Breaking A Status Quo
Let us start from the very start! Let us start with the origin of a word called "Status Quo". Well, the origin is from the Latin language and the expression per se was happily added to English several decades ago. The meaning of this is - "State in which". In other words, it means keeping something in a state in which it must be kept.
English, as a language, like most other popular languages, is vast and beautiful. English, as a communication tool is even more beautiful and attractive. Leave apart the tonal qualities of its words, or its clinical syntax, there are more to it when it comes to communicating in it. There are several absorbing, gripping and at the same time dignified aspects of it. Though present in many languages worldwide, its expanse consists of "phrasal verbs" and "idioms" constituted in a rather marvelous way.
Up to this point, we have had enough of a halo and admiration! Let us digress ourselves now. With due and utmost respect to English, let us start to play a game or two by tweaking and twisting some of these phrasal verbs and idioms. Let us take the bigger brother, the idiom first. It is a big no-no to change even a character of an idiom. An idiom, in essence, is like a hymn. It has been spoken, read, passed on over generations.
What we shall do is change a few of these and see what happens!
"The king left no stone unturned in making his subjects happy." Now here, the meaning is crystal clear - the king worked as hard as possible to achieve a kingly status. The slightest mention of a certain number of stones has just been a tool to convey something great. But, then, let me dare to change the idiom into "The king turned all the stones in making his subjects happy." Indeed, if ever we wanted to know how many stones the king was after, or how much strength the king had, or whether he did all these turnings by himself, it must be now, after reading this strong kingly statement.
Take this next one, "The ball is in his court". This means, it is now up to him to take the next step. Now, let us be a touch creative and change this highly thoughtful idiom to something like "Now he threw the ball out of his court". The first thing that comes to the mind is which game is being played here ? Is it badminton ? Tennis ? Volleyball ?
Talking about games, it is often said, "Keep your fingers crossed." It is just a way to say that pray keep your luck with you, something that you want to happen can happen. What if we turn it around and say "Uncross your fingers." It becomes more meaningless than the word "meaningless" can mean!
Imagine an elite gathering where a have-not has entered. In literal terms, this poor fellow could be referred to as "He is a fish out of water." The expression describes and communicates his situation perfectly. But what would the same imagination lead us if we say "He is a fish on land"? Will it be a rather murky figure of mud and dirt? Well, perhaps so.
If these were peculiar, then phrasal verbs are a notch higher. Think of this, "The Prime Minister called on the President this afternoon". The phrasal verb "Called On" means "Met". If we flip it and unpack it and destroy it, what happens ? "The Prime Minister was on call this afternoon". What a change a subtle change of position can do ? A powerful man meeting another powerful man has now been asked to stop meeting. Rather, he is asked to be alert, a call or two might arrive!
To round off, here is another one. No, this time I do not elaborate. I rather leave it to you. Think of the difference it creates to go from "Call in" to "In Call". Once you can think of this, you have understood the fun of breaking a status quo. Will you do it again ? Will I do it again ? Well, why not ? A twist is as good as a no-twist if it can create a smile or two.
English, as a language, like most other popular languages, is vast and beautiful. English, as a communication tool is even more beautiful and attractive. Leave apart the tonal qualities of its words, or its clinical syntax, there are more to it when it comes to communicating in it. There are several absorbing, gripping and at the same time dignified aspects of it. Though present in many languages worldwide, its expanse consists of "phrasal verbs" and "idioms" constituted in a rather marvelous way.
Up to this point, we have had enough of a halo and admiration! Let us digress ourselves now. With due and utmost respect to English, let us start to play a game or two by tweaking and twisting some of these phrasal verbs and idioms. Let us take the bigger brother, the idiom first. It is a big no-no to change even a character of an idiom. An idiom, in essence, is like a hymn. It has been spoken, read, passed on over generations.
What we shall do is change a few of these and see what happens!
"The king left no stone unturned in making his subjects happy." Now here, the meaning is crystal clear - the king worked as hard as possible to achieve a kingly status. The slightest mention of a certain number of stones has just been a tool to convey something great. But, then, let me dare to change the idiom into "The king turned all the stones in making his subjects happy." Indeed, if ever we wanted to know how many stones the king was after, or how much strength the king had, or whether he did all these turnings by himself, it must be now, after reading this strong kingly statement.
Take this next one, "The ball is in his court". This means, it is now up to him to take the next step. Now, let us be a touch creative and change this highly thoughtful idiom to something like "Now he threw the ball out of his court". The first thing that comes to the mind is which game is being played here ? Is it badminton ? Tennis ? Volleyball ?
Talking about games, it is often said, "Keep your fingers crossed." It is just a way to say that pray keep your luck with you, something that you want to happen can happen. What if we turn it around and say "Uncross your fingers." It becomes more meaningless than the word "meaningless" can mean!
Imagine an elite gathering where a have-not has entered. In literal terms, this poor fellow could be referred to as "He is a fish out of water." The expression describes and communicates his situation perfectly. But what would the same imagination lead us if we say "He is a fish on land"? Will it be a rather murky figure of mud and dirt? Well, perhaps so.
If these were peculiar, then phrasal verbs are a notch higher. Think of this, "The Prime Minister called on the President this afternoon". The phrasal verb "Called On" means "Met". If we flip it and unpack it and destroy it, what happens ? "The Prime Minister was on call this afternoon". What a change a subtle change of position can do ? A powerful man meeting another powerful man has now been asked to stop meeting. Rather, he is asked to be alert, a call or two might arrive!
To round off, here is another one. No, this time I do not elaborate. I rather leave it to you. Think of the difference it creates to go from "Call in" to "In Call". Once you can think of this, you have understood the fun of breaking a status quo. Will you do it again ? Will I do it again ? Well, why not ? A twist is as good as a no-twist if it can create a smile or two.
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