New words – 26 January 2026

On January 26, 2026January 27, 2026 By Cambridge WordsIn New wordsLeave a comment

FOBO noun [U]
UK /ˈfəʊ.bəʊ/ US /ˈfoʊ.boʊ/
abbreviation for “fear of becoming obsolete”: a worried feeling that you may lose your job because your role can be done by AI

Rapid AI advances present an alluring opportunity for businesses to boost productivity and efficiency. But while CEOs battle their FOMO and race to adopt the new technology, their employees are experiencing a different side of the AI revolution — FOBO, the fear of becoming obsolete. It refers to workers’ fears that the speed of artificial-intelligence development is outpacing the reskilling of employees, leaving them redundant in the workplace.
[businessinsider.com, 27 January 2025]

See also FOMO

vibe revenue noun [U]
UK /ˈvaɪb ˌrev.ᵊn.juː/ US /ˈvaɪb ˌrev.ə.nuː/
money or funding that an AI company is given because people are excited about the potential of AI, rather than because the company’s products are already successful

His concerns were mirrored by the CEO of Picsart, who highlighted that many AI startups are attracting substantial funding without generating significant revenue. He referred to this trend as companies being valued based on “vibe revenue”, a term describing speculative investment rather than solid sales figures.
[benzatine.com, 13 November 2025]

bragawatts noun [plural]
UK /ˈbræg.ə.wɒts/ US /ˈbræg.ə.wɑːts/
the practice of AI companies boasting about very large projects to create excitement and attract investment, even though many of these projects are never completed

Given the practical problems and enormous costs AI data centres face, is the whole movement really one big bubble? One speaker at a recent conference coined the term “bragawatts” to describe how the industry is talking up the scale of proposed AI sites. “The current trajectory is very difficult to believe. There has certainly been a lot of bragging going on. But investment has to deliver a return or the market will correct itself.”
[bbc.co.uk/news, 23 September 2025]

About new words

Child doing a gesture for asking a favour.

I need to ask you a favour: signalling what we are going to say

On January 21, 2026January 13, 2026 By Liz WalterIn Conversation, the English language6 Comments

Listen to the author reading this blog post.

by Liz Walter

When we want to speak to someone for a specific reason, we don’t usually begin immediately with the thing we want to say. Instead, we often use a phrase that will help the other person get some idea of what sort of conversation it is going to be. Continue reading “I need to ask you a favour: signalling what we are going to say” →

New words – 19 January 2026

On January 19, 2026January 19, 2026 By Cambridge WordsIn New words, the English language2 Comments

analogue bag noun [C]
UK /ˈæn.ə.lɒg ˌbæg/ US /ˈæn.ə.lɑːg ˌbæg/
a bag filled with activities such as knitting or books to help someone use their smartphone less in their free time

So-called analogue bags, filled with activities such as crosswords, knitting, novels and journals, have become the unexpected accessory of the season. They are being championed by millennials and gen Z as a way to reduce screen time – the idea is that the bag should contain the essentials needed to remain offline for as long as possible.
[theguardian.com, 9 January 2026]

Janalogue noun [C]
UK /ˈdʒæn.ə.lɒg/ US /ˈdʒæn.ə.lɑːg/
a campaign organized in the month of January that encourages people to spend less time using digital devices and more time on non-digital activities

Deloitte expects the next New Year’s resolution trend could be a digital detox, with Brits starting the year with an “analogue January” or “Janalogue” – a conscious disconnect from digital devices and apps. Of course, some resolutions may not endure, but “Janalogue” could well become an annual month of digital disconnection for UK consumers.
[advanced-television.com, 17 December 2025]

friction-maxxing noun [U]
/ˈfrɪk.ʃᵊn.ˌmæksɪŋ/
the practice of making everyday activities slightly less convenient to reduce reliance on digital devices and to discourage overuse

