What is the meaning and origin of ‘cut to the chase’? (J. Amudhraj, Chennai)
The expression is mostly used in American English in informal contexts. When you tell someone to ‘cut to the chase’, you want him to get to the point; you want him to stop wasting everyone’s time by talking about things that are irrelevant or trivial.
Cut to the chase, Padma. What is it that you want the children to do?
I don’t have much time, so I’ll cut to the chase. You didn’t get the promotion.
According to one theory, Hollywood gave rise to the expression. During the days of the black and white silent films, the chase scene was considered an important ingredient. Every film tried to include one because the audience found it to be the most exciting part of the film. Since the chase always formed a part of the climax, the expression began to mean what it does today. An old expression that has more or less the same meaning is ‘cut through the chaff’.
What is the difference between ‘kowtow’ and ‘prostrate’? (R. Sivakumar, Chennai)
First, let us deal with the pronunciation of ‘kowtow’. The first syllable is pronounced like the word ‘cow’ and the second rhymes with ‘how’ and ‘now’. The word is pronounced ‘cow-TOW’ with the stress on the second syllable. It comes from the Chinese ‘k’o’ meaning ‘knock’ and ‘t’ou’ meaning ‘head’; the word literally means to touch the ground with one’s forehead. When you ‘kowtow’ or ‘prostrate’ to someone, you are showing your respect for them. The act of kowtowing requires one to drop to their knees and then, bending forward, touch the ground with their forehead. ‘Prostrate’, on the other hand, suggests that you are lying face down, flat on the ground with your arms stretched out. Unlike the word, ‘prostrate’, the word ‘kowtow’ can be used to show disapproval. When you ‘kowtow to someone’ you are being too respectful to someone who is in power; you are doing everything possible to keep him happy.
The Vice-Chancellor refused to kowtow to the demands of the students.
Amala told her boss that she wasn’t in the habit of kowtowing to anyone.
Which is correct: once for all or once and for all? (C.S. Narayanan, Bengaluru)
Though some dictionaries list both expressions, most standard dictionaries include only ‘once and for all’. Both come from an older expression ‘one time and for all time’. Books on usage claim that that most native speakers of English consider ‘once for all’ to be rather old fashioned. When you say that you wish to solve a problem ‘once (and) for all’, what you are suggesting is that you wish to find a permanent solution to the problem. The expression is mostly used to mean ‘completely’ or ‘finally’.
I’m telling you once and for all, I didn’t steal your necklace.
The Supreme Court was asked to resolve the matter once and for all.
How is the word ‘gif’ pronounced? (K.V. Arun, New Delhi)
There are two different ways of pronouncing this abbreviation. The ‘g’ can be pronounced like the ‘j’ in ‘jam’ and ‘juice’ or like the ‘g’ in ‘get’, ‘give’ and ‘gill’. The following ‘if’ rhymes with ‘stiff’ and ‘gift’. The word is the abbreviated form of ‘Graphic Interchange Format’; it is a file that we normally use to share images on the Internet.
I think... therefore, I’m single. — Lizz Winstead
The author teaches at the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. upendrankye@gmail.com
