you for teaching me that lesson."
"Good. I wish Shivaji also learns that lesson. I wish I live to see Shivaji holding absolute power," the old woman said.
"He has got the message, Mataji," Shivaji fell at her feet.
"What!" the old woman was confused.
"I am Shivaji. Bless me, Mataji. You have shown me the way to succeed," Shivaji reached for the old woman's right hand and placed it on his head. She smiled and said, " Vijayi Bhava" (May you be victorious).
Illustration: Shivaji, the Maratha chief, was on the run. He had suffered a setback in a battle with the Mughals. He and a few of his close associates got away in time. The party moved through the jungle. After a long trek, they reached a junction. Shivaji turned to his men and said, "If we move in a group, we will be easily identified. Let each of us follow a different route. We shall meet three days hence, in the old rest house near Rajgarh Fort."
The men protested. Shivaji overruled their objection. He moved on, all by himself. By dusk he was tired. He needed food and shelter for the night? The flicker of an oil lamp, at a distance, roused his hopes. He moved faster till he reached a hut.
An old woman was watching a pot, boiling on the fire. She raised her head on hearing footsteps. She saw a stranger at the door. She asked, "Who are you?" Shivaji did not introduce himself. For danger stalked him, all around. So he said, "A poortraveller. Ma, I seek help from you. I am terribly hungry. I had been on my feet all day long and had nothing but some nuts and fruits I took from the trees."
"Come, sit down. I will get you a plate of hot, fresh boiled Kodi (grain eaten by poor people). Nothing more. I am poor. I can't serve a grand feast," she made place for Shivaji to sit close to the fire.
Shivaji thanked her. Hewashed hisfaceand handsandsatdown. The woman placed a plate before him and served the- hot steaming food. Shivaji picked up a handful of food from the centre. He wrung his hand in pain. Quickly he dropped the food and waited.
The old woman, who watched him, said, "You are like Shivaji."
"Shivaji! Why?" he asked.
"Shivaji leaves aside small -forts and hurries to capture big ones. He is terribly hasty. He doesn't know that he must move step by step, gain control over the small forts and then attack the big ones. Haste makes waste. It gets one into trouble. You were hasty too. Food, when served hot, cools faster at the edges. Instead of taking food from the edges, where it is cold, you picked up a handful from the centre. And hence, got your fingers burnt."
Shivaji got the message. He thanked the old woman. He cleaned up the kodi. He washed the plate and waited till the old woman had eaten. He helped her clean up the pots. Then she spread a mat on the floor for him to sleep.
Next day, at dawn, he took leave of the old woman. He told her, as he left, "I assure you, I won't be hasty. I know haste gets one into trouble. Thank you for teaching me that lesson."
"Good. I wish Shivaji also learns that lesson. I wish I live to see Shivaji holding absolute power," the old woman said.
"He has got the message, Mataji," Shivaji fell at her feet.
"What!" the old woman was confused.
"I am Shivaji. Bless me, Mataji. You have shown me the way to succeed," Shivaji reached for the old woman's right hand and placed it on his head. She smiled and said, " Vijayi Bhava" (May you be victorious).
Conclusion: Act in haste, repent at
leisure. Look before you leap.
Common errors in English
Sentence:
- Mohan lives in a boarding (in correct)
- Mohan lives in a boarding house (correct)
Explanation:
boarding is wrong; boarding house is correct.
We
often confused and commit the mistake in use of certain nouns.
English blues
What is the difference between
‘womanish’ and ‘effeminate’?
Both words are often used with men to
show disapproval. The word ‘effeminate’ is used exclusively with men. When you
label a man ‘effeminate’, you are suggesting that the individual is not at all
manly; everything about him — his behaviour, taste, habits, looks, etc., — is
very feminine. Unlike the word ‘effeminate’, ‘womanish’ can be used with both
men and women. When used with a woman, it means the individual has all the
characteristics of her sex; she looks and behaves in a manner that befits a
woman. In this case, it is used as a compliment. When used with a man, the word
suggests that the individual is rather feminine. It shows contempt.
For
example:
- The students took great delight in imitating Ram’s effeminate walk.
- Jeetender had the womanish habit of breaking down when things went wrong.
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