SET 1-SOME FOREIGN WORDS THAT ARE BEING USED IN ENGLISH.

Quid pro quoThe word means a favour or advantage granted in return of something.
"There was a quid pro quo between the minister and the industrialists"
Suo motoIt is a word which is generally used in Indian legal parlance. The word simply means doing something on its own
motion.
"The court took a suo moto action against the suspect"
RendezvousRendezvous is a place appointed for a meeting or a date.
"I have a rendezvous with a friend the next week."
Faux PasThe violation of a commonly accepted social rule, a blunder.
"Jerry committed a huge faux pas when he licked the spoon and put it back in the cake batter."
ZeitgeistIt means the spirit of the times. It is generally used to describe things in socio-cultural air, like the trends that describe
an era."
Aficionado - A person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime.
If you really like something and make it your business to study up on its history and characteristics, you could be
called an aficionado of that subject.
Example: If you are a gadget and appliance aficionado, you live for new product launches.
Ad nauseam - To a sickening extent.
When something happens ad nauseam, it is happening to such an extent that it makes you sick. In other words, it's
going on too long or too much.
Example: He played the song ad nauseam.
Bete noire - A detested personIs there something or someone you hate more than anything else in the world? Then that's your bete noire. A bete
noire can be a thing as well as a person: for a civil rights hero like Martin Luther King, racism was a bete noire.
Example: His doggedness has turned him into something of a bte noire for the company.
Status quo - The existing state of things.
Status quo is Latin for existing state. When we talk about the status quo,, however, we often mean it in a slightly bad
way. When people want to maintain the status quo, they are often resistant to progress.
Example: Theres plenty to dislike about the status quo in the United States.
Fiasco - A fiasco is a disaster. It's not a natural disaster like an earthquake or a volcano; a fiasco is usually the
result of human failure.
Example: They did not properly acknowledge the fiasco, admit their mistakes or feel sufficiently humbled.
Ad hoc: Anything ad hoc is either done for one specific purpose, or in an impromptu, last-minute way. Often the term
is used as a criticism, in the sense that something done ad hoc is done hastily and can be ill thought out, serving only
to address a problem in the short term.

for or concerned with one specific purpose (when used as an adjective)

Example: a coordinated policy instead of ad hoc decisions

for one specific case (when used as an adverb)

Example: they were appointed ad hoc

often improvised or impromptu

Example: an ad hoc committee meeting

Bona fide: Something bona fide is the real deal, it's not a fake or a counterfeit. When one earn ones college diploma
one is a bona fide college graduate. The opposite of bona fide is fake. When it is said that one made a bona fide effort:
they're making a true, sincere attempt to do something.

not counterfeit or copied

Example: a bona fide manuscript

undertaken in good faith

Example: a bona fide offer

Carte blanche: is complete freedom or authority to act the power or right to give orders or make decisions
When you have carte blanche, pronounced "cart blahnch," you're free to do whatever you want.
Example: Drug companies have carte blanche to charge what they want under crony capitalistic pricing policies.
Et al: The scholarly et al. means "and others." Say youve got an article written by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.
You can take a scholarly shortcut and refer to them as "Crosby et al."
Example: There are more than 7 billion people in the world, and more than 50 million die each year from age,
diseases, wars, et al.
Non sequitur: is a conclusion or reply that doesnt follow logically from the previous statement. When someone says
a non sequitur, it usually means the person was off in her own thoughts and not listening to the other person.
Example: Once or twice he tried to interject a new subject, but it seemed like he was making a non sequitur.
dj vu, French
Meaning: The sense of having experienced the present situation before.
Example: He instantly realized that he was having a deja vu once he started feeling dizzy after stepping into the new
house.
de facto, Latin
Meaning: in use regardless of actual status
Example: The wife is usually the de facto head of the household.
In Situ, Latin
Meaning: In the original or appropriate position.
Example: The dead body was left in situ until the police arrived.
Magnum Opus, Latin
Meaning: The most important work of an artist, writer, etc.
Example: Devdas is the Magnum Opus of the director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Per Se, Latin

Meaning: Through him/her/itself
Example: For the most part, the meetings focused less on currency levels per se and more on the underlying trade
imbalances.
Par Excellence, French
Meaning: Better or more than all others of the same kind.
Example: He has been a meticulous manager, a manager par excellence.
Modus Operandi, Latin
Meaning: In a way of doing something.
Example: Treating the law with friendly respect had been a vital part of Sibals modus operandi for years.
SET 2-SOME COMMON ERRORS

Common
errors
1.

