Get the wrong word right
By RALPH BERRYWhat went wrong here? “Let battle be enjoined.”
(Ian Gibson, Labour MP, Times, Jan 6, 2005)
He meant “joined”. “Enjoin” is to order, direct, impose.
2) And here?
“A referendum would be the only way to diffuse the constitution as an election issue.”
The writer intended “defuse” (reduce likelihood of trouble). “Diffuse” means “to spread widely.”
3) And here?
“a Department in which civil servants are joshing for promotion ?” (Report, Sunday Times, Jan 16, 2005)
The writer intended “jostling” (knock against, struggle with). “Josh” is to joke.
4) And here?
“Many businesses are hoping to recuperate their losses.” (BBC)
“Recuperate” means to get better, to be restored to health. The writer intends “recover”, “to make good”.
5) And here?
“The company was unphazed by the awesome text of King Lear.” (Review)
The writer has confused “phase” (stage of development of change) and “faze” (disconcert, put out).
6) The mistress of the misplaced gesture is Mrs Malaprop, in Sheridan’s The Rivals. Correct this line:
“She’s as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile.”
I expect Mrs M. means “alligator”. And when she says, “All men are Bavarians”, she probably means “barbarians”.
7) Mrs Malaprop has an ancestor, Dogberry, in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
Put him right:
“Comparisons are odorous.”
Should be “odious”.
8) This is from a student essay on The Merchant of Venice. Put the writer right.
“The Rialto is the business end of Venus.”
“Venus” is not open for business. “Venice” is.
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