Thursday 20 June 2013

Sandwich...

Sandwich 

A sandwich is a food item consisting of two or more slices of bread with some fillings between them. As a verb it means ‘to position anything between two things of a different character. 

How this word came to have this meaning has an interesting story. 

John Montague, the 4th earl of Sandwich is believed to be the eponymous inventor of this dish. (eponym- that which gives something its name) Once, while playing cards with his friends, the earl ordered his valet to bring meat tucked between two slices of bread so that he could continue to play without making his cards greasy. The others also liked this dish and the earl became particularly fond of it. Hence it came to be called Sandwich.

Sandwich is a historic town in the district of Dover, south-east England. The name is of Old English origin, meaning 'a trading-centre on sand' (from 'wic', 'trading settlement'). ‘Earl of Sandwich’ is actually a title inherited by John Montague.

* The bits of information I post here are based on my memory, the books I have read and the web. If I can get authentic information, I get it from the web. Of course, anyone of you can do it. Only that, I have the time and you are all quite busy.

June 20, 2013

Gordian Knot and Black Legs

Here are two more for today.

Cutting the Gordian knot – to solve a problem boldly and decisively.

Gordius, the king of Phrygia had tied an intricate knot which was difficult to undo. According to a Prophesy that was prevalent at that time, the one who undid the knot, would become the ruler of Asia. Alexander of Greece tried to undo it, and when he could not do it, cut it with his sword. Later, he became the conqueror of the world. Hence you have expressions such as, ‘Cutting the Gordian knot’ and 'Giving an ‘Alexandrian solution.’

When I think of Sri Rama’s breaking Shiva’s bow instead of bending it and stringing it, I tend to think he too had cut the Gordian knot. Only that, it was done many centuries before Alexander. Kambar praises his act with the words, 'எடுத்தது கண்டார் ; இற்றது கேட்டார்'.....

But did Sri Rama fulfill Janaka’s condition? It is rather too late to raise this issue. Still…..

Black Legs – those who act against the interests of a trade union, esp by refusing to join a strike

Those who stay away from a strike are called ‘black legs’ or கருங்காலிகள், (a literal translation of black legs). But why did such an expression come into being?

Many years ago, the coal miners went on a strike. A few of them did not join the strike and went to work. When they came back after work, their legs were black because of the coal. They were referred to as ‘Black legs’. Now the term means the ‘betrayer’.

Actually, கருங்காலி is a tree with a strong timber.

June 19

Hobson's Choice and Once in a Blue Moon

The response to my earlier post in Tamil has given me the encouragement to share some interesting information which may be already known to some of you. 

A lot of expressions have their origin to people or incidents. I have given explanation for some of the commonly used expressions.

‘Hobson’s Choice’. This means - ‘Take it or leave it’ 

This expression is traced back to a gentleman named Hobson who used to rent out horses to students but insisted that they should take the horse of his choice. If they wanted something else, he just turned them away. It was always his (Hobson’s) choice. Hence the expression - ‘Hobson’s choice, meaning ‘No choice’.

Once in a blue moon: A very rare occurrence

If two full moons occur in the same month, the second full moon is called the blue moon. ( The moon does not turn blue that day).Since this occurs quite rarely, this expression is used to refer to something that does not happen often. E.g. I don’t get to see him often. He comes to my house ‘once in a blue moon.’ In Hindi, it is , ‘ईद का चाँद
and in Tamil 'அத்தி பூத்தாற்போல்' .

If some of you like these, I will come back with more.

June 18, 2013

What a meaning!

'ஆனைக்கு ஒரு காலம் வந்தால் பூனைக்கும் ஒரு காலம் வரும். ' இந்தப்பழமொழியை நாம் எல்லோரும் அறிவோம். அதற்கு ஒரு புதிய விளக்கம் இதோ. ' ஆ நெய்க்கு ( நெய்க்கு) ஒரு காலம் வந்தால் பூ நெய்க்கு ( தேனுக்கு ) ஒரு காலம் வரும். பசுமாட்டின் நெய்யை உபயோகிக்கும் காலம் ஒன்று இருந்தால் தேனை மட்டுமே உபயோகிக்கும் காலம் ஒன்று வரும் என்பது பொருள். 
( நண்பர் ஒருவர் கூறியது )
June 16, 2013