Sampath-Musings

From Sampath’s Desk: FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND, ALL-WEATHER FRIEND & FOUL-WEATHER FRIEND: FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND: Meaning: A person who is a faithful friend only when everything is going well but who deserts you in times of difficulty – someone who only wants to be your friend when things are fine and pleasant – one who supports others only when it is easy and convenient to do so   Example sentences:   A FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND is a person who will be your friend only when things are going well for you.   You can’t count on Mr. X to help you out when you are in trouble. He is just a FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND.   I thought ‘Y’ and I had a strong friendship, but he turned out to be just another FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND when he even stopped talking to me after I got into a financial crisis.   You cannot rely on FAIR-WEATHER FRIENDS to help you when you are in dire need.    ALL-WEATHER FRIEND:   Means a friend who helps you all the time...

From Sampath’s Desk:       CLEAN AIR   Oh, the invisible and intangible yet invaluable air; You are our present and future; Being uniquely designed incorporeal gift of Mother Nature; And ever crawling around the planet for our welfare!   Without you, life will be disastrous; Imagining your absence is preposterous; The vacuum will be perilous; Even to think of it is dangerous!   Air is the lifeline; Pollution will make you pay a heavy fine; Extend a helpline; And be on the frontline and maintain discipline;   You’re a Divine Grant to mankind; The origin of you is impossible to find; Also called wind; You're discernible only to the body and mind!   You are our soul and life architecture; You are indispensable for human infrastructure; You are the guarantor of optimal temperature; Without you, nothing will be safe and secure!   Atmosphere * has different layers; Each having its charac...

From Sampath’s Desk: Difference between SITUATE and SITUATED:   SITUATE: (verb and adjective)   Example sentences:   (as verb-transitive and infinitive):   The company wants TO SITUATE its headquarters in the north. I want TO SITUATE my shop in that big building. The health authorities have decided TO SITUATE the district hospital in that complex. Students will be expected TO SITUATE the novel in its historical context.   (as adjective):   My house is SITUATE in Nehru Colony 12 th Street. My plot of land is SITUATE near Ranga theatre opposite to KCT Mahal. The hill is SITUATE near the seashore The river is SITUATE on the west.   (Kindly note that the house, plot of land, hill, and river cannot be transferred anywhere being naturally and permanently located/fixed ones)     SITUATED:   (Past tense and past participle)   My shop is SITUATED in the Gee Gee Complex of Mount Road. His o...

From Sampath’s Desk:       PRATIVADI BHAYANKARA SRINIVAS  (22 Sep.1928 - 14 April 2013)   A sweet, golden, melodious, and mellifluous voice that enthralled and mystified music lovers across the country in general and those in South India, in particular, became silent on 14.4.2013. Yes, P.B.Srinivas, who was a heart-throb of millions of music lovers for well over five decades, is no more. PBS, as he was fondly known, was synonymous with honeyed voice and tone that could have hardly missed notice by anyone, during his hey-days of playback singing. His ‘Nectar-flowing-into-ears’ songs transported cine song listeners to a crescendo of joy.   He was a lyricist and a music composer too.   He had sharp artistic acumen, a capacity for presentation in a velvet voice, and a natural flair to sustain aural and acoustic interest in music lovers. His songs transcended times and generations, and are even now liked by youngsters.   For millions of yes...

From Sampath’s Desk:             PLASTIC MENACE   A few years prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Central and State governments in India had slapped a ban on single-use plastic items. With the focus currently on ending the unprecedented worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of toxically noxious plastic items now stands relegated to the back-burner.   It is really unfortunate that only 9% of plastic items produced since the 1950s have been recycled and the rest remain untouched with all sorts of nuisance value including pollution. But there can be no denial of the fact that plastic when invented was thought to be a magic-cum-dream-come-true product with its universal and versatile use as packing material, utensils, and a host of other goods including home products. However, the recycling percentage is abysmally and woefully low.   Every year, the world uses up to 5 trillion plastic bags,  and at leas...

From Sampath’s Desk: GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS (or) GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE  and  OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY: GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS (or) GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE: Meaning: If you say that you can't get a word in edgeways (edgewise), you are complaining that you don't have the opportunity to speak because someone else is talking so much.   ஒரு உரையாடலில் , ஒருவர் மற்றவரை / மற்றவர்களை பேசவிடாமல் தானே முழுவதும் பேசிக்கொண்டிருப்பது .     Example sentences:   Once Murali gets talking, no one else can GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS.   He completely monopolized the conversation last night; Jayanthi and I couldn’t GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS.   I tried to tell him what I thought, but couldn’t GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS.   It  was   such  an  exciting   conversation   that  I  could   hardly   GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS.   Geetha talks so fast and non-stop that nobody can GET A WORD...