DROPS ALONE HAVE FORMED THE OCEAN... THEY ALONE WILL.














 Pic.: Anima D'Cunha


I am very fond of learning idioms and phrases in English. They really add spice and color to our language. Used at the right place, idioms can make one sit-up and listen as we speak!


The night before last, Arvind Kejriwal had attacked the media alleging that it was being highly biased and it acted as agents of other political parties… I heard a reporter using the idiom: ‘Shoot the messenger’.


Well, frankly, I did not know, till then, what the idiom meant. But, the moment I heard it, I knew what it did: In olden times, the arrogant kings used to do it… The poor messenger, who went to the King carrying the bad news, rarely returned! So, the reporter was telling us, that, the media - the peoples’ messenger - who persistently asked the AAP spokespersons some uncomfortable questions and cited to them what the ‘aam admi’ on the streets really felt about the high drama on the Delhi streets because of the  reckless  agitation – itself was being now attacked by AAP chief, Kejriwal…


Well, this Post is not about Kejriwal or his party… Nor is it about other parties or the media. I only wanted to say, how I came across the English idiom – ‘Shoot the Messenger’.


Do you know how exciting the habit of learning English idioms and phrases can be? Can you imagine the kind of language we all can build if we pick up, each day, one or two such colorful idioms?


I, always, tell whoever comes to me for advice on English improvement: Remain eternally thirsty for improvement… Be ever eager, childlike, excited about it… Remain forever alert - with your eyes, ears, heart, mouth and hands ready to learn them… from anywhere, anytime and anyone… Very importantly: keep doing it consistently all your life, just the way you look forward to play the daily crossword-puzzle… Have fun, loads of it.


In one Google click, that night – I learnt at least a dozen English idioms revolving around the single word – ‘Shoot’! Here they are:


Shoot the breeze…

Shoot the bull…

Shoot the cat…

Shoot in the feet…

Shoot from the hip…

Shoot down in flames…

Shoot mouth off…

Shoot for the sky…

Shoot cookies…

Shoot bolt…

Shoot a place up…

Shoot dagger at…

Shoot hoops…

Shoot dry matter…


There are many, many more… Yes, revolving around just one word – ‘Shoot’. Imagine, then, the treasure hidden!


And, amazingly, the same principle applies for every area where improvement is desired. If our desire and resolve are strong, if there is steadfast focus and if we consistently do a little at least, everyday, for a long, long time… yes, if we put, in this way, that proverbial one drop of water out  there…


Drops alone have formed the ocean. And, they alone will, till the end of Time comes.


GERALD D’CUNHA

Comments

Jyotsna Suvarna said…
Absolutely right sir. We need to be consistently doing little things for long, long time - Jyotsna
January 23, 2014 at 5:30 PM
Anonymous said…
simple words, sublime post! Superb.
..... Nilesh Nagpal
January 23, 2014 at 5:52 PM
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