“Come on in! It’s open.”
“Sorry I’m late. Had a problem with the ...”
“You’re always late. Are you feeling okay? You look a bit under the weather.”
“I look a bit under the weather? Does it mean I look ill?”
“Very good! That’s exactly what it means. So, what’s the problem?”
“Have been under the weather for a few days now. The doctor is unable to figure out what the problem is. Feel tired all the time.”
“I see. Must be some sort of viral. Several of my friends have a similar problem.”
“With your friends, it’s understandable. It’s probably your company that is making them depressed.”
“Ha! Ha! Very funny. Talking about being depressed, ‘under the weather’ can also be used to mean to feel sad or depressed. Atul has been under the weather ever since he came to know that he hasn’t been promoted.”
“Our captain has been under the weather ever since we lost the match by a run.”
“That must have been a heart breaker. Anyway, why are you late? I was expecting you nearly an hour ago.”
“I know! I’m sorry. I went to get my grandmother’s alarm clock repaired.”
“Again? Why don’t you just get your grandmother a new clock?”
“She won’t hear of it. Says she is emotionally attached to it. It has been her faithful companion for over 60 years. Anyway, the good news is that the guy who fixes the clock says he won’t be able to repair it again. He says the clock is irrepairable.”
“You mean ‘irreparable’, don’t you?”
“Irrepairable, irreparable. What difference does it make?”
“In terms of meaning, not much. But ‘irrepairable’ does not find a place in most dictionaries. Native speakers prefer irreparable. It’s pronounced ‘ir-REP-re-bel’ with the stress on the second syllable.”
“I see. So something that cannot be fixed or repaired is irreparable?”
“That’s right. Chain smoking caused irreparable damage to my cousin’s lungs.”
“The fall caused irreparable damage to my grandmother’s clock.”
“That’s a good example. But you must find someone who will repair your grandmother’s clock. After all, she’s had it for nearly 60 years. I’m sure she’ll be under the weather if it’s not right next to her.”
“That’s true. You should see her face when she looks at the clock. It just lights up.”
“All the more reason for you to get it ticking again.”
“I know! By the way, how is the word ‘n..o..u..s’ pronounced?”
“Where did you come across the word?”
“I was reading a novel yesterday and one of the characters used it.”
“I see. The word rhymes with ‘house’ and ‘mouse’. Any idea what it means?”
“The sentence was ‘Anyone with a bit of nous can solve the problem’. I guess it means intelligence or common sense.”
“Very good. The word is used in informal contexts in British English to mean common sense. If Rajesh had any nous, he would buy both houses.”
“But Rajesh is not known for his common sense, is he?”
******
“Common sense is like deodorant; the people who need it most, never use it.” — Unknown
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