CHENNAI: This week’s column carries responses to readers’ queries:
1. What is the meaning of the phrase ‘time stands still’? (Thirumaran)
The expression ‘time stands still’ means that you feel that everything around you seems to stop for a while. Here are examples:
• When I heard the news of the death of my friend I felt that time stood still.
• Time stood still in India when people heard that the Congress party won only 44 seats.
The expression can also be used figuratively to imply that there is no progress in something such as an activity or a cause.
• Time stands still for the Sri Lankan Tamils’ cause.
• I think time stands still for the proposal you submitted.
• Don’t be surprised if time stands still for your cousin’s wedding plans.
It can explain the situation, when you feel bored you look at your watch quite often to know the time and you realise that time has not passed as you expected.
• The lecture was so boring that we all felt that time stood still.
• Time stood still; there was no power at home and I could not watch TV or use my laptop.
2. Is it correct to say that a person is a heavy drinker? Does the word ‘heavy’ go with the word ‘drinker’? (Tamil Selvi)
Yes, ‘heavy drinker’ is a correct collocation. When a person drinks or smokes a lot we use the term ‘heavy’ to describe their habit. Here are examples of collocations:
• He is a great writer, excellent orator, good teacher and heavy drinker.
• Janet is a heavy smoker, isn’t she?
• Your secretary’s husband is a heavy drinker and because of this she is planning to apply for a divorce.
• Heavy smokers are likely to die of lung cancer.
3. What is the difference in meaning between ‘hearty’ and ‘heartfelt’? (Meeran)
‘Hearty’ is a term used while
expressing some good news whereas ‘heartfelt’ is generally used while expressing condolences or sympathy. The collocation ‘hearty congratulations’ is more appropriate than ‘heartfelt congratulations’. We can say ‘heartfelt condolences’ but not ‘hearty condolences’. Here are some examples from the British
National Corpus:
• Hearty congratulations to everyone involved in this project.
• A hearty laugh after a long time
• Give hearty thanks unto God
• Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Margaret, and family.
• I have somehow to make the biggest and most important, heartfelt apology of my life.
• But despite his repeated and heartfelt pleas to his mother to come home, she steadfastly refused to do so, and she never did.
The adjective ‘hearty’ collocates with meal, breakfast, lunch, appetite, etc. In this context ‘hearty’ means ‘abundant’ or ‘nourishing’. Here are the examples of how ‘hearty’ collocates with such words:
• Wish you a hearty appetite!
• He ate a hearty breakfast and went to the playground.
• I cooked myself a hearty meal, ate it and slept for 12 hours.
• You will get a free hearty lunch at college.
— rayanal@yahoo.co.uk