But you may wonder: If this is the feeling of Mr. Lasisi the English Teacher towards the duo’s union, why is he still asking, ‘Is Adesuwa actually Banky W’s heartthrob?’ Is he a doubter or a hater? Some may even be tempted to say, “What God has joined together, let no Lasisi – sorry, no man – put asunder.”
I perfectly understand and appreciate your emotion. And I can assure you that I have nothing against the lucky stars’ marriage.
Yet, my question remains: Is Adesuwa actually Banky W’s heartthrob? And my answer is NO. Capital NO as is often said. I do not know of any other girl that qualifies to be Banky W’s heartthrob; but I say NO because heartthrob is a bad expression in the context.
Although widely used, it is a term that means something else. It does not mean a lover, sweetheart or darling, which are the things people have in mind when they say someone has married his or her heartthrob.
In the Standard English that should be our academic Bible and Koran, heartthrob is used to describe an every lady’s man. Dictionaries are united in stating what it means: a famous man, often a singer or an actor, who is attractive to many women. Based on this, would you still describe Adesuwa as the heartthrob of Banky W or Annie as the heartthrob of Tuface Idibia? Would you still describe Bolanle as the heartthrob of Akinwunmi Ambode or Aisha as the heartthrob of Muhammadu Buhari? No, you shouldn’t do so again.
As earlier suggested, sweetheart, darling and true love etc. are appropriate in the situation under consideration. To understand the real meaning of heartthrob better, consider its usage in the following sentences:
The heartthrob called D’Banj set the party on fire. (Does that suggest that D’Banj is a sweetheart?)
It was not easy for Tuface to manage his heartthrob status. (Well, it’s good that he is on top of the situation now.)
If you marry a heartthrob, you have to be patient, develop thick skin and always pray that other women do not snatch him from you. (You see the sweet and bitter deal?)
I also want to call your attention to a few other things about heartthrob. First, note that the word is used for a male not a female. It describes a male celebrity – handsome and wanted by every girl. So, when you use it to refer to a lady lover, you have committed more than one error.
The second point has to do with the spelling of the word. If you are not very careful, you will miss it. Note that it has double t and there is an h after the second t:
“At last, I have met my hearttrob,” Julian said.
Lastly, many people do not pronounce the word well. All you hear in the middle of the word is t. But because of the presence of th in it, the beginning of the second syllable (throb) should not be pronounced as what you have in trouble or to. Rather, it is pronounced as what you have in thwart, throw and thought.
What we have thus treated today is one of those words that are properly mishandled. There are many more of such, which means that you should watch the English you speak and write. When you are in doubt, the dictionary is always there to bail you out.
Some other words wrongly used are upliftment, lanky, overspeeding, contract (as a verb) and destitute.
The issue with lanky is that some people think it refers to a person who is huge or fat. But it defines a slender person:
Wande Coal is a lanky man. (Wrong)
Tuface is a lanky man – in fact, almost as lanky as President Buhari. (Correct).
Answers to last week’s assignment
- I was trying to put the car … gear four when the accident occurred.
(a) for (b) on (c) IN (d) at
- Hardly had the woman finished speaking … the man slapped her.
(a) and (b) WHEN (c) while (d) than
- The woman has been charged … stealing.
(a) on (b) WITH (c) for (d) at
Those who got all the answers right
Bello Adunni, Lawrence Okwe, Ayanlola Oluwayemisi, Adubi Ibrahim, Abdulmajeed Bello, Akin Gandonu, Awarun Adeyinka, Obu Franklyn, Chukwudi Iheanacho, Oludare Olufade, Stanley Nduagu, Oyinkansola Akinwale, Ibrahim Haruna, Etim Treasure, Abdwakil Ashafa, Ven Falodun, Ifeanyichukwu Ibekwe, Biola Lawal, Bankole Dayo, Adam Bukayo, Chinasa Nneji, Blessing Aghofare, Alabi Mustapha, Waidi Gberon and Alonge Olwaseun.
Others who also did well
Olufunke Musa, Bayo Adekoya, Ade Adefehinti, Ikani Godwin, M.s Adelugba, Olayinka Adeshina, Nmandi Chiegbo, Wole Ogunsade, Pelumi Lawrence, A.B Adejumo, Fasooto Ademola, Shola. M, Shaba IK, Egberongbe Bashir, Toyin Pelumi, Kolawole Oyinkansola, Ngwu Uchenna, Egoma Ilokwu, Kolapo Barakat, Babatunde Adeiye, Akanmu Ejigbo, Kolawole Kareem, Abel Owolabi, Olawuyi Gani, Adepeju Sofoluwe, Williams Idokita, Peter Inyang, Kanu Praise, Olawale Ayodeji, Attah Bassey, Akbar Bello, Raifu Akeem, Godwin Akpoghome, Blessing Okorie, Sanni Amjos, Toyin Oyewoga, Gift Uturu, Roland Olisa, Rotimi Oyedele, Chris Thompson, Halimat Awonuga, Adeleke Taiwo, Iwaeni Tolulope, Jackson Mbazigwe, Effiong Archibong, Daramola Oloniruha, Olusoji Timothy, Ajo John, Idongesit Ekpamfon, Popoola Oluwatosin, Musibau Sulaimon, Alaje Chidozie, Tunde Egbedokun, Omoba Okhumeode, Yemisi Oluyole, Japhlet B.V, Alfa Rosco, Sulaimon Baleeqs, Moshood Afolabi, Adams Bukayo, Hussainat Dawuda, Akintunde Idowu, Nasiru Ahmed, Omolola J. Temitope, Oladele Akanni, Yomi Oladapo, Yekeen Mutiu, Temitope Busayo, Muoka Johnny, Adeusi Aladesanmi, Omole Veronica, Femi Femkas, Monsuru Faisol, Whensu J.H, Oladipupo Muhammed, Abiodun Elesin, Afolabi Ogunjobi, Aranisola Oluwole, Taara Ekan, Unigwe Chinenye, Prince Agunbiade, Oladipo Issac, Tokunbo Olusola, David Osita, Babatunde Akinwale, Oladimeji Sunday, Tijani Amidu, Awonowo Adekunle, Seyi Adewuyi, Akinola, Fatai Ayinde, Obafemi Oluyomi, Elizabeth Okolo, Prince Soye, Abiola Bliss, Talabi Abiola, Enyidiya Ekeleme, Akodu Mudashiru, Arebuwa Tosin, Kolapo Ilori, Gbadebo Adesola, Benson, Rotimi Jaiyeoba, Ahisu Celestine, Chisara Jonah, Akinwa Orimisan, Ayomuyiwa Ayoade, Aremu Afolabi, James Benita, Ayo Olukayode, M. S. Adelugba, Yinka Alli-Owe, Daniel Ighakpe, Samuel Ochai, Hazeem Oladipo and Ishola Oluwatoyin.
Homework
- The name of D’Banj’s … is Lineo
(a) sweetheart (b) sweet heart (c) heartthrob (d) hearttrob
- Neither Ade nor Phillips … eaten.
(a) Has being (b) have (b) has (d) have been
- I learnt that they have … clearing the site.
(a) begins (b) began (c) begun (d) beganned
