Sam Kapasi · 18th April 2012, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

I don't remember when, but I'd heard that there are only 5 words in English that end in "dous". However, I can only think of 4 - hazardous, horrendous, tremendous, stupendous. For the life of me, I can't think of what the fifth one is. Any help,

??

Cheers,
Vikram

Here's what the internet told me. I can barely recognize some of these words lol. Is my English that bad?

amadous
apodous
iodous
nodous
palladous
vanadous

comfortablynumb · 18th April 2012, 13:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

I can barely recognize some of these words lol. Is my English that bad?

That sounds like a whole new language to me!

On a related note, I came across this a few days ago: Plain English Campaign homepage The "award nominations" section makes particularly interesting reading.

Cheers,
Vikram

esteem_lover · 18th April 2012, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by suddenshiv

I think there are only 4, and you got all of them.

Googled and found more.

apodous
hazardous
horrendous
iodous
iridous
jeopardous
macropodous
molybdous
palladous
phyllocladous
podous
stupendous
tremendous
vanadous

All words ending in dous

Thad E Ginathom · 18th April 2012, 14:48

According to this site, there are over fifty!

<cross-posted with esteem_lover>

suddenshiv · 18th April 2012, 17:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Googled and found more.

apodous
hazardous
horrendous
iodous
iridous
jeopardous
macropodous
molybdous
palladous
phyllocladous
podous
stupendous
tremendous
vanadous

All words ending in dous

Good effort in digging out those words

! I stand corrected.

But I meant only the commonly used words. Apart from "hazardous", "horrendous", "stupendous" and "tremendous", I have not come across the others.

Thad E Ginathom · 18th April 2012, 17:21

True. I have never heard of any of the others on the page I linked to.

Mpower · 27th April 2012, 21:06

can someone define the term 'chocolate boy' or 'chocolate hero'?

seems like an Indian usage.

mallumowgli · 27th April 2012, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

can someone define the term 'chocolate boy' or 'chocolate hero'?

seems like an Indian usage.

Yes, seems like it is an Indian usage, cos only we have chocolate heroes.

In proper English it is called 'Justin Timberlake'

Thad E Ginathom · 27th April 2012, 22:33

What does it mean?

I'm not sure if there is any such English saying, but feel it would imply someone who melted away as soon as the heat started, like the proverb, "As useless as a chocolate fireguard."

Ricci · 28th April 2012, 12:58

The term chocolate hero was termed before the term metrosexual was coined, it refers to the same sort of social and grooming behaviour, the well-dressed, clean shaven, romantic hero as opposed to the more rugged, 'macho' action hero types.

SS-Traveller · 2nd May 2012, 11:10

Does one "fail an exam" or "fail to pass an exam"?

esteem_lover · 2nd May 2012, 11:43

I have failed to answer this question.

Your question is as nutty as your signature.

Samurai · 2nd May 2012, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

I have failed to answer this question.

But you didn't fail the question. There in lies the answer.

mallumowgli · 2nd May 2012, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Does one "fail an exam" or "fail to pass an exam"?

If you can fail to pass an exam, is it possible to pass to pass an exam?

vivekiny2k · 2nd May 2012, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by mallumowgli

If you can fail to pass an exam, is it possible to pass to pass an exam?

Technically, the opposite would be "succeeding in passing the exam".

EDIT: so "fail to", and "fail an exam" are totally different usages.

18th April 2012, 14:48	#1609
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,435 Thanked: 29,972 Times	Re: A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English According to this site, there are over fifty! <cross-posted with esteem_lover>
	() Thanks

18th April 2012, 17:21	#1611
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,435 Thanked: 29,972 Times	Re: A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English True. I have never heard of any of the others on the page I linked to.
	() Thanks

27th April 2012, 21:06	#1612
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,399 Thanked: 1,735 Times View My Garage	Re: A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English can someone define the term 'chocolate boy' or 'chocolate hero'? seems like an Indian usage.
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27th April 2012, 22:33	#1614
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,435 Thanked: 29,972 Times	Re: A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English What does it mean? I'm not sure if there is any such English saying, but feel it would imply someone who melted away as soon as the heat started, like the proverb, "As useless as a chocolate fireguard."
	() Thanks

28th April 2012, 12:58	#1615
Ricci BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Pune Posts: 809 Thanked: 1,179 Times	Re: A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English The term chocolate hero was termed before the term metrosexual was coined, it refers to the same sort of social and grooming behaviour, the well-dressed, clean shaven, romantic hero as opposed to the more rugged, 'macho' action hero types.
	() Thanks

2nd May 2012, 11:10	#1616
SS-Traveller Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 8,276 Thanked: 28,715 Times View My Garage	Re: A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English Does one "fail an exam" or "fail to pass an exam"?
	() Thanks

2nd May 2012, 11:43	#1617
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 513 Times View My Garage	Re: A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English I have failed to answer this question. Your question is as nutty as your signature. Last edited by esteem_lover : 2nd May 2012 at 11:45.
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