Quite like the proverbial bolt from the blue, the idea for this blog’s theme came together from nowhere. You could say, inspiration (thunder)struck me! The GRE words for this blog are ‘galvanize, live wire, lightning rod, insulate, and pull the plug.<\/em><\/strong>‘<\/p>\n\n\n\n The phrase ‘bolt from the blue’ was first used in the early to mid-1800s. When skies are blue, there are few to no clouds in the sky, and one would expect a pleasant and sunny day. So, the appearance of a lightning bolt would be unexpected, sudden and well, shocking. That’s why the phrase is now used to refer to events or occurrences that are highly unexpected or sudden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part of Speech<\/strong> – verb Word Origins<\/strong> – early 19th century (in the sense \u2018stimulate by electricity\u2019): from French galvaniser<\/em>. Luigi Galvani was an Italian physicist who discovered animal electricity and was a pioneer of bioelectromagnetics. He discovered that dead frogs’ legs twitch when struck by an electric spark. He was of the belief that frogs’ pelvises contained muscles that let them conduct electricity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n His then adversary, Alessandro Volta was of the opinion that the metals used in conducting the above experiment were the reason for the electricity being conducted. As a result, he termed animal electricity Galvanism and set out to disprove it, in the efforts of doing which, he was inspired to create the voltaic pile, later, cell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Edison-Tesla aren’t the only ones who had electric beef with each other, eh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part of Speech<\/strong> – phrase Word Origins<\/strong> – early 19th century, primarily an American idiom; turn of phrase that comes from the rod\u2019s act of letting the building go unharmed when lightning strikes. The GRE words, scapegoat and patsy, have very interesting origins. The goat that ‘escapes’ however, doesn’t have a great fate. In the wilderness, it can’t fend for itself and soon perishes, along with the secrets and sins it carried. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Patsy was originally used as a diminutive (short form of a name) for Patricia. It was also used as a nickname for people named Martha\/Matilda. (What’s in a name?) Notable Marthas called ‘Patsy’ include Martha Washington, George Washington’s wife, but unfortunately do not include either of Batman’s or Superman’s mothers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A late 1800s vaudevillian – form of comedic and theatrical entertainment – Billy B Van, wrote a sketch that frequently featured the line, ‘Who did that?’ with the response always blaming Patsy Bolivar, a character. From then on, Patsy was used as a byword for anyone who was to be blamed or held responsible, especially if they were innocent and\/or ignorant of the crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lee Harvey Oswald, Kennedy’s assassin famously called himself a patsy, set up by the Secret Service, allegedly because he lived in the Soviet Union briefly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sure, Lee… Not!<\/p>\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\ni. galvanize<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Definition <\/strong>–
1. shock or excite (someone) into taking action.
2. coat (iron or steel) with a protective layer of zinc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Synonyms<\/strong> – impel, jolt, invigorate.
Usage<\/strong> – His perfect GRE score of 340 galvanized him into applying to some of the best graduate programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt’s-a me-a, Luigi!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nii. lightning rod<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Definition <\/strong>–
1. a person or thing that attracts criticism, especially in order to divert attention from more serious issues or allow a more important public figure to appear blameless.
2. a metal rod or wire fixed to an exposed part of a building or other tall structure to divert lightning harmlessly into the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Synonyms <\/strong>– scapegoat, patsy, fall guy, whipping boy.
Usage <\/strong>– The President\u2019s chief of staff was offered up as a lightning rod to answer for the failures of the administration.<\/p>\n<\/div>![\"lightning](\"https:\/\/online.wizako.com\/gre-preparation\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/lightning-rodd-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nG.O.A.T. or Scapegoat?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In the Bible, a scapegoat is one of two kid goats. Practitioners sacrifice one goat, tell the other all the sins of the community and release it into the wilderness, so that it may symbolically take away all their sins and purge them of their evildoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n