Challenging Words In The Article The Hindu | 4 April 2018

1) Bugbear (noun) (डरावना) : bug-bear
Meaning – a cause of obsessive fear, anxiety, or irritation.
Synonyms- : hate, bane, irritant, irritation, dislike, anathema
Antonyms – delight, joy, pleasure
Example – Inflation is the government’s main bugbear.

2) Offload (verb) (बोझ उतार लेना) : off-load
Meaning – rid oneself of (something) by selling or passing it on to someone else/relieve oneself of (a problem or worry) by talking to someone else/unload (a cargo).
Synonyms- : transfer, shift, jettison
Example – It would be nice to have been able to offload your worries on to someone”

3) Lucrative (adjective) (लाभप्रद) : lew-cray-tive
Meaning – producing a great deal of profit.
Synonyms- : profitable, profit-making, gainful, remunerative, moneymaking
Antonyms – unprofitable
Example -Stand-up comedy is becoming a lucrative career day by day.

4) Unveil (verb) (खोलना) : un-veil
Meaning – show or announce publicly for the first time/remove a veil or covering from, in particular uncover (a new monument or work of art) as part of a public ceremony.
Synonyms- : reveal, present, disclose, divulge
Antonyms – camouflage, disguise, becloud
Example – The Home Secretary has unveiledplans to crack down on crime.

5) Cumulative (adjective) (संचयी) : q-mu-lay-tive
Meaning – increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions.
Synonyms- : increasing, accumulative, accumulating, growing, progressive
Antonyms – subtractive
Example – The cumulative effect of two years of drought has made the condition of this city pathetic.

6) Enthuse (verb) (अति उत्साहित करना) : en-thuse
Meaning – express eager enjoyment, interest, or approval regarding something/make (someone) interested and eagerly appreciative.
Synonyms-: excite, arouse, motivate, inspire, stimulate
Example – I want my colleagues to continue to enthuse about the job and teach effectively.

Idioms/Phrases/Phrasal Verbs in the Article

7) Whittle down (phrasal verb) (धीरे – धीरे कम करना) :
Meaning – to reduce the number of people or things, or the size of something
Synonyms- : reduce, cut down, decrease.
Antonyms – increase, lengthen
Example – The list of 50 candidates was finally whittled down to four.

8) Set the ball rolling (phrase) (शुरुआत करना) :
Meaning – To set something, often a process, in motion; to begin
Synonyms- : make a start, set at ease,
Antonyms – hinder, obstruct
Example – I think it will be easier to become comfortable driving now that I’ve set the ball rolling with driving lessons.

9) Pin one’s hopes on (phrase) (उम्मीद करना) :
Meaning – rely heavily on.
Synonyms- : rely on, count on, depend on, place reliance on
Example -He pinned his hopes on being rescued soon.

10) In principle (phrase) (Verb) (सामान्य रूप में) :
Meaning – as a general idea or plan, although the details are not yet established.
Synonyms- : in general, on balance, generally, in essence
Example – The government agreed in principle to a peace plan that included a ceasefire