Idioms featuring the word ‘horse’ or ‘horses’ are common in English, and this is no great surprise. Humans have always had a close relationship with this beautiful animal. For centuries, horses were our main means of transport. We also used them in farming, war, and industry. More recently, of course, we’ve ridden horses, both for leisure and in the sport of horse racing. Today, I’m looking at some of the most frequent and useful horse idioms. Continue reading “Wild horses and gift horses (Idioms with the word ‘horse’)”→
sloppernoun [C] UK /ˈslɒp.əʳ/ US /ˈslɑː.pɚ/ someone who relies too much on AI chatbots to make decisions, find out information, etc.
If someone is a “slopper,” it means that they have offloaded most of their cognitive processes to ChatGPT. This cognitive offloading involves asking ChatGPT for guidance on various tasks a person should be mentally well-equipped to handle on their own, such as planning what to do for the evening, how to respond to a text message from a family member, or whether to make a significant life change, like quitting a job. [fastcompany.com, 16 August 2025]
trendslopnoun [U] UK /ˈtrend.slɒp/ US /ˈtrend.slɑːp/ the tendency of an AI model to give an answer that follows popular trends instead of analysing the situation and providing a response that is relevant to it
A recent study found that when various large language models (LLMs) were asked to provide guidance on a workplace issue, they gravitated toward a response that was most aligned with buzzwords, rather than providing guidance that best aligned with the scenario. Researchers dubbed the proclivity of AI to gravitate toward the same jargon to inform their judgments “trendslop.” … The “trendslop” tendencies of LLMs are a result of biases they take on when the models are being trained, researchers noted. [fortune.com, 10 April 2026]
slopagandanoun [U] UK /ˌslɒp.əˈgæn.də/ US /ˌslɑː.pəˈgæn.də/ the use of AI-generated information as propaganda
Are you troubled by the way that social media has enabled the spread of propaganda? Well, get ready for slopaganda, which is propaganda that’s AI-powered and unprecedented in terms of speed, scale, audience reach and persuasiveness. “AI slop” is the term used to identify unwanted AI content – the algorithm-driven equivalent of spam email. Slopaganda is turning out to be just as annoying as spam, but far more dangerous. [Philosopher’s Zone (podcast), 14 October 2025]
Today’s post concentrates on a set of compound adjectives (adjectives made from two words) that start with the name of a body part. Unlike compound adjectives where the body part is second (blue-eyed, long-haired, etc.), they tend to be quite idiomatic and in many cases extremely emphatic. Continue reading “Mouth-watering or jaw-dropping: adjectives formed with body parts”→
French Sundaynoun [C]
/ˌfrentʃ ˈsʌn.deɪ/ a relaxed Sunday, inspired by the French way of life, that involves spending time with friends and family, eating good food, and going for walks, rather than doing chores or housework
Like most fashionable trends, “French Sunday” comes from France, but was most recently popularized by Vogue … According to the Vogue article, “French Sundays” are supposed to be “lazy, stress-free days, when the main activity is to do nothing” — the exact opposite of productivity hacks that encourage people to use Sundays to prep for next week’s meals, do that load of laundry, clean your space, review your calendar, and lay out your work clothes (making Sundays practically a sixth day of work). [fastcompany.com, 27 February 2026]Continue reading “New words – 13 April 2026”→
If, like me, you spent your spare time last month watching the Winter Olympics, you’ll know how exciting it was. I enjoyed everything about it. When I wasn’t watching the events or admiring the fabulous scenery, I was looking at the spectators as they cheered for (=encouraged by shouting at) their country’s sportsmen and women. This post looks at the language we use to describe the behaviour of people who have come together to watch a sports event or an occasion such as a play or concert. Continue reading “Applauding or heckling? (What audiences do)”→
meteorosensitiveadjective UK /ˌmiː.ti.ə.rəˈsen.sɪ.tɪv/ US /ˌmiː.t̬i.ɚ.əˈsen.sə.t̬ɪv/ easily affected physically or emotionally by changes in the weather
Fed up with the rain? You might be meteorosensitive. Turns out there’s a term for weather-related depression. Psychologists have identified it as a meteorosensitivity, when our mental and physical health is affected by changes in the weather. If you’re meteorosensitive the weather can cause aches and pains and impact cognitive function, as well as making you moody. [thetimes.com, 6 February 2026]Continue reading “New words – 6 April 2026”→
competence hangovernoun [C] UK /ˈkɒm.pɪ.tᵊns ˌhæŋˌəʊ.vəʳ/ US /ˈkɑːm.pə.t̬ᵊns ˌhæŋˌoʊ.vɚ/ a feeling of exhaustion that follows a period of taking on too many responsibilities at work and becoming the person everyone relies on
There’s a certain kind of tiredness that women can’t quite name but feel every day at work. The type that builds slowly and silently from years of being the one who remembers, organises, fixes and absorbs – and it’s being termed the competence hangover. It’s not that you want to be that person, but everyone expects you to be. And once you recognise the symptoms of a competence hangover, it becomes impossible to unsee or ignore any longer. [graziadaily.co.uk, 27 February 2026]
functional freezenoun [C] UK /ˌfʌŋk.ʃᵊn.ᵊl ˈfriːz/ US /ˌfʌŋk.ʃᵊn.ᵊl ˈfriːz/ a response to stress in which someone continues to function outwardly, successfully managing their workload and responsibilities, while inwardly feeling numb, detached, or anxious.
