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November 29 & 30, 2003 gauge (gaydj) The verb gauge means to measure, calculate or carefully consider something. The call was made at a state-sponsored debate to gauge public opinion on whether the multi-billion-baht sex services business should be legalised. More than two thousand people responded to the survey that attempted to gauge public understanding of the duties of the Bangkok governor. If success could be gauged by noise, Hewitt was the clear winner. We may not be able to gauge the real impact of the information revolution for another 50 years or more. November 28, 2003 flammable (FLAM a bul) The adjective flammable means to burn or catch fire easily. These chemicals are flammable but they only pose a health risk if directly inhaled for a prolonged period of time. Shell Thailand says it stores only non-flammable lubricant oil close to residential areas. The hydrogen tanks are extremely heavy since they must be strong enough to prevent the highly flammable gas from exploding in the event of a crash. The oxygen in the mixture made it flammable even at very low temperatures. November 27, 2003 scuttle (SKUT ul) The verb scuttle means to cause a plan or proposal to fail or to deliberately cause a ship to sink. Scuttle can also mean to run with very small quick steps. The government may have to scuttle its own bill governing the teaching service after the legislation failed to receive royal endorsement. The proposed rail link was scuttled two years ago because of costs. The orders from headquarters were to scuttle the ship. Each time there was an explosion the lizards scuttled off the beach into a small cave. November 26, 2003 gridlock (GRID lock) The noun gridlock refers to a situation when the roads become so crowded that vehicles are unable to move. Gridlock can also refer to an argument or dispute in which no agreement seems possible. The government yesterday decided to tackle Bangkok's traffic gridlock within six years with a wide-ranging plan costing 400 billion baht, which includes more road and rail expansion. Officials evacuated all federal buildings in Washington, creating a late-morning downtown scene of chaos and gridlock. In Congress, there has been gridlock on issues ranging from medical care to handgun control. Recent national studies have found that gridlock in northern Virginia is second only to that of Los Angeles. November 25, 2003 bustling (BUS ling) The adjective bustling refers to a place that is very busy and full of activity. Two major fires raged in the city yesterday, one at a department store in the bustling Indian community area of Pahurat, and the other at a slum community in Klong Toey. This bustling restaurant along the old port is a great place for enjoying the sun or people watching. He called home on his cell phone to say they were hiding in the choir room of the normally bustling school of 1800. A bustling seaport in the Roman Empire, Pisa became a great naval power in the 9th century. November 24, 2003 straddle (STRAD ul) The verb straddle means to stretch across both sides of something. Construction of Bangkok's satellite city should begin next year on a 150,000-rai plot of land straddling three districts of Nakhon Nayok, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said. The golf course would straddle the border, with fairways and greens in both countries. They traveled along a dirt road that straddles the two countries. The town of Najaf was strategic because it straddled US supplies lines. Click here to see our words in the news for the previous week. Return to our home page | Comments to Terry F. at terryfrd@ksc15.th.com | |© The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. All rights reserved 2003 | Last modified: November 28, 2003