Discussion Groups / English Usage / December 2003

Which is the most blundering book of the year 2003? The Britannica
owns the credit of it. The book is called Britannica Malayalam
Encyclopaedia. It is published in Malayalam language, which is the
language of Kerala, a southern state of India. Britannica India

Why do they say "yellow" to mean someone who is easily frightened?
"He has a yellow streak." Hmm...
I don't think they refer to races. Well, I hope they don't!

John Humphrys says he is working on it - one to look forward to.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-944395,00.html
Bob Martin

Please, can someone tell my national honours in the UK like
knighthoods etc are called "gongs".  I always thought a gong was bell
to summon diners to their tables.
--

I was watching the movie "2010" where an American was
correcting a Russian in the use of the phrases "easy as pie"
and "a piece of cake" and wondered if anyone knew the
origins of these phrases ?

So, apparenlty over in slj, the following is offensive:
jap
This, however, is not:
jap.

I need the english caption of a command button in Windows.
If someone with an english version of Windows could post it, thanks in
advance.
Just right click on any shortcut (e.g. on the desktop) select

I am from Germany and I am in a struggle with an english text. :-) Could
anyone here be so nice and explain the meaning of 'my take on it' to me? I
did not find this phrase in my dictionary.
Thanks in advance.

I would like you to define the word  poignant......
My interpretation is....for instance,   (We may be talking about, lets say
sharks...)  I'd say, " it's quite poignant, but while I was fishing, I saw a
shark!"

The sun is shining, the mercury's at 22 degrees centigrade, there isn't
a jinglebell or a rockin' robin anywhere to be heard or seen, and Santa
Claus lives only in the hearts of Christians and children who watch
Xmas movies on HBO and Cinemax on the cable down here. The real ...

From the BBC site:
"Pc Ian Broadhurst, 34, was shot dead on Boxing Day in Leeds while his
colleague Pc Neil Roper, 45, was badly injured and is recovering in
hospital.

I'm just posting my best wishes of the season to aue, and aeu. I do
this not on the basis of adherence to some version of christianity --
I think these days christmas is a largely secular festival.
I hope that the coming days and weeks see you all energised and filled

Is there a singular form of the word "let"?
For instance --
"He lets me do what I want" or "He let me do what I want"?
The first sentence sounds odd, but since I'm not a native English

"Ben Zimmer" <bgzimmer@midway.uchicago.edu> wrote in message
news:3FE4DEF5.FBC2A4F@midway.uchicago.edu...

What is an example of a conurbation in the U.S.? New York City?
L.A.? Washington D.C.? How is it different from a megalopolis?
Does metrosexual imply gay? And when are they going to do a
"Sapphic Eye for the Straight Gal"?