The Meaning of Headlines: 'tapping into'

The Meaning of Headlines: 'tapping into' - wine

The International New York Times, in its Food section, on June 11, 2015, included the headline, ‘Tapping Into the Potential of Falanghina.’ What does ‘tapping into’ mean?

Falanghina is a grape variety from the Campania region of southern Italy, with two genetically distinct varieties: falanghina beneventana and falanghina flegrea. The article continues to describe these varieties and a wine panel tasting session.

MacMillion Dictionary online defines ‘tap into’ as ‘to understand and express something such as people’s beliefs or attitudes.’ The Free Dictionary online defines ‘tapping’ as ‘the act of a person or thing that taps or strikes lightly’ but the idiom (a phrase or expression) ‘tapping into’ is ‘to gain access to some resource.’

In the wine industry, wine kegs (barrels) are also known as wine taps. This is where the phrase, ‘wine on tap’ or ‘beer on tap’ comes from – bar tenders pour the beverage from a tap (a faucet) from a stainless steel (metal) keg instead of from a bottle. In the metal kegs, the aging process does not occur. To age wine (to improve the quality by enhancing flavour and texture) it is stored in oak barrels. A barrel maker is called a cooper. The barrels have a cork plug, or a tap, to access the wine. For example, falanghina is fermented in wooden barrels.

Lord Horatio Nelson of the British navy died during the Battle of Trafalgar in Spain in 1805. To preserve the admiral’s body so that it could be transported back to England on the ship, Victory, it was immersed in a barrel of alcohol (brandy). When the barrel was opened, there was less than half the amount of brandy remaining, leading some to say that the sailors drank it (despite the dead body in the barrel). This resulted in the phrase ‘tapping the admiral’ to mean getting unauthorized drink from a container (such as siphoning off the alcohol).

The article is about wine and understanding more about the varieties of falanghina.

Scorecard for the International New York Times headline is 95% - it is a relevant headline that is true to its meaning – gaining understanding about something – as well as being related to the wine industry. However, it is an exceptionally common phrase, even if the wine being reviewed is not.

Comments

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog