After Farrago, Snollygoster: Shashi Tharoor’s witty words are leaving Indian Twitteratti amused   

shashi tharoor

The Internet world, especially social media, is not recommended if you're looking for lessons in diction, comprehension and lexicography, but as grammar also says – there are always exceptions.

For Twitter users in India, politician Shashi Tharoor's Twitter handle is one such exception.

Lately, the Congress MP has been making headlines for his mind-boggling linguistic skills and quick wit by introducing the Indian social media to words like 'webaqoof' and the rather popular one – 'farrago'.

Another such instance came yesterday when Tharoor made an indirect comment on a former ally and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's shift to the NDA. The MP and politician from Kerala tweeted: “Word of the day! — Definition of *snollygoster* US dialect: a shrewd, unprincipled politician; First Known Use: 1845; Most recent use: 26/7/17.”

Word of the day!
Definition of *snollygoster*
US dialect: a shrewd, unprincipled politician
First Known Use: 1845
Most recent use: 26/7/17

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 27, 2017

Few days back, he was in the news for introducing the term ‘Webaqoof’ to users. Although this isn't a Tharoor original, it does prove that the politician and former UN Under Secretary General is aware of his 'popularity' online after his use of the word 'Farrago' went viral.

New Hinglish 21st century dictionary:
*Webaqoof*: "one who believes every claim or allegation on the internet & social media must be true"

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 25, 2017

The MP from Kerala had previously tweeted: “Exasperating farrago of distortions, misrepresentations and outright lies being broadcast by an unprincipled showman masquerading as a journalist(sic),” in response to a broadcast channel’s allegations of his involvement in the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.

Exasperating farrago of distortions, misrepresentations&outright lies being broadcast by an unprincipled showman masquerading as a journalst

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 8, 2017

Here's hoping that more witty tweets keep shooting out from the politician's account and our vocabulary gets further enriched from social media.