Forward and foreword; two words that sound similar but have totally different meanings.

Forward can be either an adjective or adverb and it means going toward the front direction. For example, you can only step forward when it’s your turn. This word can also be used as a verb that means to send something on. Moreover, you can see this function on your email software. So, I must forward this email to all of my contacts because I found it so funny. The other word, foreword, has a slightly longer pronunciation in the second part of it. It is a noun and it refers to a preface which is the same as an introductory note that is usually found at the beginning of books. For example, the foreword to Freire’s classic book “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” is written by Richard Shaull

So, if someone forwards you a foreword, be sure to read it

~Rob

This post is a week late, but better late than never.

Yet another great thing about the internet is it makes it easy to learn and play poker for free. There are numerous websites that allow you to join online poker games where you compete against other players. Most of these websites have practice games, where you can use play money (not real money). Once you feel comfortable, then perhaps you can join a poker group in your community.

Of course, I don’t recommend gambling for money. In many places it’s illegal, plus there are more prudent ways to entertain yourself. However, if you have a healthy attitude, it can be a fun way to socialize with others - with or without the cigars!

This week we look at the following words: flaunt and flout. They can be particularly tricky because even educated native speakers of English get them mixed up easily! Both words are verbs and the first one, to flaunt means blow one’s own trumpet, which is an idiom meaning to show off without caring what anybody thinks of you. For example, Bob and Rob think they know a lot about English and as such are keen to flaunt their knowledge of grammatical structures. The other word, to flout, means to show contempt or dislike for something or someone. This word often collocates with ‘rules’. For example, my friend was a bit rebellious in high school and used to flout all of the school rules.

So either way, the best advice is to avoid flaunting your body and don’t flout the rules

~Rob

This week, we look at two words that are in fact the same in meaning, or, to put it another way, synonymous.

We can use flammable and inflammable interchangeably, because they are actually the same. Both words mean that something is easy to set on fire. For example, the toxic gas was highly flammable. OR the toxic gas was highly inflammable. If you want to say something does not burn easily, or if something is flame resistant, then you should use the word nonflammable. For example, material and fabrics on clothes that are sold in the USA must pass certain nonflammable tests.

Many native English speakers confuse these words, so, just remember that flammable and inflammable are the same, and the opposite of these two fiery words is nonflammable.

~Rob

We discussed investing in this week’s show, and a key part to being a successful investor is saving your money. In order to do this, you must be able to delay gratification, which is the ability to wait patiently for something that you want in the future. People who have poor impulse control have trouble delaying gratification. For example, if they see a car they like, rather than save the necessary money to buy it with cash, instead they will get a car loan, which will make the car more expensive in the long run (overall).

Of course, life is short, so you have to find a balance between living for the moment and living for the future.

Is there anything that you want to save for, such as a house, car or computer? See how long it will take with this savings calculator.

~Bob

This week I try to answer a question raised by one of The Bob and Rob Show’s newest members. Denisson, who is from Brazil, asks about the usage of the words scare, frighten and other synonyms connected with afraid. Which one is used in a formal situation? Which one has the most powerful meaning in phrases? Are there any subtle differences between these words at all? Well, here goes:

Frighten and scare are both verbs that mean to cause someone to experience fear. They are the most common ways to express this. However, the former, frighten, is a little more formal than the latter, scare. Furthermore, scare may mean to frighten without any real danger or threat. For example, I was really scared when I saw the horror movie. Also, the informal nature of this word can be seen in rude slang and taboo words: to be scared shitless, to scare the shit out of something / someone, to be scared out of your mind / pants, to be shit scared, to be scared stiff. For example: I was absolutely scared shitless when I did my first parachute jump.

The word terrify suggests an overwhelming sense of fear that is almost paralyzing and takes control over you. For example, I was terrified when I saw the bus coming straight for us. The word terrorize suggests a continued and deliberate form of intimidation so as to instill fear and gain control. For example: “the local gangs terrorized the poor neighborhood.”

The word alarm suggests the usually sudden feeling of apprehension and anxiety of an unexpected danger. For example: “the screams from the tunnel alarmed the people walking by.”

Of course there are other similar words too, such as startle, shock, panic, dread and appall. But my advice is to remember two points: 1) frighten and scare are the most common, and 2) don’t be afraid to make mistakes when speaking English.

Don’t forget that if you have any questions about grammar, word usage or any other language point, please send them in and we’ll try to get to them either on one of the shows or on the blog.

~Rob

Hi Listeners,

Just so you know, quizzes will usually be posted on the following Monday or Tuesday of each show.

~Bob

There was so much to discuss about electricity on this week’s show, that we didn’t have time to bring up the electric chair, an All-American form of capital punishment that is STILL carried out in the U.S.A. today, in the great states of Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Virginia.

Although I have trouble (don’t like it) with capital punishment (punishment by death) in general, the electric chair seems particularly barbaric (cruel, inhumane) by modern standards. And while some criminals certainly “deserve” to be electrocuted, that doesn’t necessarily mean it should be allowed to happen.

But I digress (get off topic). The electric chair was first used in 1890 and had various nicknames through its history, such as Sizzlin’ Sally, Old Smokey, and Old Sparky. Interestingly,  AC current was chosen, because DC was just starting to be used in people’s homes and early electric utilities feared that consumers would not like it if the same type of electricity used to power their homes was also used to kill criminals

Just in case you haven’t seen the riveting movie the Green Mile, starring Tom Hanks, I give you this description of the electric chair:

The head and legs of the condemned person are shaved and the prisoner is strapped into the chair. A natural sponge, moistened with a saline solution, is placed on the head to aid conductivity. One electrode is attached to the head and a second attached to the leg to provide a closed circuit. At least two applications of an electrical current are applied with the time and current depending on the physical state of the condemned person. Typically an initial voltage of around 2,000 volts is applied for up to 15 seconds to attempt both to induce unconsciousness and to stop the heart. The voltage is then lowered to reduce current flow to approximately 8 amps. The body of the person may heat up to approximately 138 °F (59 °C), and the electric current will generally cause severe damage to internal organs. - Wikipedia

 

~Bob

The two words that we look at this week are fairly easy to distinguish and are helpful words to know. When you use them, you will certainly sound more intellectual, so try to add them to your vocabulary bank.

The first word, literally, is an adverb that is used to emphasize that something is actually true. For example, “the 2006 World Cup, which Italy won by the way, was literally watched by billions of people”. Furthermore, it means according to the exact meaning or most basic meaning of a word or expression. For example, “I was so angry that I told him to jump off a cliff, but I didn’t literally mean it”.

Figuratively, on the other hand, is an adverb that is used to draw a picture in your mind by using a word in a different way to that which it usually refers to. In other words, it is used metaphorically or symbolically. For example, “What with the podcast, academic papers to write, research and teaching, Bob and Rob are definitely up to their eyes in* work, figuratively speaking of course”.

So, if you literally take this little lesson to heart, you’ll hopefully have learned something.

~Rob

* if you are up to your eyes in something, then you are extremely busy with that particular activity.

If our Black Death show left you wanting to learn more about the topic, it just so happens that this week the fabulous In Our Time radio program also has a show on the black death. This show, aired weekly by the BBC, explores a variety of historical, scientific and philosophical topics with experts in the field. You can listen at the website or via podcast.

Be prepared, however: while the discussions are both fascinating and enlightening, they will most definitely challenge your listening skills.

~Bob