Tuesday February 5, 2013
Shaping up
WORDWISE
By S.H. LOKE
Clean-up act: Enforcement officers ‘round up’ alleged beggars and vagabonds during an operation in George Town in August. What seem like stiff geometric shapes can actually have amazingly flexible meanings to suit different situations.
Shape up or be shipped out”, this adage is true, especially when it comes to your career. You need to shape up your communicational skills if you need to converse with people every day in your work. Here are some “round” and “square” expressions to help you speak with more confidence.
1. Enough to go round
Enough for everyone.
Are there enough drinks to go round?
2. Round the corner
Not far away.
There is a bakery round the corner.
3. Round the clock
24 hours - both day and night.
The 7-eleven shop is open round the clock.
4. Rounds
Visits that someone makes regularly as part of his job.
The physician is out on his morning rounds now.
5. Round of applause
Period when people are clapping to show they enjoy a performance.
There was a thunderous round of applause with whistles and
shouts at the end of the concert.
6. Daily round
Things you have to do every day.
My daily round of cooking, washing and cleaning keeps me busy for hours.
7. Round table
A round table discussion or meeting is one in which everyone can talk about things in an equal way.
The rulers had a round table conference to discuss the latest laws.
8. Round robin
A competition in which every player or team plays against each of the other players or teams.
Many football competitions are first held on a round robin basis within groups before the later knock-out stages.
9. Round trip
A journey to a place and back again.
The round trip to Emerald Bay takes about two hours.
10. Roundup
A roundup of people means they are captured or arrested by the police or army and brought to one place.
Every now and then there is a roundup of drug addicts on the streets in certain seedy areas.
11. Square
An open area in the middle of a town.
The Dam Square in Amsterdam is a bustling commercial hub.
12. Be back to square one
To be back in the same situation from which you started with no progress.
His shop was burnt so his business is back to square one.
13. A square
An old-fashioned person who is not interested in the latest styles or music.
The girls found Keith boring because he is a square.
14. Square somebody
To pay somebody to do what you want.
We have to square the driver extra fare for waiting twenty minutes.
15. Square your shoulders
Push back your shoulders while keeping your back straight to show your determination.
He squared his shoulders and walked into the squash court with confidence.
> S.H. Loke, a retired English teacher who enjoys writing poetry and travel articles, is also a wordsmith who loves playing with words. Reader response can be directed to english@thestar.com.my.
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