Paying with cash instead of a card. Using a flip-phone instead of a smartphone. Expressing your true opinion, even if it causes tension. Welcome to the new trend of friction-maxxing that’s catalyzing what it means to be human in 2026. Kathryn Jezer-Morton argues that in the face of technologies that sell us escapism at every turn, we need to build up tolerance for “inconvenience” and start friction-maxxing.
[cybernews.com, 7 January 2026]

About new words

Talking about death (Part 2)

On January 14, 2026January 13, 2026 By Kate WoodfordIn Conversation, Idioms, Synonyms, the English language12 Comments

Listen to the author reading this blog post.

by Kate Woodford

My first post on death and dying looked at softer, less direct ways of talking about this subject, for example saying that we ‘lose’ a person or that a person ‘passes away’ rather than saying they ‘die’. Today, I’m looking at idioms and phrases generally in this area, some of which are also gently euphemistic. Continue reading “Talking about death (Part 2)” →

New words – 12 January 2026

On January 12, 2026 By Cambridge WordsIn New words4 Comments

bio-baiting noun [U]
UK /ˈbaɪ.əʊ.beɪtɪŋ/ US /ˈbaɪ.oʊ.beɪtɪŋ/
writing an online dating profile that makes you seem much more interesting, attractive etc. than you really are

Like catfishing, bio-baiting involves a bit of deception – but this time it’s all about overselling your dating app bio in ways that don’t quite hold up in real life. A poll found that nearly 63 per cent admitted to feeling let down after meeting someone who didn’t live up to their carefully polished dating app profile. Ultimately, the best defence against bio-baiting is to move the conversation off the app and into real life quickly.
[indy100.com, 26 September 2025]

See also catfishing

chatfishing noun [U]
/ˈtʃæt.fɪʃ.ɪŋ/
using AI tools to write messages to other people on dating apps

It’s a well-worn adage of the Internet age: people often aren’t what they seem to be online. But until recently, you could at least be assured that they were people. Now, though, “chatfishing,” a new wave of online deception, is taking over dating apps. Instead of “catfishing”—using an entirely fake identity—people are using artificial intelligence to help them chat up prospective love interests and secure dates.
[scientificamerican.com, 22 October 2025]

grim-keeping noun [U]
/ˈgrɪm.kiːpɪŋ/
forming a relationship with someone based on disliking the same things

Grim-keeping flips the script on dating compatibility. Forget matching over favorite TV shows or whether you both like long walks on the beach. This trend is about uniting over the stuff you can’t stand. From universally annoying habits to oddly specific gripes, grim-keeping makes negativity the new love language.
[huffingtonpost.co.uk, 30 October 2025]

About new words

Ice-cold and freezing: words for describing things that are cold

On January 7, 2026December 11, 2025 By Liz WalterIn Synonyms, the English language, Vocabulary13 Comments

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By Liz Walter

In my last post I wrote about hot and warm temperatures. Today’s post looks at vocabulary for things that are colder, again with an emphasis on what each word or phrase can describe.

Something that is cool is quite cold. This is almost always a positive description, especially when it contrasts with something that is too hot:

There was a lovely cool breeze coming from the sea.

If we say that there is a chill – or more informally a nip – in the air, we mean that the weather is rather cold. A person who is very cold might describe themselves as being chilled to the bone. Chilly describes cold places, people or parts of the body, while nippy is used for the weather or the air but not usually people or parts of the body. Neither adjective is very emphatic:

There’s a real chill in the air this morning.

After two hours waiting at the bus stop, I was chilled to the bone.

I was feeling rather chilly.

It’s a bit nippy outside today.

There are several words or phrases for talking about very cold temperatures. A general and very common one is freezing or freezing cold. This can be used for objects, weather and people:

My feet are absolutely freezing!

It was a freezing cold day.

Something that is icy is either covered in ice or extremely cold. This adjective can be used for most things, as can the expressions ice-cold and as cold as ice, which both emphasize extreme coldness. Stone-cold tends to be used rather negatively for something that was once hot or which should be hot:

We shivered in the icy wind.

I’d love an ice-cold drink.

Her hands were as cold as ice.

By then, the soup was stone-cold.

