Know Your English

What is the meaning and origin of the expression "Can't hold a candle to someone"? (T.D.V. Raman, Chennai)

When you say that someone cannot hold a candle to you, what you are implying is that the other person is not equal to you; he/she is in fact inferior to you. The expression can be used with things as well. Here are a few examples.

*As a teacher, Satish can't hold a candle to Atul.

*According to Manaswini, no pop group can hold a candle to the Beatles.*Naveen thinks he's a wonderful sitar player. The poor guy doesn't realise that he can't hold a candle to Shravan when it comes to playing the sitar.

This is one of those expressions, which has been around for several hundred years. Before the days of electricity, it was common practice to light candles after the sun went down. Since street lighting was almost non-existent, the fairly well to do had servants who followed them everywhere carrying a candle. It was also possible to hire "linkboys". These boys carried with them lanterns and candles and they provided the necessary light for the people going from one part of the town to another. Since the servants and the linkboys were looked down upon by the masters, the expression "can't hold a candle to someone" began to mean someone who is inferior.

What is the difference between "partially cooked" and "partly cooked"? (T. Sundaram, Vellore)

There is a tendency to use the words "partially" and "partly" interchangeably. But careful users of the language make a distinction between the two. When you say that the rice has been partially cooked, it implies that it has not been completely cooked. In other words, it has been underdone; it needs to be boiled some more. On the other hand, when you say that it has been "partly" cooked, it seems to suggest that while certain portions have been cooked properly, some others have not been properly cooked. Perhaps some parts have been partially cooked! It is possible for a person to eat rice that has been partly cooked; he can eat the portion that has been cooked properly. You can also eat rice that has been partially cooked, but you may end up with a stomach-ache.

How do you pronounce `schizophrenia'? (Swarup Dey Sarkar, Bokaro)

The word consists of four syllables. The first syllable is pronounced like the word "skit", while the second is pronounced like the word "so". The third syllable sounds like the word "free"; while the final "ia" is like the "ear" in "near", "dear", and "fear". The main stress is on the third syllable "phre". Some people pronounce the "o" in the second syllable like the "a" in "China".

Any idea what the word means? Schizophrenia is a mental disorder; people who withdraw into a totally different world, one that has nothing to do with reality are said to be suffering from schizophrenia. In informal speech, the word is often reduced to "schizo", although this may not be the polite thing to do when talking seriously about someone with a mental disorder.

Should I say, "I enclose" or "I enclose herewith" (L. Sukanya, Vellore)

Whenever someone applies for a job, it is standard practice to conclude the letter by saying, "I am enclosing herewith my certificates and...". Some people object to the use of the word "herewith"; they argue that it is redundant. They recommend that people say, "I enclose a copy of....", or, "Please find enclosed a copy of ". But the fact remains that even native speakers of English do say, "enclose herewith". The example provided by the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English for the word herewith is "I enclose herewith two copies of the contract".

What is the opposite of "postpone"? (V. C. Nair, Coimbatore)

I guess in the Indian context one would say that the opposite is "prepone". It is very common to hear people say:

*The meeting has been preponed.

*I have decided to prepone my ticket.

*The date of his wedding has been preponed.

Native speakers of English, on the other hand, tend to use the word "advanced" in these contexts.

*The meeting has been advanced.

*I have decided to advance the date of my journey.

*The date of his wedding has been advanced.

With so many Indians living abroad, I am sure the word "prepone" will soon become a part of the native speakers' active vocabulary. I understand that the word has caught on in Canada. A lot of doctors there use it.

Is it OK to say, "Myself Subh Karan"? (Subh Karan Choradia, Gogolao, Rajasthan)

There is a tendency among Indians to say "Myself Ram" or "Myself Krishna". The word "myself", "himself", "herself", etc should not come at the beginning of a sentence. You generally use these words when you have "I", "him", and "her" at the beginning of a sentence. For example.

*I made the pizza myself.

*She did the assignment herself.

*The young man washed himself.

*It would be ungrammatical to say: Myself made the pizza. / Herself did the assignment.

* * * * *

"Ladies may have a fit upstairs." {frac12} Notice outside a Hong Kong tailor shop.

S. UPENDRAN

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