THE MOUNTAIN MAN --- Teaching idioms through story

                                                          The Mountain Man

                                      (Teaching Idioms Through Story)

Dashrath Manjhi was born into a poor tribal family in  Gaya district. His life was not a bed of roses (a life full of comfort and ease). At a very young age, he went to Dhanbad in search of a job. There, he worked in coal mines as a child labourer. However, his small income forced him to live a hand-to-mouth life (living with barely enough money for daily needs).

He found it difficult to make both ends meet (manage one’s expenses with limited income), so after a few years, he returned to his village and started working in his fields.

One day, while he was working on the other side of the mountain, his wife, Phaguni Devi, was bringing food for him. Unfortunately, she slipped while climbing the mountain and died. This tragic incident struck him like a bolt from the blue (a sudden and unexpected shock). But he made up his mind (decided firmly) to bring this mountain to its knees (overcome something powerful).

Being a resolute man, he decided to carve a path through the mountain. When villagers saw him breaking the mountain with a hammer and chisel, they laughed at him and thought he had gone mad. For them, it was a wild goose chase (a useless effort). Even when people discouraged him, he turned a deaf ear (ignored what others said) and continued his work with determination.

After twenty-two years of relentless effort, he finally carved a path through the mountain. Through his perseverance, he proved the saying:

“Where there is a will, there is a way.” (strong determination leads to success)

In the end, he made the villagers eat their words (admit they were wrong).

 He is popularly known as “The Mountain Man.”

FRESHEN UP, HIT THE BOOKS, SQUARE MEAL, HIT THE SACK & SLEEP LIKE A LOG

 Returning home from the playground, he freshened up (washed and became clean) and sat down to hit the books (started studying seriously). Later, he had a square meal (a full and proper meal) and finally hit the sack (went to bed) where he slept like a log (slept very deeply).

HIT THE ROAD, DEAD TIRED, GRAB A BITE, FILL THE GAP & LET OFF STEAM

 When the closing bell rang, students hit the road (start a trip/journey) for their homes. Shshil also came home. He was dead tired (very tired). Keeping his bag on the rack, he grabbed a bite (ate something quickly) to fill the gap (satisfy hunger temporarily) before heading out to play. On the ground, he played with his friends and let off steam (released energy or stress). 

QUICK BITE, GET BACK TO WORK, IN FULL SWING, GET THE HANG OF IT & STAY ON TRACK

 During break time, Shushil grabbed a quick bite (a small and fast meal) and got back to work (resume the work ) immediately. When he was in full swing (working actively and energetically), completing his work, the next teacher came for the Science class. He got the hang of (understood something after practice) doing practicals, especially preparing solutions, and enjoyed the class. The last period was of yoga. Even during this period, he continued to stay on track (remain focused and disciplined).

ALL EARS, PUT ON THINKING CAP, QUICK OFF THE MARK, ON THE BALL & MAKE A MARK

 Prayer was over, and Shushil went to his class. He was all ears (listening very attentively) throughout the English period. When the teacher gave problems to the students, Shushil put on his thinking cap (started thinking seriously) and solved them easily. Being the first student to answer, he was quick off the mark (fast to respond or act). From the very start, he was on the ball (alert and efficient) and answered all the questions correctly. By the end of the class, he had made a mark (created a good impression) on the teacher.

FRESH AS A DAISY, IN GOOD SHAPE,A SQUARE MEAL , HIT THE ROAD & IN THE NICK OF THE TIME

 Coming back from jogging, he felt fresh as a daisy (feeling fresh and full of energy). His jogging habit kept him in good shape (physically fit and healthy). He took a bath and had a square meal (a proper and satisfying meal) before hitting the road (starting a journey) for school. He reached school in the nick of time (just at the last possible moment).

AN EARLY BIRD, UP WITH THE LARK, STARTED HIS DAY ON THE RIGHT FOOT, GOT HIS ACT TOGETHER & FIT AS FIDDLE

 As Shushil was an early bird (a person who wakes up early), he was up with the lark (awake very early in the morning) and started his day on the right foot (began the day in a positive and successful way). First, he drank two glasses of lukewarm water and went to freshen up. After cleaning up, he got his act together (organized himself and became ready) for his morning exercise. He jogged for half an hour and felt fit as a fiddle (very healthy and energetic).

