What is the meaning of the word 'lynch'? (Kaustukey Tripathi, Lucknow)
The word rhymes with 'pinch' and 'inch'. We sometimes read in the papers about how people on the st...
»
What is the meaning of ‘packed to the rafters’?
(Kiran Gandhi, Thiruvananthapuram)
You must be a fan of the new television serial being shown on Star World. The beams that...
»
What is the difference between ‘celibate’ and ‘bachelor’? (Madan Raj, Chennai) First, let us deal with the pronunciation of ‘celibate’. The first syllable is pronounced...
»
What is the origin of ‘blackmail’? (Kavita Kumar, Cochin)In our films, the villain somehow gets his hands on the letters written by the heroine to her former boyfriend, and makes mone...
»
What is the difference between ‘woozy’ and ‘dizzy’?
(Shrivatsa, Guntur)
When you feel ‘dizzy’, you feel giddy. Everything around you seems to be spinning, and you feel as...
»
What is the meaning and origin of ‘cherry-picking’?
(Sana Jacob, Hyderabad) When you ‘cherry-pick’, you look at the various things that are on display and select the best...
»
How is the word ‘insouciance’ pronounced?
(RG Veliyappa, New Delhi)
The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘in’ and the second like the word ‘sue’. The ‘I’...
»
What is the difference between ‘felon’ and ‘criminal’
(K.P. Anuradha, Bangalore)
First, let us deal with the pronunciation of ‘felon’ The first syllable is pronounced like...
»
What is the difference between ‘peppy’ and ‘happy’?
(Vinay Kumar, Coimbatore)
‘Peppy’ comes from the word ‘pep’ meaning ‘lively’ or ‘energetic’. When you refer to a person...
»
What is the term for non-stop meaningless chatter or talk?
(L. Joseph, Kochi)
If you are thinking of our politicians who frequently appear on TV in support of their collea...
»
