英语阅读：Proof, as suffix
Reader question:In this sentence – "Mom, you should put some of your things away. Baby
proof this house," stated our oldest son Mark as he lumbered up the stairs
followed by his wife, Kim, and fifteen-month-old Hannah – what does "baby proof
this house" mean? And the phrase "lumbered up"?
My comments:
The easier part first. When someone lumbers, he walks heavily, as though
his legs were clumsy trunks of wood. Lumber is the log of a tree.
As for "baby proof the house", that's proof working as a suffix.
Baby-proof, actually (best with a hyphen if it's a newly coined combination but
a lot of people do simply write these things as one word – babyproof – or two
words – baby proof).
To baby-proof the house means to make sure the baby won't mess up the room.
Mark's suggestion being: Mom, you should put some of your things away so that
the baby won't have anything to play with (and hence mess up with). Babies being
babies, they mess things up. That's not a fault. That's just them being
themselves and having fun.
Anyways, proof as a suffix means something is resistant to or able to
withstand harm. I'll give you many examples for you to have a fuller idea.
You've heard of waterproof watches, haven't you? A waterproof wristwatch,
for example, is fully protected from water and allows you to go swimming with
one.
Similarly, in a weatherproof coat, you may walk in the rain. In fact, I
came to work in a weatherproof overcoat today, while braving the early morning
drizzle.
There are all sorts of things that are, er, something-proof. A rabbit-proof
fence, for instance, is one that doesn't have holes big enough for rabbit to
squeeze in through. A bulletproof window is, yes, able to withstand bullets. And
there are metal doors that are touted as burglar-proof. Well, in that case,
don't take it literally – if you lose something to burglary, I am afraid your
burglary-proof front door will prove nothing more that there are burglars
roaming your area.
And there are foolproof manuals, instructions that are so simple that
you'll be able to master it even if you were, er, a fool. Here, foolproof means
infallibly effective, absolutely easy to follow. Likewise, a "foolproof
identification system" will be able to read who people are without fail. A
foolproof safety lock, on the other hand, is absolutely secure.
Here are a few real examples culled from the media.
1. explosion-proof (won't explode):
"Explosion-proof" products are capable of containing an explosion. The term
"explosion-proof" does not indicate that the product is capable of withstanding
an external explosion, but only of withstanding an internal explosion without
allowing flames or hot gases to escape from the transducer housing to trigger an
explosion in the surrounding atmosphere.
- www.setra.com
2. stormproof (able to withstand storms):
Task: Stormproof power lines. Cost: Big zap to utilities' coffers
After being slammed by eight hurricanes in the past two years, Florida
residents are angry about sitting in the dark.
It has prompted legislators and regulators to ask tough questions about how
the state's power system can be "hurricane proofed."
- Electricity Forum News, January 6, 2007
3. foolproof (safe, impervious to human interference, error, or
misuse):
Pakistan's nuclear program has "foolproof" and "second to none" security,
the head of the program insisted today, calling doubts about the safety of
Pakistan's nuclear arsenal "inaccurate" and "based on a lack of
understanding."
- Pakistan Calls Nuke Program Security 'Foolproof', ABC News, January 26,
2008.
4. burglarproof (free from burglary):
How to Burglarproof Your Home
Step 1:
Keep windows closed and doors locked – don't take chances for even a few
minutes. Use a 1-inch dead bolt for each exterior door. Secure sliding glass
doors by inserting a broomstick or dowel in the inside track.
Step 2:
Consider installing an alarm system or motion-detecting lights.
...
Step 7:
Keep jewelry and other valuables in a safe.
Step 8:
Consider getting a dog – many kinds of dogs will make enough noise to
discourage burglars (see 'eHow to Select a Dog Breed').
Step 9:
Leave spare keys with a neighbor rather than hidden outside your house.
Step 10:
Keep shrubs and bushes trimmed so that they can't conceal prowlers.
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