The correct form

Why?(theory)

Under the house is some old

jars

Under the
house are some old jars

2.

The problem are taxes

The problem is taxes

3.

Somebody in
detroit love me

Somebody in detroit
loves me.

4.

Either are fine with me.

Either is fine with me.

Indefinite pronouns such as

each, either, neither, one,
everyone, everybody, and
everything are always singular.

5.

Both of my
sisters has decided to live
off campus.

Both of my
sisters have decided to
live off campus.

Indefinite pronouns such as

several, few, both, and many are
always plural.

6.

A few of the members

disagrees with the proposal.

A few of the
members disagree with
the proposal.

In an inverted sentence
beginning with a prepositional
phrase, the verb still agrees with
its subject.

Incorrect & Correct

Scarcely had he arrived than he had to leave again.
Scarcely had he arrived when he had to leave again.
No sooner had we reached the station when the train left.
No sooner had we reached the station than the train left.
He neither agreed to my proposal nor to his.
He agreed neither to my proposal nor to his.
Although, Manohar is hardworking, but he does not get a job.
Although, Manohar is hardworking, yet he does not get a job
Not only the students but also the teacher were responsible for what happened in the class.
Not only the students but also the teacher was responsible for what happened in the class.

SET 3-WORDS LESS-FREQUENTLY USED.

Petrichor
Petrichor is that pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.
E.g. "Other than the petrichor emanating from the rapidly drying grass, there was not a trace of evidence that it had
rained at all.
Clairvoyant
A person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.
E.g. "She has had a message from a clairvoyant that her son is alive and well."
Evanescent
Evanescent is soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.
E.g. Beauty that is as evanescent as a rainbow.
Hedonist
A person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life; a pleasure-seeker.
E.g. "She was living the life of a committed hedonist."
Prosaic
Having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry; lacking imagination or originality.
E.g. For the most part, the descriptions of the books listed in the Catalogue, though informative, are
relentlessly prosaic, even hackneyed.
Hackneyed
Not interesting, funny, etc., because of being used too often: not fresh or original. E.g. Its hackneyed, but truethe
more you save the more you earn.
Ostentatious
Meaning: displaying wealth, knowledge, etc., in a way that is meant to attract attention, admiration, or envy
Example: The power of the government was present, in its watchmen, supervisors of the market and police force, but
it did not express itself in large and ostentatious buildings.
2. Abeyance
Meaning: 1. a lapse in succession during which there is no person in whom a title is vested
2. temporary inactivity
Example: our weekend plans were held in abeyance until we could get a weather forecast.
3. Sagacious
Meaning: Having or showing an ability to understand difficult ideas and situations and to make good decisions
Example: It has allowed him to preempt conservative political attacks, to appear sagacious despite his inexperience
4. Hauteur
Meaning: Arrogance
Example: She looked at him with the hauteur of someone who is accustomed to being instantly obeyed.
5. Perplex
Meaning: 1. to make unable to grasp something clearly or to think logically and decisively about something
2. to make intricate or involved : to complicate
Example: let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns.
6. Laconic

