What is the difference between a ‘chunky individual’ and a ‘fat individual’? (V Ganesh, Chennai)
Both words are used to refer to someone who is or looks overweight. ‘Fat’ is the more common of the two, and it is usually used to refer to someone who is extremely overweight. The height of this individual may vary — he may be tall, short or of medium height. The word is usually used to show disapproval; when you say that someone is ‘fat’, you are suggesting that he presents an unpleasant sight. One does not usually call someone ‘fat’ to his face; it would be considered impolite to do so. ‘Chunky’, on the other hand, is normally used to refer to someone who is short and muscular. Being short and broad shouldered, he looks heavy. Unlike ‘fat’, ‘chunky’ does not have a negative connotation. In fact, according to some books on usage, native speakers sometimes use the word to indicate affection. ‘Chunk’ rhymes with ‘skunk’, ‘punk’ and ‘bunk’.
Priya’s music teacher is chunky. He is definitely not fat.
I saw Raju walking with a chunky girl. Any idea who she is?
How is the word ‘farrago’ pronounced? (Sujatha, Hyderabad)
The first ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’ and the second sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘ask’, ‘task’ and ‘mask’. The final syllable is pronounced like the word ‘go’. This rather formal word is pronounced ‘fe-RAA-go’ with the stress on the second syllable. A few weeks ago, many people in our country were talking about this word thanks to Shashi Tharoor’s tweet. When a news channel did an expose on him, Tharoor wrote: “Exasperating farrago of distortions, misrepresentations and outright lies...” The word ‘farrago’ is normally used with things to show disapproval. When you say that an article is a farrago of lies and half-truths, you are suggesting it is an odd or even confusing mixture of the two. Nowadays, the word is used to suggest ‘assortment’ or ‘medley’ — things put together in a haphazard manner.
As expected, the Minister told the police a farrago of lies.
The word comes from the Latin ‘far’ meaning ‘grain’; the word was originally used to refer to ‘fixed fodder’— mixture of grains used to feed cattle. Strange isn’t it? Two tweets from Tharoor that received considerable attention were related to cattle — ‘cattle class’ and ‘farrago’.
What is the meaning of ‘throw someone under the bus’? (M Lalitha, Trivandrum)
This is an expression frequently used in American English in informal contexts. When you throw your friend under the bus, you betray him; in order to save yourself from the trouble you are in, you sacrifice him.
Be careful. Rajiv will throw you under the bus when you stop being useful to him.
The media have accused President Trump of throwing several of his top advisers under the bus.
Is it okay to say, ‘Sajid wrote Anita a cheque of two lakhs’? (Jivitesh, Madurai)
No, it isn’t. One usually writes a ‘cheque for’ a certain amount of money. Similarly, one writes a cheque ‘for’ someone.
The CEO of our company was willing to write a cheque for 20 lakhs.
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I’m in good shape. That shape is round. — Jarod Kintz
The author teaches at the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. upendrankye@gmail.com
