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Language in conversation
Language in conversation Premium
“Genie, can you take me to Wingtopia Zoo in a jiffy?”
“Brace yourself, little Moon. Teleport. Jet speed. Vroom. BOOM. Behold the zoo!”
“Poof! Genie, it's a pig enclosure!” Moon squealed, her laughter bubbling uncontrollably as she pointed at the pigs.
“Moon, are the pigs that funny?”
“Yes, Genie. Pigs always remind me of my old aunt. She's like a pig, so hilarious! And on top of that, she wears lipstick. She often stinks because she sweats profusely.”
Genie wagged his finger. “No, Moon! You must never talk about elders like that! It's so disrespectful.”
“Sorry, Genie.”
“Good girl. You're not ‘pigheaded', Moon.”
“Genie, I don't have a head like a pig.”
“No, Moon. ‘Pigheaded' means stubborn, obstinate and refusing to accept different opinions. Also, your lipstick comment reminds me of an English idiom: ‘lipstick on a pig'. It means that no matter how much you decorate something bad, it doesn't change its true nature. In other words, making cosmetic changes won't hide its true flaws.”
“You're right, Genie! No matter how much ‘lipstick you put on a pig', it remains a pig. My aunt puts on a lot of perfume, but she still sweats a lot!”
“Ah, Moon! Your aunt sweating so much makes me think of another pig idiom: ‘sweating like a pig'. It means sweating a lot, often from hard work, heat, or nervousness.”
“Genie, do pigs really sweat much?”
“No, Moon. It's just an old expression. And if your aunt had bought a good perfume, she wouldn't have stunk! But she probably purchased it like a ‘pig in a poke'!”
“A ‘pig in a poke'? What's that, Genie?”
“Ah, Moon! That's another English idiom. It means something bought or accepted without checking it first or assessing thoroughly, often leading to poor quality or an unpleasant surprise.”
“Genie, look! There are hundreds of pigs in the pigsty… look at the way they're eating!”
“Ah, Moon! Watching all those pigs eating reminds me of another pig idiom: pig out. It means to eat a lot, often greedily or in a messy way, just like these pigs! Example: Don't pig out on the pizza before lunch, Moon!”
Moon stared at the pigs rolling in the mud. “Genie, can animals fly like birds?”
“Ah, little Moon… some animals can fly, bats for instance. They are indeed mammals, but not all animals can fly. Definitely not pigs! That's why we say: ‘when pigs fly'. People use this idiom when something is impossible or extremely unlikely to happen. Example: Politicians will always keep their promises when pigs fly.”
“Wow, Genie! You have a natural talent for finding good English words.”
“Thank you, dear Moon. People say I can find the right words like ‘a pig hunting truffles'. Pigs are experts at sniffing out rare truffles hidden deep in the soil. Just like that, I sniff out perfect words!”
“Genie, whatever you teach me feels like a gem to me. I try to share it with my classmate the next day… but she just shrugs and brushes it off like a pebble.”
“Then you are ‘casting pearls before a swine', Moon. It means giving something valuable, be it knowledge or advice, to someone who doesn't appreciate it.”
“Haha… Genie, it's like I'm tossing my precious gems straight to a silly pig! Is that right, Genie?”
“Yes, Moon.”
“Genie, I know two pig words: piggybank and piggyback.”
Genie chuckled. “Very good, Moon! A piggybank is a small container, usually shaped like a pig, where you keep your money safe at home. And a piggyback means carrying someone on your back, just like giving them a ride!”
“Come on, Genie, let's catch a glimpse of other animals before the zoo closes!”
Published - November 13, 2025 08:30 am IST
Text and Context / language / Know Your English
Source: The Hindu
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