Meaning: using or involving the use of a minimum of words : concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious
Example: the sportscaster's color commentary tends to be laconic but very much to the point.
Lackadaisical
Meaning: feeling or showing a lack of interest or enthusiasm
Example: His teachers did not approve of his lackadaisical approach to homework.
2. Eschew
Meaning: to avoid (something) especially because you do not think it is right, proper, etc.
Example: They now eschew the violence of their past.
3. Apostle
Meaning: One of the 12 men chosen by Jesus Christ ti spread the Christian Religion.
: Someone who believes in or supports an idea, cause, etc.
Example: He was deliberately educated as an apostle, but it was as an apostle of reasoned truth in human affairs, not
as an apostle of any system of dogmatic tenets.
4. Gladden
Meaning: to make (someone) glad
Example: It would gladden me to hear you sing again
5. Taciturn
Meaning: tending to be quiet : not speaking frequently
Example: At dinner the prince usually spoke to the taciturn Michael Ivanovich more often than to anyone else.
SET 4- ANAGRAM
FIRLE-The words possible out of these letters are RIFLE, FILER,LIFER.
RADEI-The word possible out of these letters is AIRED
ORGTA-The words possible out these letters are ARGOT, GATOR, GROAT
SCENIT-The words possible out of these letters are INCEST,INSECT
SDETA-The words possible out of these letters are STEAD, SATED, DATES
SET 5- DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH
1. American English-Hood ,British English-Bonnet.
2. American English-Truck,British English-Lorry.
The next difference is the collective noun.In American English the collective noun is singular, E.g.: Band refers to a
group of musicians;The Americans would say,The band is good.
In British English the collective noun can be singular or plural,E.g.:Britishers say,The team is playing tonight. or
The team are playing tonight.
Spelling differences between British and American English are easy to differentiate. You can see Websters legacy in
the American spelling of words like color (from colour), honor (from honour), and labor (from labour). Webster
dropped the letter u from these words to make the spelling match the pronunciation.
Past Tense Verbs
You will also find some trivial differences with past forms of irregular verbs.The past tense of learn in American
English is learned. British English has the option of learned or learnt. The same rule applies to dreamed and dreamt,
burned and burnt, leaned and learnt. Americans tend to use the ed ending; Brits tend to use the -t ending.
Auxiliary verbs

In British English, the auxiliary do is often used as a substitute for a verb when replying to a question, E.g.:

A: Are you coming with us?

B: I might do.

In American English, do is not used in this way, e.g.:

A: Are you coming with us?

B: I might.

SET 6-IDIOMS
1. Elvis has left the building
Meaning: The show has come to an end. Its all over.
We kept waiting for the band tocome back on stage to perform some of the fans' favorite songs, but it looked like Elvis
had left the building.
2.

It takes two to tango

Meaning: Actions or communications need more than one person.

'She blames Tracy for stealing her husband.' 'Well, it takes two to tango.'
3.

Let sleeping dogs lie

Meaning: Do not disturb a situation as it is- since it would result in trouble or complications.
I thought I would ask Jill if she wanted me to pay her back right away, but then I decided to let sleeping dogs lie.
4.

Method to my madness

Meaning: An assertion that, despite ones approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it.
Harry takes seemingly random trips around the country but there'smethod to his madness-he's checking on real estate
values.
5.

Cut the ground from under ones feet

Meaning: When you cut the ground from under someones feet, you do something which weakens their position.
6.

Golden handshake

Meaning: A big sum of money given to a person when they leave a company or retire.
With a dwindling school population, the town decided to offer golden handshakes to some of the teachers
7.

Plum job-Meaning: A desirable position which is well-paid and considered relatively easy.

Back to square one

To go "back to square one" means to

Our programmers identified what they

start something over again.

thought the problem was with the software.

After working for several hours, it turns
out that the problem is something different.
We're back to square one, unfortunately.

backroom deal

A "backroom deal" is an agreement or

I think they got the government contract

decision that is made without the public

because of a backroom deal.

knowing about it.

diamond in the

A "diamond in the rough" is something or

He was a diamond in the rough. He was

rough

someone that has a lot of potential but first

intelligent and had great ideas, but his

requires a lot of work.

management and English skills weren't

very good.

off the top of

If someone says something "off the top of

I have no idea how many branches they

one's head

their head," it means that they give a

have. Off the top of my head, I'd say about

response without thinking about it much or

20.

doing any research on the subject.

red tape

"Red tape" refers to excessive rules, procedures, and

The new law is going to create a lot of red

regulations that make it difficult to accomplish

tape, and we're going to have to pay our

something. We usually use "red tape" to talk about

lawyers a lot m

government requirements that create difficult, timeconsuming barriers for people and businesses.
Hit the nail on the head
Do or say something exactly right
Let the cat out of the bag
To share information that was previously concealed
Sit on the fence
This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision.
Your guess is as good as mine
To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question.
A penny for your thoughts
A way of asking what someone is thinking.
Paint the town red
Meaning:to go out and enjoy yourself in the evening, often drinking a lot of alcohol and dancing
Example: Jack finished his exams today so he's gone out to paint the town red
Bark up the wrong tree
Definition: To make the wrong choice or pursue the wrong course.
Example:If you think I'm the guilty person,you're barking up the wrong tree
Hand & glove
Meaning: On very intimate terms

