LONG IN THE TOOTH and A PIG IN A POKE:

 FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:

LONG IN THE TOOTH and A PIG IN A POKE:


 

LONG IN THE TOOTH:

 

Meaning:

 

If you describe someone as LONG IN THE TOOTH, you are saying unkindly or humourously that they are old or getting old - old or aging - the idiom was used originally for horses because their gums recede with age - the term can be used to mean ‘they are getting old, often too old, for a particular activity or purpose' - rather too old to do something

 

 

Example sentences:

 

Ram is getting to be pretty LONG IN THE TOOTH.

 

Aren’t you a bit LONG IN THE TOOTH to start being an undergraduate? 

 

Our poor cat is so LONG IN THE TOOTH that he struggles just walking around the house these days.

 

I think Dad may be getting a little senile (old, weak, and/or absent-minded); he is a bit LONG IN THE TOOTH.

 

I think I am too LONG IN THE TOOTH to take up this stressful job.

 

Sorry my dear, you are a little LONG IN THE TOOTH to understand the situation and appropriately handle it.

 

My grandfather always said that he was LONG IN THE TOOTH but he had more knowledge about the business than we do. Yes, he was right.

 

Although LONG IN THE TOOTH now, my granny has some fascinating and moral-lesson-giving stories to tell us.

 

 

 

A PIG IN A POKE

 

Meaning:

 

Something you buy or accept without first properly seeing, assessing, and/or finding out if it is good or not - indicates that an offer, deal, or proposal has been foolishly accepted without prior examination or weighing its pros and cons - buying or accepting without being aware of its true nature, value, and/or use - to agree to or take something without sight or knowledge of it in advance - something not adequately appraised or of undetermined value, as an offering or purchase – something offered in such a way as to obscure its real worth and usefulness

 

 

Example sentences:

 

Be careful about buying that old car. It might turn out to be A PIG IN A POKE.

 

As a careless person, he always buys A PIG IN A POKE.

 

I want to see the tennis racket before I agree to the price. I don’t want to buy A PIG IN A POKE.

 

Consumers need to be alert, cautious, mindful, and wary in case they buy A PIG IN A POKE and find no legal means of protecting their rights.

 

That scheme could be A PIG IN A POKE, who knows! It is too early to fret (worry, bother, fear, or disagree) or celebrate.

 

Offers of and deals with that fraudulent company which was closed two years ago and now come back with a new name and brands may turn out to be A PIG IN A POKE. Be careful.

 

 

 

Proverbs:

 

சிறு துரும்பும் பல்லுக் குத்த உதவும்.

Even a small fibre may serve as a toothpick.

 

பன்றியோடு கூடிய கன்றும் மலம் தின்னும்.

A calf that goes with a pig will eat excrement.



 

(R.SAMPATH)

20/6/2023

Comments

  1. Kamala Subramanian20 June 2023 at 15:06

    LONG IN THE TOOTH and A PIG IN A POKE:

    Well, they say, Beg, Borrow, But don't steal. Yes. I have not begged, but I have requested , I have borrowed and I do steal Sampath ji 's unique way of playing around with words.

    Today the couple of phrases are something that even if I came across somewhere, I don't think I would have paused to try to understand it. I feel so dumb. But that's the truth.

    The English language is full of bizarre English phrases, idioms and proverbs, which, when taken literally, seem to make no sense at all.
    But because of Sampath ji 's untiring effort, we can decipher them and try to imbibe them in our written communication.

    Thanks Sampath ji

    Kamala Subramanian
    20.6.21

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KAVIGNAR (TAMIL POET) VAALI

Image
FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:         KAVIGNAR (TAMIL POET) VAALI ( வாலிப கவிஞர் வாலி) 29 October 1931-18 July 2013       Vaali Sir (T.S.RANGARAJAN) – born in Srirangam, Trichy, Tamil Nadu - was a great legendary Tamil-poet-cum-lyricist with a gift of the gab and pen, who had to his credit more than 15000 film songs and a host of other literary works, He was a contemporary of Kannadasan. His songs were thought-provoking, conscience-stirring, awareness-generating and highly inspiring. Yes, with his departure, a great saga of an eventful career of a distinguished lyricist spanning more than five decades has come to an end. The poetic circles, and the literary and tinsel worlds have become poorer by his passing. Transcending barriers including generations, he had offered something for everyone belonging to both old and new generations to remember and cherish forever. Vaali made his humble beginning, as is the wont with every writer, with a devoti...
Read more

THIRUMURUGA KRIPANANDA VARIYAR - திருமுருக கிருபானந்த வாரியார்

Image
  FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:       THIRUMURUGA KRIPANANDA VARIYAR திருமுருக கிருபானந்த வாரியார் (25 August 1906 - 7 November 1993)   THIRUMURUGA KRIPANANDA VARIYAR was born on 25.8.1906 in Kangeyanallur near Vellore, Tamil Nadu.   He sowed divinity in the minds of the common man and words contemplated upon were humorously conveyed by him so as to grip the minds of his audience. He was affectionately and reverently called VARIYAR SWAMIGAL by people.   He had no formal education. However, he was brought up by his father himself at home giving him core divine knowledge and wisdom. Swamigal learned Tamil literature, grammar, and music, especially playing Veena. At age 8 itself, he had to his credit many poems in ‘Venba’ style. By age 12, he learned by heart at least 10000 hymns, mostly devotional numbers.   During my boyhood days in Triplicane, I used to go to his divine and spiritual discourses. Tamil language and devotional hymns...
Read more

FEATHERS OF POSITIVE PHILOSOPHY!

Image
From Sampath’s Desk :     FEATHERS OF POSITIVE PHILOSOPHY!     The concept of ‘philosophy’ used here is about the empirical aspects of life such as - how to find joy and happiness generally and to keep ourselves cool and unperturbed, clothed with feathers of positive philosophy in the face of ordeals and distress. Again, on the one side, it is about feeling self-joy, and on the other, a solace-seeking exercise during trials and tribulations. Some tips have been attempted here.   If you happen to be rich in wealth and affluent, think that God has given you the extra wealth and money for helping others. The best way to find joy and happiness is to make others happy by charity without expecting anything in return much less gratitude. It is only the possessor of wealth who should be actually grateful to God for providing him/her the opportunity to help the needy. It is of course easier said than done, but the real joy lies in giving and in going to the succo...
Read more