Sampath-Musings

From Sampath’s Desk: PUT YOUR FOOT IN YOUR MOUTH and TILL THE COWS COME HOME: PUT YOUR FOOT IN YOUR MOUTH:   Meaning:   Get into trouble for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong person, often without realizing it – to say something mostly by accident that embarrasses or upsets someone – to unintentionally utter something foolish, tactless, or offensive – say something stupid, insulting, or hurtful – to accidentally say something inappropriate that causes distress or embarrassment to yourself or others.     Example sentences:   He just tends to PUT HIS FOOT IN HIS MOUTH when he speaks for too long. So, try to get him off stage as soon as possible.   When I told Radha that her hair was more beautiful than I had ever seen it. I really PUT MY FOOT IN MY MOUTH. It was a wig.   I really PUT MY FOOT IN MY MOUTH when I asked her how her husband was. I forgot that he died last year.   The politician apolog...

  From Sampath’s Desk: COLOSSUS and JETTISON: COLOSSUS: (noun) Plural form :: Colossussi   Pronunciation:   Ko-laa-sus (‘sus’ as in suspect) - கொலாஸஸ்   Meaning:   A person or thing of enormous/immense size, importance, power, ability, talent, skill, etc. – a statue of a very big size and proportions. Example sentences:   Dickens was regarded as the literary COLOSSUS of his age.   He became the COCOSSUS of the labour movement in the country especially after independence.   Recently, four banks have been merged. The merged bank will be a COLOSSUS.   North Korea is economically vulnerable but militarily a COLOSSUS.   This COLOSSUS is a statue of the Sun, or of Memnon, according to the common tradition.   JETTISON: (v.t.)   Pronunciation:   ஜெட்டிஸன்   Meaning:   Throw away or drop from an aircraft or ship.   For example, if a ship has developed ...

  From Sampath’s Desk:       ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE (25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018)    In the departure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (93) on 16.8.2018, one of the tallest peaks of the Himalayas has fallen ending a great saga of accommodative and embracive politics. Only a few Indian statesmen could match his great intellectual patriotism, visionary qualities, and pristine and glorious political sagacity with a new all-inclusive, affable and harmonious political culture spanning well over six decades. Making a humble beginning as an RSS cadre, his industrious and illustrious journey from his native environs to the Prime Minister’s office was an inspiring success story.   The voice of a progressive and patriotic bard, a prolific writer, and a King of vociferous oratory that he epitomized, has been sadly silenced.    Credit goes to him for making the comity of nations look at India as a full...

From Sampath’s Desk: DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH & SHOE (BOOT) IS ON THE OTHER FOOT:   DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH:   Meaning:   One having exceptional qualities or potential but lacking refinement or polish (the idiom is a compliment) – someone or something with ability, skill, and talent but lacking training – The idiom refers to the fact that diamonds found in nature are rough and uneven. They must be cut and polished to bring out their true beauty.   A person who has talent or other good qualities but who is not polite, educated, socially skilled, etc., and who needs intervention to make him/her become strong in their area of interest, and stand out from the crowd.   Something that is in poor condition but that is likely to become valuable with appropriate care or attention.   Example sentences:   Her singing voice is beautiful, but she needs help with her gestures.; now she is a DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.   I was once a DIA...