Shaping the Way We Teach English

what's next

First flight by S & S

What am I doing?

Farewell at KUHS

Idioms and Proverbs

If you say, "The cat's out of the bag" instead of "The secret is given away," you're using an idiom. The meaning of an idiom is different from the actual meaning of the words used. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is a proverb. Proverbs are old but familiar sayings that usually give advice. Both idioms and proverbs are part of our daily speech. Many are very old and have interesting histories. See how many of these sayings you know.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

This proverb comes from the ancient Romans, who believed the apple had magical powers to cure illness. In fact, apples are filled with vitamin C, protein, pectin, natural sugars, copper, and iron. They do promote health.

To "climb on the bandwagon."

Long ago, bands on the platforms of traveling wagons played music to announce a parade or political speech. To show their support, people would often jump onto the platform and join the band. Today, this idiom usually refers to someone who hopes to benefit from supporting another person's idea.

"Saved by the bell."

In 17th-century England, a guard at Windsor Castle was accused of falling asleep at his post. He claimed he was wrongly accused and could prove it; he had heard the church bell chime 13 times at midnight. Townspeople supported his claim and he was not executed. Today we think of the bell that ends a round in boxing, often saving the boxer from injury, or the bell at the end of a class period, saving you from more work. Regardless, this idiom means rescue from a situation at the last possible moment.

"Bury the hatchet."

Native Americans used to bury weapons to show that fighting had ended and enemies were now at peace. Today, the idiom means to make up with a friend after an argument or fight.

To "have a chip on one's shoulder."

In nineteenth-century America, a boy who thought he was pretty tough would put a wood chip on his shoulder and dare anyone to knock it off. Today the idiom refers to anyone who is "touchy" or takes offense easily.

Bakers once gave an extra roll for every dozen sold, so a baker's dozen is 13.

"A close shave."

In the past, student barbers learned to shave on customers. If they shaved too close, their clients might be cut or even barely escape serious injury. Today, we use this idiom if a person narrowly escapes disaster.

"Dot the i's and cross the t's."

When only handwritten documents were used, it was very important for the clerk to write everything properly, especially letters like i and t, which could easily be confused. The idiom has since come to mean paying attention to every little detail.

"He who pays the piper calls the tune."

In medieval times, people were entertained by strolling musicians. Whoever paid the price could choose the music. This proverb means that whoever pays is in charge.

"The pen is mightier than the sword."

In seventeenth-century England, a free press was banned by the government. This meant that people who disagreed with the government and printed their views were punished. In spite of this, people published their ideas and opinions in illegal pamphlets that were distributed to the public. The proverb means that the written expression of ideas cannot be stopped by physical force.

"The pot calling the kettle black."

In the seventeenth century, both pots and kettles turned black because they were used over open fires. Today, this idiom means criticizing someone else for a fault of one's own.

"Raining cats and dogs."

In Norse mythology, the dog is associated with wind and the cat with storms. This expression means it's raining very heavily.

To "shed crocodile tears."

Crocodiles have a reflex that causes their eyes to tear when they open their mouths. This makes it look as though they are crying while devouring their prey. In fact, neither crocodiles nor people who shed "crocodile" tears feel sorry for their actions.

"Clean bill of health."

When a doctor gives you a "clean bill of health," you know that you're perfectly healthy. In the past, when a ship left a port, it was given a Bill of Health if there were no epidemics in the area from which it left.

"Close but no cigar."

Years ago, cigars were often given as prizes in contests at fairs and carnivals. When a player almost won, the person running the game would say, "Close but no cigar."

"Cut from the same cloth."

This means that a person is very similar to another. When making suits, tailors use fabric from the same piece of cloth to make sure the pieces match perfectly.

"Strike while the iron's hot."

When you do this, you're taking advantage of a good opportunity. Blacksmiths must shape iron into objects during the brief time it's red-hot.

Media Hypes and My Books

I am an ordinary person who neither has influential parents nor much money. An open book of unending struggles, I am a fire under ashes heap and, perhaps, an orchid of the cliff. Moreover, I tried to move against the current trends. First of all, I did not knock at the door of notable editors and columnists. Secondly I did not ask bigwigs to write blurbs for my books. Thirdly, my books were not released by a VVIP at a Star Hotel nor did I sponsor any Mo:Mo party to the selected guests. I did not distribute printed T-shirts or abridged copies as complimentary.

Also I did not coax the publisher to make hang big jackets and flax prints. Of course, I did not advertise it by spending the amount that exceeds the royalties I get selling all one thousand copies. I know none of my book is going to bag awards as Palpasa Café did. Nor will it secure evergreen positions that of Karna Shakya’a Soch or Budhhisagar’s Karnali Blues. What is crystal clear is my limitations—forget about Stephine Myer’s fame, yet Sushma Joshi’s reputation is difficult to trounce.

In fact, many writers create beautiful compositions every year, Nepal is no exception, but are we informed well enough? Cannot other writers write fictions as P Coelo or Jagdish Ghimire do? If so, why is there so much bias while covering the writers and their creations? Wagley and Budhhisagar to name few. There are many commonalities among these authors, and it will not be tilted if I say it is no other than “media hype”.

For example, in terms of publication, 2011 is the golden year for me. Besides a half dozen research papers in inter/national journals, I got published 3 books though it took almost ten years to compose and refine those manuscripts. Out of three books two were from outside the country. God’s Greatest Gift and other non-fictitious fictions, Female Teachers at Schools in Nepal: Cats on the Hot Tin Roofs hit the bookstands few months back and the third one Hedonism, Shame and Disgrace is being born. God’s Greatest Gift and other non-fictitious fictions is an anthology of narratives that address the glocal issues. Where as Female Teachers at Schools in Nepal: Cats on the hot Tin Roofs is about oddities that female teachers in Nepal experience while upholding their home, office and society. And Hedonism, Shame and Disgrace is about sociopolitical and psychological dilemmas and consequences. Therefore, each book is full of totally alienating contents and themes.

There has been no coverage of these in Nepali media till now though my publisher left few copies of my debut book at leading houses. I’m writing my own story without any shy because I am a representation of other writers, composers, singers and musicians who are deliberately ignored time and again here. Today when Nepali media has arrived at in its Golden Age for both quality and quantity, only handful writers are promoted on and on, which I think is very wrong. However, I do not have any compunction as such. I know money talks. Having closely observed how Anuja Baniya was heightened optimum despite of her baseless claim, it is unsurprising on seeing the hypes and propagandas only of few mainstream writers and their work/s.

Still I am soothed and feel blessed as whoever got or seen my book exclaimed, “Oh , …… !!!” By now these books have travelled different parts of world. Only a week back, Library of Congress agent called me and inquired, “Do you have a dozen issues to send them to Delhi?” It seems slowly my books are getting in the market although most of Nepali media has not stopped covering the issues as in Peepli Live movie. They have eyes but mind. That is why they zoom the center but don’t excavate the periphery.

I think that this review will get into a dustbin of the editorial room. However, with gumption I have written this unknowing the real motive. Even don’t know instead of being genteel, why I am colliding my head with a mammoth mountain. Perhaps, I’m towed to a mission of making impossible to “I am possible”.