List of Idioms and Phrases from The HINDU editorial: “Politicising the laddu: The Hindu Editorial on the Tirupati laddu and its ‘adulteration’

List of Idioms and Phrases from The HINDU editorial: “Politicising the laddu: The Hindu Editorial on the Tirupati laddu and its ‘adulteration’

On the face of it, the controversy surrounding the Tirupati laddu seemed like a minor issue about the quality of the ingredients. However, the issue quickly snowballed into a free-for-all, with various political parties jumping into the fray. In the wake of these allegations, several leaders began to voice their opinions, turning what could have been a simple resolution into a full-blown political debate.

Critics argued that many of the accusations were politically motivated, intended to discredit rival parties rather than address genuine concerns about food safety. What began as a conversation about the laddu’s ingredients metamorphosed into a much larger discussion about religious and cultural symbolism. The incident also led to some instances of communal muck-raking, as certain groups tried to stir up tensions based on religious sentiment.

1.  On the face of it

• Meaning: Based on initial appearance or first impressions, without looking deeper into the details.
• Example: "On the face of it, the allegations seemed serious, but a closer investigation revealed inconsistencies."

2.  Snowballed into a free-for-all

• Meaning: A situation that escalates quickly and becomes chaotic, where many people start to get involved, often in an uncontrolled way.
• Example: "The simple disagreement snowballed into a free-for-all, with multiple leaders jumping into the debate."

3.  In the wake of

• Meaning: Following or as a result of a particular event or situation.
• Example: "In the wake of the scandal, the company’s reputation took a serious hit."

4.  Politically motivated

• Meaning: Driven by political agendas or interests rather than genuine concerns or issues.
• Example: "Many felt that the accusations were politically motivated, designed to weaken the opposition."

5.  Metamorphose into

• Meaning: To change or transform into something entirely different, often in a surprising or dramatic way.
• Example: "What started as a minor issue gradually metamorphosed into a major political scandal."

6. Communal muck-raking

• Meaning: Stirring up or promoting division, often based on religion or community, by bringing up controversial or inflammatory issues.
• Example: "The opposition accused the ruling party of engaging in communal muck-raking to divert attention from governance failures."