If you’re on TikTok, you might’ve heard the phrase “functional freeze” making the rounds recently — and while the label might be new, the experience itself is anything but. It’s when you appear to be functioning, but on the inside, you’re emotionally and mentally shut down, as if you’re running on autopilot. [womenshealthmag.com, 3 June 2025]
burnout blockingnoun [U] UK /ˈbɜːn.aʊt ˌblɒk.ɪŋ/ US /ˈbɝːn.aʊt ˌblɑː.kɪŋ/ the practice of putting strategies in place to prevent an employee from experiencing burnout or to recover from it more quickly if they do
Organizations that focus on burnout blocking, that is, a balance of proactive burnout prevention and effective reactive recovery, can create healthier, more engaged teams. By pairing thoughtful strategies with fair recognition and workplace wellness prevention, HR leaders can build cultures where employees feel supported, valued, and motivated to thrive. [advantageclub.ai, 17 October 2025]
A couple of weeks ago, I was walking to the shops when I slipped and fell on a patch of ice. I got up immediately and was absolutely fine, though of course, rather embarrassed! Later, when telling a friend about my accident, I said I had fallen ‘in a heap’, to convey how heavily I had fallen, the whole of my body landing on the ground. I started thinking about this phrase and all the other ways we talk about falling and thought I’d share my thoughts with you. Continue reading “Stumbling and tumbling (The language of falling)”→
potato bednoun [C] UK /pəˈteɪ.təʊ ˌbed/ US /pəˈteɪ.t̬oʊ ˌbed/ a sleep trend that involves stuffing a fitted sheet with pillows, blankets, duvets etc. to make a soft padded surface to sleep on
If your TikTok feed has recently been filled with pillow-packed beds and people curling up into homemade cocoons, you’re not alone. Enter the TikTok “potato bed”: a comfort-led trend built around the idea of feeling wrapped, supported and deeply snug. As temperatures drop and cosy cravings rise, it’s easy to see the appeal. [realsimple.com, 30 January 2026]
revenge bedtime procrastinationnoun [U] UK /rɪˌvendʒ ˈbed.taɪm prəˌkræs.tɪˌneɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /rɪˌvendʒ ˈbed.taɪm proʊˌkræs.tɪˌneɪ.ʃᵊn/ the act of staying up late to enjoy leisure time you did not have during the day, even when it means you will not get enough sleep
Have you ever stayed up late doom-scrolling, binge-watching, playing video games or just doing nothing, knowing full well you’ll pay for it tomorrow? Of course, you have. You’re not lazy. You’re taking revenge. It’s known as “revenge bedtime procrastination,” and it leads to sleep deprivation that negatively impacts next day’s engagement and productivity at work. It’s not the same as insomnia, because you choose to stay up late, even when tired. It’s more of a psychological habit where you delay sleep to reclaim personal time you feel you lost during the workday. [forbes.com, 24 April 2025]
bedtime stackingnoun [U]
/ˈbed.taɪm ˌstækɪŋ/ a trend that involves going to bed early and having a number of items such as books, a laptop, food and drink items, and skincare products near the bed so that you can carry out various activities before you go to sleep without having to get up again
A new TikTok trend called bedtime stacking is going viral among Gen Z who are transforming their beds into all-in-one spaces for relaxation, productivity and self-care. The idea is simple: go to bed early and complete as many relaxing or productive activities as possible without leaving that spot. Pham described it as doing everything from one place in a mindful way. It turns downtime into a carefully curated ritual. [news18.com, 5 March 2026]