Example:He is hand and glove with my cousins

Too many irons in the fire
Meaning: engaged in too many enterprises at the same time
Example:Gomez turned down the consulting job; he felt that he already had too many irons in the fire.
Burning the candle at both ends
Meaning: overtaxing,exhaust oneself, esp by being up late and getting up early to work
Example: No wonder Mary is ill. She has been burning the candle at both ends for a long time
SET 7-BUSINESS JARGONS
Holacracy.
Holacracy is the latest buzzword expectedly coming from Silicon Valley where internet-based start-ups are setting the
rules and the fads. Online shoe retailer Zappos' Tony Hsieh is the newest convert.
As a business strategy, holacracy shuns top-down hierarchies, does away with designations and believes in
management by committees, not managers. Built to facilitate experimentation, holacratic organizations are structured
around tasks. The group decides to distribute tasks and those responsible for tasks own them.
Business process re-engineering (BPR)
It is about completely and fundamentally rethinking and redesigning the way organizations operated to make them
more efficient and competitive. Remember that the 1990s was also an era when companies were pushing for
automation and bolder use of IT which required major internal overhaul of structures and processes.
The idea gained currency as management gurus such as Tom Peters and Peter Drucker advocated it. By 1993,
reportedly, some 60% of Fortune 500 had initiated some form of BPR. It has had its share of critics though. BPR has
now often become a euphemism for cost-cutting and layoffs.
Lean management
Some of the most popular management jargons for the manufacturing sector from just-in-time and lean
management to kaizen have originated in Japan.
The term lean management was first mentioned in James Womack's 1991 book The Machine that Changed the World.
Lean manufacturing helps companies do more with less emphasizing production-control techniques that eliminate
waste, deliver quality products on time with least cost and greater efficiency.In a number of cases the ideas were
spawned by Toyota after World War II and was often called the Toyota way .it has moved beyond manufacturing to
services like healthcare.
Kaizen
Kaizen is a Japanese word for continuous improvement. It has nothing to do with lofty ideals but demands small but
regular suggestions to improve productivity, safety, effectiveness while reducing waste. Everybody from CEOs to
assembly-line workers are supposed to send inputs. While manufacturing firms globally use kaizen to improve work
processes and quality, reduce defects and accidents many others like logistics and supply chain industries too use it.
Kaizen has also been applied in areas like psychotherapy, life coaching and healthcare.
20% time

Its most famous follower is Google, whose founders at the time of its IPO in 2004 spoke about how instrumental this
policy was in stoking innovation. The mantra allows employees to spend 20% of their working time on doing projects
they are passionate about.
The core idea was to allow smart knowledge workers the freedom to let their creative minds explore and incubate new
ideas often with great outcomes. It helped launch many of Google's successful products like AdSense, Talk, News
and Gmail. Many other tech firms like Facebook, LinkedIn and Apple reportedly have their own versions of '20%'.
Though of late there have been reports that Google is killing it.
Gamification
In a world where virtual games are becoming ubiquitous, it's little wonder that gamification is applied to nongame situations like business and society.For example, it can help make boring chores like reading a website,
completing surveys, filing tax returns more interesting and engaging. Gamification is here to stay, at least for some
time to come. Web-based businesses will depend on it to understand and shape consumer behaviour. In fact UPenn's
Coursera even offers a course on it.
Flexi-working
In a world dominated by manufacturing firms, workplace and work hours were fairly rigid. Since the 1990s, however,
things have been changing with the growing spread and usage of the internet. The sharp surge in cheap computing
devices like desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones has hastened the change. Not to forget that the corporate world
now has new heroes in the services sector. Tech giants like Google and Facebook have encouraged flexiworking.
Flexi-work can mean both flexi-time or flexiplace.