HUMAN PARTS SERVE AS PART OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE NUANCES

 FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:

HUMAN PARTS SERVE AS PART OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE NUANCES - AS VERBS, NOUNS, IDIOMS, AND IN A METAPHORICAL SENSE:

 

 

1)	You can HEAD a company, but if things go wrong, you'll have to shoulder the blame, or face your investors.
2)	A good leader will BACK his employees. But, if you don't TOE their line, the management can SKIN you.
3)	Did you MUSCLE your way into that job?
4)	You might EYE someone suspiciously, or wait for the police to FINGER a suspect.   He burnt his FINGER by investing in that failed project.
5)	But if you need to get out of town, you can THUMB a ride or you can ride with me if you can STOMACH the thought.   That’s the THUMB rule.
6)	Use strong ARM tactic if you want to ELBOW out someone.
7)	I don't always sing along with the radio, but I sometimes do MOUTH the words.
8)	Many politicians don’t lend their EARS to corruption-related issues.
9)	If merit is not recognized, there will soon be BRAIN drain in the country.
10)	Sometimes, the solution to our problems will be right under our NOSE, but we may not notice it.
11)	Sometimes, some police personnel themselves may act HAND-in-glove with the criminals.
12)	Agriculture is the BACKBONE of Indian economy.
13)	The idea of making India a world super-power and the industrial and economic Czar sooner than later is held by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi dear to his HEART.
14)	Unless you grease the PALMS, nothing happens in some government offices.
15)	There was a NECK-to-NECK race in that election.
16)	His comments were intended to be TONGUE-in-CHEEK, but his friend took it seriously and started a huge argument.
17)	Rt. Hon’ble Srinivasa Sastry was considered a silver-TONGUED orator in English language.
18)	Soldiers taking EYEBALL-to-EYEBALL positions in the borders is not uncommon.
19)	Island Ground in Chennai is the city’s LUNG-field.
20)	Subramania Bharathi fought against the British rulers TOOTH and NAIL during the independence struggle.
21)	That gory incident was SPINE-chilling and JAW-dropping.
22)	I really PUT MY FOOT IN MY MOUTH when I asked her how her husband was. I forgot that he died last year.
23)	The events at the yesterday’s Circus were HAIR-splitting.
24)	We are all curious to know what the boss was discussing with the lawyers in the yesterday’s long meeting, but he is keeping it close to his CHEST.
25)	Helping HANDS are holier than the praying LIPS. A mere LIP service will not work.
26)	The decision announced was shocking and made many rise their EYE-BROWS.   They BROWBEAT him into signing the document. She wasn't going to let him BROWBEAT her into agreeing to go.   (BROWBEAT – an idiom – meaning – they try to force to do what they want – to institute or disconcert by a stern manner or arrogant speech - to make someone do something by asking or threatening them until they agree)
27)	He is a blue-BLOODED boss. It was a cold-BLOODED murder.
28)	Spirit is willing but the FLESH is weak.
29)	That project is a JOINT venture of the two countries.
30)	Attending a job interview or taking a public examination may be NERVE-wracking experience for some.
31)	She is glamour PUSS. As a beautiful and attractive woman, she is always overly concerned with her appearance.
32)	I was KNEE-deep in paperwork when my friend came to my office yesterday to discuss his personal problems with me.
33)	Oh please, that fool doesn’t have two brain-CELLS to rub together; there is no way he could pull off such an elaborate plan!   That detective credited his little grey CELLS as the reason he was able to solve such a complex and mysterious case.
34)	You better BECOME HIP TO Mark’s manipulative ways now, before it’s too late.   (‘become HIP to’ someone or something is used in English idiomatically as mentioned above. The idiomatic phrase BECOME HIP TO means ‘to know about or be aware of someone or something').
35)	Wow, you really gave this room a FACE-lift; it looks fantastic!
36)	Come on, the project is not a total failure; CHIN up!
37)	I have never seen such a lily-LIVERED fellow like him. (Idiomatic meaning – coward, one who can be easily frightened)
38)	ANYBODY can paint a picture, but it takes a wise-man to sell it.   Can SOMEBODY explain me the concept?
39)	The police shouldn’t have hit him at the TEMPLE area. (The ‘temple’ point is a latch in the human where four skull bones fuse; the frontal, parietal, temporary, and sphenoid) – தமிழில் – பொட்டு
40)	Their relationship is on its last LEGS.
41)	Yet another scandal followed close on the HEELS of the Minister’s resignation.
42)	I made those remarks on you in a lighter VEIN. Don’t bother and ignore it.
43)	I don’t know what is written on my FOREHEAD (according to Hindu Karma philosophy). I am now going through a difficult period.
44)	His hypothesis is really out on a LIMB; the facts don’t support it at all.

 

 

I reserve my right to add more if I can.

 

(R.SAMPATH)

3/2/202222