Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Word Origins 97. The word origin today is Holy
Grail. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here.
If we say that something is the holy grail of something, it means that it is a
thing that is greatly sought after but is extremely difficult or almost
impossible to get or to attain. So it's things that somebody's been searching
for for a long time and you know, if you got it that would be the top of what you
wanted to get. All right. Let's continue The origin of this phrase goes back to
medieval legend and is also connected to the story of King Arthur. According to
the legend, the Holy Grail was supposed to be the actual bowl used by Jesus
during the Last Supper. You can also see a representation of
this in a painting by Leonardo da Vinci. Remember he had really famous
paintings. So the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper that, that people know anyway. It
was the ... it was Last Supper. So it was the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples
before he was arrested and crucified. Okay. Let's continue. It is also believed
some of the blood of Jesus was caught in the bowl and saved during his
crucifixion. Yeah so that when he was actually on the cross and he was
bleeding one of the disciples I think held it there and caught some of his
blood. Yes. So the Holy Grail was believed to be brought back to Britain by Joseph
of Arimathea. All right. So this is why King Arthur ends up sending his Knights
out is because he believes it is actually in you know, in the UK. Anyway
what was the UK today. So it would have been more possible to find it. All right. So it
is connected to the story of King Arthur because when his kingdom was in decay.
When it was falling apart. He believed the only thing that could revive it. You
know, bring it back to life ... was for the Knights to retrieve this. You know, the
Holy Grail itself. He sent many nights out on this quest to
find it but none ever returned and you know they always thought like I think
you know only the most pure knife might be able to find it.
The bowl was believed to have miraculous power to heal and provide food. You know,
because I think they because of quote some of Jesus's blood, they believed that
it had this power. Okay. Anyway, let's continue here. If this term is referring
to the actual Holy Grail , the actual Bowl it should be capitalized. So you should
use a capital H and a capital G. If it is referred to something that is being sought ...
just sought-after, then no. Then it takes a lower case it has should be the
smaller letters. Okay. And we just have two examples of how we might hear it used
The Holy Grail for a political party is to get a super majority. Yeah. Like in the
US if one of the parties, either Republican or Democrat gets 60 seats. I
think in the Senate or you know far majority in the House then they don't
have to compromise with the other political party. They can do whatever
they want so you know it's very very rare that they come close to that. Most
of the time there's somewhere in the middle. But if they could ever get a
super majority then they could really get almost anything passed as long as
they could keep you know, all of their members you know, not you know, giving up
and going to the other side. They should be able to pass anything they wanted.
All right. And the last one here This number two. Some say the Holy Grail for
the medical research is is to find the cure for cancer. Okay. Anyway, I hope you ... I
hope you got it. I hope it was informative and interesting. Thank you
for your time. Bye-bye.