rely ~ relay
[different pronunciation: the ‘re’ in “rely” has a short sound and the ‘ly’ rhymes with ‘lie’; and the ‘re’ in “relay” has a long ‘e’ sound and the letters ‘lay’ rhymes with the word “lay”]
child relying on parent
“Rely” (for the right pronunciation of rely, please click here)
(verb ~~~ rely – relied – relied – relying , usually with the preposition ‘on’ or ‘upon’) is ‘to look to someone for help; to depend on something to happen or someone to make it; to trust’,
e.g.
We can’t rely on the weather; it may change any time.
She relied on his help but he turned her down.
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relay a message
“Relay” (for the right pronunciation of relay, as a verb & as a noun, please click here)
as a noun, is ‘one part of a group or team of people or an electrical apparatus that takes its turn in continuing the game or work’; and as a verb ~~~ relay – relayed – relayed, it is ‘to pass on information from one person to another or from one place to another’,
relay running race/relaying a baton
e.g.
India won the gold medal in relay race in the Asian Games.
He immediately relayed the message to the other members of the committee.
e.g. We must re-lay the flooring of this room with grey tiles to match the colour of the grey walls. For an article that explains how to relay a carpet, please click here.
