Confess somebody vs Confess to somebody
Confess somebody = (of a priest) listen to somebody doing this. The priest confessed the criminal. Confess to somebody= tell a priest what you have done so that you can be forgiven OR admit something to somebody. The criminal confessed to the priest that he had stolen the gold ornaments. Related usages : She confessed to her mother that she had told a lie. (i.e admitted that…..) He has confessed to the priest that he murdered the neighbour. I must confess that the house extension is…
May be vs Maybe
May be = In the phrase ‘MAY BE’ , ‘may’ is a modal verb and ‘be’ is a main verb or auxiliary verb. Here, MAY and BE are two separate words whereas ‘MAYBE’ is one word. There may be a train at 10.00 a.m. He may be waiting for us. The Prime Minister may be addressing the people tomorrow through the media. . Maybe is an adverb and it means the same as ‘perhaps‘. It is written as one word. Maybe she should consult a doctor.…
Antics vs Antique
Antics = Foolish or amusing behaviour e.g by a clown at circus etc.( when you pronounce this word give stress at the first syllable.) In the movie the comedian displays his antics and mannerisms. Their physical antics and comic duets made the audience laugh. She had little patience for his antics and stupidity. The antics of our own political parties. The clown’s antics made the children laugh. Antique = Belonging to the past e.g a piece of furniture , a work of art etc. (…
Marital vs Martial
Marital = relating to marriage or the relations between a married couple. She wanted to talk about their marital problems. Marital bliss is the share and care the couple give between them. Strict marital fidelity is essential for a happy married life. Extra-marital relations may spoil the joyful atmosphere in the family. Martial = relating to fighting , war, army. Freedom of press was curtailed to a great extent during martial regime. Martial law. A court martial stripped him of his military rank. The recruits…
Complicity vs. Complexity
Complicity = involvement in a crime or some activity that is wrong. Police suspected his complicity in Billa’s escape. The police are investigating the extent of the manager’s complicity in the fraud. They are accused of complicity in the murder case. His complicity in the bank robbery is the centre point of police investigation. Complexity = the state of being complex or complicated. His dismissal is an issue of great complexity. The complexities of starting an exporting business. Don’t get involved in the project…
Sadism vs. Masochism?
Sadism = the activity of getting pleasure, sometimes sexual, from being cruel or hurting another person. This may be sometimes considered as a mental disorder. The man was a sadist who tortured animals and people. “I am afraid your children will never be safe”, he said with a sadistic smile. The germs of sadism are present even in children; you must have seen children hurting or annoying pet dogs or cats. The villain character in the film burned the shoulder of his newly married wife…
What is SMALL TALK, gossip, socialize, chit-chat?
SMALL TALK = It is a conversation about unimportant things often between people who DO NOT KNOW EACH OTHER WELL. It is a starter for a serious conversation or discussion while engaged in on social occasions. In a way that fills up awkward silences and makes you both feel more comfortable and friendly with each other. We should find time for some small talk before any serious discussion. Our MD advised the new Managers to warm up the beginning of each office meeting with some…
Valuation Vs evaluation
Valuation = “an estimation of the worth of something, such as price, value etc.” When company ‘A’ takes over company ‘B’, proper valuation of the assets and liabilities of company ‘B’ should be done. It’s wise to get the valuation carried out by a professional valuer. The company was acquired at a high valuation. Evaluation = “making a JUDGEMENT or assessment of merit, significance of something or somebody” What’s your evaluation of his acting talent? The teacher had a poor evaluation about the student’s…
Suppress vs. Oppress
Suppress = to end something by force; prevent from being known or seen The government suppressed the pro-democracy movements by lathi-charge and arrests. They could not suppress the rebellion by force. She suppressed her feelings for the sake of peace. He managed to suppress his irritation. Oppress = 1. rule people unjustly or cruelly For years people of Uganda were oppressed by the ruthless dictator Idi Ameen. Oppressive laws and rules. A cruel tendency to oppress racial minorities. Years of violence and oppression. Oppress =…
Desert vs. Dessert
desert = (noun) A desert is a barren area of landscape where little rain occurs and consequently living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. Arabian desert, Sahara desert, Thar desert etc. dessert = (noun) course of fruit etc. at the end of a meal. We had ice-cream for dessert. They had arranged a large choice of desserts at the wedding party. desert = ( verb) 1. go away from The streets were deserted on the day of harthal. desert= (verb ) 2. leave…