Ultimate, Penultimate, Antepenultimate
Ultimate = (1) being or happening at the end of a process ; final ;last. Their ultimate aim was to conquer the topmost position in the business. The boss will make the ultimate decision who to employ. . (2) the best available of its kind. This restaurant is described as ” the ultimate in luxury”. He is believed to be the ultimate painter of this century. Penultimate = second from the last ; last but one in a series of things. The penultimate chapter of…
Horizon vs. Horizons
Horizon = the line at which the earth’s surface and the sky appear to meet. The sun rose above the horizon. The moon began to rise slowly above the horizon. It’s beautiful to watch the horizon at the sunset. At the sunrise the sun looked like a ball of fire above the horizon. Horizons = (plural) the limit of a person’s knowledge , experience or interest, perception etc. He wanted to change his outlook and broaden his horizons. The discovery will open up new horizons…
Shine-shined-shined vs. shine- shone-shone.
(A) Shine =(transitive verb) to make something bright by rubbing it. (shine-shined-shined) “Have you shined your belt? “.the senior police officer asked the new cadet. It’s his practice to shine his shoes well before going to the office. He ironed his shirt and shined his shoes for the interview. The policeman walked along the street ,shining a torch into every car. The soldier shined his sword before entering into the battlefield. (B) Shine =(intransitive verb) -( 1) of the sun or other sources of light )…
Luxuriant vs. Luxurious
Luxuriant = strong in growth, abundant. The luxuriant vegetation of tropical region . Tall, luxuriant plants grew along the river bank. This area gets a lot of rain and covered with luxuriant forest. She had luxuriant hair which fell around her shoulders. This tree has wide-spreading branches and luxuriant foliage. Luxurious = supplied with luxury, very comfortable. She lived in luxurious surroundings. This is a luxury hotel. They spent a luxurious weekend at the Kovalam beach. During the training programme , the company gave them…
Shake hands vs. Handshake
Shake hands = (verb) to hold someone’s hand and move it up and down several times as a way of greeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shook hands with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan when they met at Delhi to discuss the Kerala flood situation. Nice to meet, Tomi said , shaking my hand when I met him at Chicago. People shake hands when meeting with friends and guests. Children should be taught how to shake hands with their friends. He came up and shook hands with…
Useful Idioms – part 8
(1) Tighten one’s belt = cut one’s expenditure ; live more frugally. She said the poor must tighten their belts. I’ve had to tighten my belt since I stopped working full-time. (2) Make a killing = to earn a lot of money in a short time and with little effort. They made a killing with the sale of their London house. Tom made a killing at the race track yesterday. (3) Well-heeled = wealthy. His family was very well-heeled. My uncle can afford a new car. …
Contemptible vs. Contemptuous
Contemptible :- deserving to be treated with contempt.. She has played a contemptible trick on her friend. He’s a contemptible politician known to take bribes even from poor people. The jury sentenced capital punishment to the contemptible rapist. He’s a contemptible man who won’t appreciate the virtues and exceptional capabilities of others, maybe he is devoid of any of these qualities to his credit. . Contemptuous :- showing contempt. He gave a contemptuous laugh. She talked in a contemptuous tone about the poor local farmers.…
Useful Idioms – part 7
(1) Get the sack = to be dismissed from job. ( has an allusion to tradesmen, who owned their own tools and took them with him in a bag or sack when they were dismissed from employment). The Deputy Manager got the sack for incompetence and financial mismanagement. (2) Head-hunt = identify and approach a suitable person employed elsewhere. Jorty was head-hunted as MD of a leading Commercial Bank. Head-hunting is a form of recruitment and selection. He was head-hunted by a rival company for one…
Brainchild vs. Brain drain
Brainchild = someone’s idea or invention, especially if successful. This festival celebration was the brainchild of the Corporation mayor. The project was the brainchild of a student. This dance sequence is the brainchild of the assistant director. This method of cultivation is the brainchild of the new agriculture minister. . Brain drain =a movement of a large number of highly skilled or professional people from the country where they were trained to other countries where they can earn more money. The government has done nothing…
Useful Idioms – part 6
(1) The middle ground = a position between two opposite opinions in an argument that is acceptable to many different people. Both sides in this debate need to do more to establish some middle ground. The judge of the case chose a middle ground between harshness and leniency. (2) Be on the breadline = to be very poor, as if one could rely on food donations to survive. A ‘ breadline’ is a line of people seeking food distributed by a charitable or government agency.…