                                  A letter to my students

Dear Students,

Today is 17/3/26.Is it not a matter of a few days back, perhaps before the festival of colours (Holi), that our school had organised a debate on the motion: Holi is a festival of colour and unity OR it is an opportunity to add fuel to the fire (make a bad situation worse) by initiating quarrels, clashes, misconduct, and revenge?

And after the debate, it was concluded that any festival, if celebrated in its true spirit, teaches us brotherhood, love, affection, and other virtues. It reminds us that we should live in harmony (live peacefully together) and spread joy all around (make others happy). Therefore, a festival in itself is neither good nor bad; it is beneficial for society only when it is celebrated in the right manner. Otherwise, things can get out of hand (become uncontrollable).

Sometimes, in the name of celebration, people cross the line (go beyond acceptable behaviour) and lose their temper (become angry), which turns happiness into conflict. This reminds us of a tragic incident in JJ Colony, New Delhi, where Holi water balloons became the cause of a clash between two families. What started as a small issue soon snowballed into (grew rapidly into something serious) a major conflict, leading to the loss of a 26-year-old man from Uttam Nagar. The situation even took a turn for the worse (became more serious), and the Delhi Police had to be deployed to maintain peace.

Once again, I would like to say that we must keep our cool (stay calm) and behave like responsible human beings. We should celebrate festivals in such a way that we set an example (be a model for others) and spread positivity (encourage good feelings), not fear or harm. After all, festivals are meant to bring people together, not drive a wedge between people (create division). 

I wish all my students to keep rolling, keep learning and keep growing all the time.

                                       from your Vice Principal (P.S. Rana)

HIT THE SACK OR HIT THE HAY , AN EARLY BIRD & THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM

 
In the evening of Monday, Sushil had been studying since 7:00 PM. His study was interrupted for half an hour when he went to take his food. Soon after having his meal, he once again sat at his study table and started studying. When the clock struck 10:30 PM, Sushil felt tired and sleepy, so he went to hit the sack OR hit the hay (go to sleep/bed). He slept for almost seven hours, and as he is an early bird (person who wakes up early), he got up at 5 o’clock in the morning. We all know that the early bird catches the worm (people who act first/work early/arrive first are likely to succeed).

A PIECE OF CAKE OR A WALK IN THE PARK

Sushil’s persistent hard work has given him an edge over others.

Now he is full of confidence, self-esteem, and self-belief. While      other students are feeling nervous about Mathematics, Physics, and

Chemistry, he feels that these subjects are a piece of cake (very easy) OR a walk in the park (very easy) for him.       

                                       

THROW IN THE TOWEL

 Really, Sushil is a student of perseverance and resolution. Whatever he decides, he completes it. He never throws in the towel (gives up) on his ideas, aspirations, or aims.

Origin of the idiom comes from boxing. When a boxer cannot continue, the coach throws a towel into the ring to stop the fight. This visually means “giving up.”  Towel thrown → Match stopped → Person gives up 

ROUND THE CORNER, COME RAIN OR SHINE & ROUND THE CLOCK

 You all know that Sushil was sick and was not feeling well. However, as the annual examination was round the corner (very near), he decided that come rain or shine (no matter what happens), he would continue studying round the clock (all the time).

GO THE EXTRA MILE, TAKE A TOLL & UNDER THE WEATHER

 In fact, Sushil was a diligent boy. He always went the extra mile (made extra effort) to achieve his goal. He got up at four o’clock in the morning when everybody else was asleep and studied for a few more hours. However, this took a toll (to have a negative effect ) on his health, and he  often felt under the weather (slightly ill or unwell).

HIT THE BOOKS

 Sushil also remembered how he did not go to play in the evening with his friends and how he hit the books (studied very hard) all the time. He felt happy to recall the time and labour he had devoted to the preparation for his examination.

BURN MIDNIGHT OIL

  Sushil is excited to stand first in his class. He fondly remembers his days before the examination when he burnt mid-night oil (study late hours) in the preparation and revision of all the subjects. 

ON CLOUD NINE

 Sushil is a student of Class IX. He is hard-working, punctual, and sincere. He has recently taken his final examination. Now the result is out, and he has stood first in his class. He is extremely happy. He is on cloud nine (very happy and excited).