Thursday April 23, 2009

Popular English idiom touches a nerve

The use of the popular idiom ‘Barking up the wrong tree’ touched a raw nerve with an Umno assemblyman who thought that the idiom referred to a person as an animal that barked.

Shabudin Yahaya (BN – Permatang Berangan) exchanged barbs with state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, who had earlier used the term when explaining statistics on hardcore poor families to Jasmin Mohamad (BN — Sungai Dua).

“Barking denotes an animal. I disagree to you using this idiom when speaking to the Sungai Dua assemblyman,” said Shabudin while interjecting during Jasmin’s debate on the motion of thanks on the Yang di-Pertua Negri’s opening speech yesterday.

Phee retorted that Shabu- din, who is also state Isla- mic Religious Council chair- man, did not understand the idiom.

“You (Shabudin) are barking up the wrong tree with your accusations now.

“If you do not know the meaning of this idiom, how can you serve as a YB (elected representative)?” asked Phee.

Shabudin argued that Phee was the one who was barking in the hall.

Later, outside the hall, Phee told reporters that he did not think it was derogatory to use this idiom when speaking to someone, including a Muslim.

He stressed that the literal meaning of idioms should not be taken.