Category: Monday Muddle

Monday Muddle: rap, wrap

Monday Muddle2 Comments

Both these words can also be used as verbs and adjectives.

If you take the rap, you take the blame or the responsibility for an undesired, possibly illegal, activity. If you beat the rap, that undesired activity still happened, but you didn’t have any consequences from it.

To get a bad rap means to get punishment or consequences that you didn’t deserve. To get a bad wrap probably means that your tortilla was filled with things that were not to your liking.

Bubble wrap is a protective packing material made of plastic with air sealed into it in small compartments.

Bubble rap might be a new version of rap music, or possibly having a casual conversation through soap bubbles. Neither has made it to mainstream popularity levels yet, so I’m just speculating.

Monday Muddle: rap: (noun) a sharp knock or hit; type of music; informal talk, chat; blame, responsibility, consequences, punishment Used in the expression "to get a bad rap". wrap: (noun) wrapping paper; an outer garment; sandwich filling rolled in a tortilla; the end of a filming or recording session NOT used in the expression "to get a bad rap".

Monday Muddle: discreet, discrete

Monday Muddle

The trick I use to remember whether to use discreet or discrete is based on the placement of the Es. In discreet, which is used for keeping things quiet, the two Es are close together as if they are whispering in each other’s ears telling a secret. In discrete, which is used for things that are separate, the two Es are separated by a T. Let me know if that also helps you remember which is which.

Monday Muddle: discreet: (adjective) secretive; careful; modest; self-restrained in speech and behaviour discrete: (adjective) separate; distinct; individual; detached; not continuous

Monday Muddle: when, whenever, when ever

Monday Muddle

“When” should be used if you are referring to a specific time.

“Whenever” should be used if the time is less specific or repetitive. 

“When ever” should only be written as two words if the meaning is “when, if ever”.
Example: When ever will you answer your email?

Monday Muddle: when: (adverb) at what time; in what circumstance; (relative adverb) introduces a clause that relates to time; (conjunction) at the time that, during the time that; considering that; although whenever: (conjunction) any time that; every time that; at whatever time that when ever: (adverb + adverb) when, if ever

Monday Muddle: viola, voilà

Monday Muddle

“Voilà is used in English to call attention to something, or to present some kind of accomplishment. For example, if you worked all day to plant a beautiful garden, you might present it to the rest of your family with a sweeping arm gesture and an enthusiastic “voilà!” “Viola” clearly doesn’t make sense in this context, but at least senseless violas are better than senseless violins.

“Voilà” is also frequently misspelled in ways that don’t confuse it with another word (but do indicate a mispronunciation). I’ve seen it as wala, wa-lah, wah-lah, and similar variations. Still spelled wrong, but perhaps not as confusing. If you have trouble remembering how to spell “voilà”, remember that it Very Often Isn’t Lettered Accurately.

Monday Muddle: viola: (noun) a stringed musical instrument that is slightly larger than a violin but significantly smaller than a cello voilà: (interjection) loosely translated from the French means "There it is!"; literally means "See there!" from the imperative form of the the verb voir (to see) and the adverb là (there)

Monday Muddle: toe, tow

Monday Muddle

“To toe the line” figuratively means to conform, submit to authority, obey the rules. The expression started out literally meaning to put your toes against a marked line. It has been used in the discipline of sailors and in sporting events with a starting line among other things. It dates from the 1800s, when “to toe the mark” was also a common expression.

“To tow the line” is not a common expression, but it would mean to drag a rope or something similar behind you.

Monday Muddle: toe: (noun) body part; digit of the human foot; part of footwear that covers front of foot; (verb) push, touch or kick something with front of foot Part of the expression "to toe the line". tow: (verb) pull, drag or haul something (often a vehicle) behind you; (noun) the act of towing; rope or line used to tow NOT part of the expression "to toe the line".