List of Idioms and Phrases from The HINDU editorial: “A way out: On the government and doctor-led protests in West Bengal”

List of Idioms and Phrases from The HINDU editorial: “A way out: On the government and doctor-led protests in West Bengal”

The junior doctors in West Bengal initiated a cease work agitation in response to an attack on their colleagues, demanding better protection at hospitals. The protesters laid siege to government buildings, calling for immediate action. As the situation escalated, there was a clamour for stronger security measures in the medical field, and the protest leaders showed no sign of calling off the strike until their demands were met.

However, the trust deficit between the government and the medical community made negotiations challenging. There were also accusations that the government’s initial response had a whiff of a cover-up, as details were slow to emerge. Many urged the Chief Minister to walk the talk and implement real changes to restore confidence in the system.

 1. Cease work agitation

• Meaning: A protest where workers stop working to demand changes or improvements, often organized as a strike.

• Example: "The junior doctors launched a cease work agitation to push for better working conditions and security measures."

2.  Laid siege

• Meaning: To surround or blockade a place, typically in protest or to force a response.

• Example: "The protesters laid siege to the government building, demanding action on the issue."

3.  Clamour for

• Meaning: A loud or strong demand for something by a group of people.

• Example: "There was a clamour for the government to address the grievances of the doctors."

4.  Call off

• Meaning: To cancel or end something that was planned or ongoing.

• Example: "The union decided to call off the strike after negotiations with the government."

5.  Trust deficit

• Meaning: A situation where trust is lacking between two or more parties, often due to past actions or broken promises.

• Example: "The trust deficit between the government and the doctors has made it difficult to reach a resolution."

6.  Whiff of a cover-up

• Meaning: A suspicion or hint that an event or wrongdoing is being hidden or concealed.

• Example: "There was a whiff of a cover-up in the way the investigation was initially handled."

7.  Walk the talk

• Meaning: To act according to what one has promised or claimed to do, to follow through with actions.

• Example: "The Chief Minister needs to walk the talk if she wants to regain the trust of the medical community."