Expression Confusion 2: Raju’s Vocabulary Adventures With Papa!

Expression Confusion 3: Raju Asks… Daddy Answers

“Raju, you haven’t spoken to me for the past two days. You seem to be busy with some chart work.”

“Yes, papa, in our school we are observing Environment Week. I have been asked to prepare a few charts for the same. Papa, I have a doubt. There was a banner prepared by a senior student reading ‘National Green Corps’.”

“What’s your doubt about it?”

“Should that not be ‘Green Crops’? Being Environment Week, plants, trees, crops…”

“Raju, did they talk about students forming Green Corps?”

“Yes, papa.”

“Raju, corps means ‘a group of people who work together to do a particular job’. So your school has formed a group of students and teachers which would involve itself in protecting the environment.”

“Is there any other example, papa?”

“Ya, National Cadet Corps.”

“Isn’t it NCC? It is a group of students, given training to tackle emergency situations.”

“Ya, ‘President’s Press Corps’ or the White House Press Corps is the group of journalists, correspondents, and members of the media usually assigned to the White House in Washington, D.C., to cover the President of the United States, White House events, and news briefings.”

“Now I understand it. Thank you, papa.”

Expression Confusion 4: Raju Asks… Daddy Answers

“Raju, you look confused?”

“Papa, I was reading a novel. The hero got selected for an award.”

“So, what worries you?”

“It is written ‘he painted the whole town red.’ Why should he do so? Won’t others question him?”

“Raju, ‘paint the whole town red’ means ‘to go out and have an extremely good time’ or ‘to celebrate’.”

“Oh! I see! So, after winning the award, he is happily celebrating!”

“That’s it.”

“Papa, next week the ODI will be played in our city. If India wins, the fans will paint the town red.”

“You’re right, Raju.”

“Thank you, Papa.”