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Why do we play practical jokes on April 1 ? There are several theories regarding this. I understand that many European countries for a very long time celebrated New Year's Day on April 1 . Things changed however when the Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar. New Year's Day was shifted from April 1 to January 1 . But some people who either didn't know about this change or refused to accept it, continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Such people were thought to be fools and they soon became the butt of practical jokes. They were sent silly gifts and were invited to parties that were not going to take place. What is the meaning of "fait accompli"? First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The first word "fait" is pronounced like the word "fate". The "a" in "accompli" is like the "a" in "amount", "allow" and "aloud". The following "o" is like the ...

What is the difference between "alibi" and "excuse"? The "a" in the first syllable of "alibi" is pronounced like the "a" in "cat", "bat", and "hat". The first "i" is like the "a" in "china", while the second "i" is like the "y" in "by" and "my". The stress is on the first syllable. The word "alibi" is generally used in law. An alibi is an argument or a defence, which shows that an individual couldn't have committed the crime that he/she has been accused of. Let's suppose the police arrest you because they suspect that you were involved in a bank robbery. You need to prove that you didn't do it. If you can prove you weren't in town when the crime took place, then that will become your alibi. Or if a friend vouches that you were with him when the bank was being robbed, then he/she becomes your alibi. Here ar...

What is the meaning and origin of the idiom "dark horse"? A "dark horse" is someone whose abilities, plans or feelings are a mystery to others. He is an individual whom people know little or nothing about. * I didn't know that Catherine could paint. She's such a dark horse. * Sean is a bit of a dark horse. Did you know that he is the author of several books? This is an expression which is frequently used in political contexts. When you say that a candidate was a dark horse what you mean is that although the individual was relatively unknown, he succeeded in winning the election. It is believed that Benjamin Disraeli was the first person to use this expression. In the context of sports, a dark horse is usually someone who wins a tournament or an event although no one expected him to. Here are a few examples, * I can't say which team will win - there are two or three dark horses in the tournament. * Annie could be a dark horse for a medal in th...

What is the difference between "hospice" and "hospital"? A "hospital" is a place where people go to get some medical treatment when they are sick or injured. Most major cities have several hospitals. When you go to a hospital, you generally hope to come back alive. When you go to a 'hospice', on the other hand, you go with no such hope. One generally goes to a hospice knowing he/she is going to die. A hospice is a special hospital where people who are terminally ill get admitted. These people have no hope of being cured. So, unlike a hospital, a hospice not only takes care of the medical needs of a patient, but also looks after his emotional needs. The focus here is on keeping people as comfortable as possible — both physically and emotionally. By the way, the final "pice" in 'hospice' rhymes with the words "miss" and "kiss". The final 'e' is silent and the main stress is on the first syllable. Here are...

What is the meaning of "Jack Robinson"? The complete expression is "before you can say Jack Robinson" and it has been part of American slang for over 200 years. When you do something before anyone can say Jack Robinson you do it very quickly. As to who this Jack Robinson was no one is really sure. According to one story, he was a well to do gentleman who would go around knocking on other people's doors, but would disappear before he could be announced. Here are a few examples. * Before I could say Jack Robinson she shut the door. * The lion disappeared before anyone of us could say Jack Robinson. Thanks & Regards.

What is the difference in meaning between "That may be the reason she didn't turn up" and "That might be reason she didn't turn up"? For most people the two sentences have more or less the same meaning. Careful users of the language, however, maintain a subtle distinction between the two. In the two examples, "may" and "might" indicate "possibility". Some argue that "might," indicates a lesser degree of possibility than "may". By the way, the word "might" is not the past form of "may". * It may rain tomorrow. (50% chance of rain) * It might rain tomorrow. (30% chance of rain) Thanks & Regards,

What does `viz' stand for? Viz. is the abbreviated form of the Latin "videlicet". The "i" in "viz" is pronounced like the "i" in "bit", "it" and "pit". The word is normally employed in formal writing and is used to expand on or clarify what has already been said. The word can be replaced by "namely", and in speech most people tend to say "namely" rather than "viz". Here are a few examples, * The Department offers two modules in Teaching English as a Second Language, viz. Applied Linguistics, and Principles of Language Teaching. * I want to talk about a major threat facing our society, viz. global warming. Thanks & Regards.