We can say that a place or the weather is bitter or bitterly cold. These words are negative and imply that the cold is painful:

We tried to shelter from the bitter wind.

It was bitterly cold on the mountain.

In extremely cold climates, we may talk about sub-zero temperatures. Glacial and arctic are also emphatic adjectives for extremely low temperatures:

Parts of the country experienced sub-zero temperatures last night.

Glacial temperatures added to their problems.

The temperature in his room was positively arctic.

Liquids that are only slightly warm may be described as lukewarm or tepid. Both these words usually express disapproval and imply that the thing being described should be hotter:

The food was lukewarm.

The water in the bath was tepid.

I hope these temperature words are useful. Let me know in the comments if you can think of any more!

New words – 5 January 2026

On January 5, 2026December 18, 2025 By Cambridge WordsIn New words2 Comments

Caia Image / Collection Mix: Subjects / Getty

readaway noun [C]
/ˈriːd.ə.weɪ/
a short holiday where the main activity is reading and talking about books

Weekends away have had an intellectual upgrade, where small groups of friends are now heading off for the purpose of reading and discussing literature. The Unpack 2026 report, revealing the top travel trends for the year ahead, shows “readaways” – a weekend getaway focused on reading, relaxing and quality time, is the next big thing in travel.
[thepost.co.nz, 15 October 2025]

thrift tripping noun [U]
/ˈθrɪft ˌtrɪpɪŋ/
the act of planning a holiday around visiting vintage shops, flea markets etc. to buy second-hand clothes and other items

Google search data reveals demand for market tours increased 61% over the past year, whilst location-specific vintage shopping queries have exploded. The trend, dubbed “thrift tripping,” sees travellers specifically planning destinations around vintage shops, flea markets and thrift stores.
[globetrender.com, 10 September 2025]

salvaged stay noun [C]
/ˈsæl.vɪdʒd ˌsteɪ/
an old building that has been converted from its original purpose into a hotel

“Travellers are craving more than just a place to sleep; they want a story to tell,” explains Melanie Fish, spokesperson for Expedia Group. “Salvaged stays are the perfect blend of character, culture and comfort. This year alone I’ve stayed in an old post office, a prison and a warehouse – the past definitely has a future in hospitality.”
[countryliving.com, 21 October 2025]

About new words

Talking about death (Part 1)

On December 31, 2025December 18, 2025 By Kate WoodfordIn Synonyms, the English language, Vocabulary25 Comments

Listen to the author reading this blog post.

by Kate Woodford

The theme of today’s blog post may not be exactly cheerful, but you might just find it useful. The subject is death and dying. Whether we like it or not, it’s something that we all talk about at some point in our lives. Continue reading “Talking about death (Part 1)” →

New words – 29 December 2025

On December 29, 2025December 18, 2025 By Cambridge WordsIn New words5 Comments

frost-jacking noun [U]
UK /ˈfrɒstdʒæk.ɪŋ/ US /ˈfrɑːstdʒæk.ɪŋ/
the act of stealing a car that has been left unattended with the engine running to defrost it in very cold weather

Drivers have been issued a warning after three cars were stolen during a “frost-jacking” spree in Fife on Friday. The thefts occurred between 8am and 8.50am while the vehicles were left defrosting outside properties. Detective inspector Sammi Davidson said: “With temperatures expected to remain low I would urge residents not to leave their cars unattended as it only takes seconds for an opportunist to take the vehicle.”
[news.stv.tv, November 2025]

See also carjacking

ghost charging noun [U]
UK /ˈgəʊst ˌtʃɑː.dʒɪŋ/ US /ˈgoʊst ˌtʃɑːr.dʒɪŋ/
the act of using a charging bay for an electric vehicle as a parking space and not actually charging your car while you are parked there

Ghost charging is when an EV driver uses a dedicated charging bay simply to take a handy parking space. They park up and plug in when they don’t need to charge, to the annoyance of other EV drivers who do need to charge.
[www.petalite.io, 2 April 2025]

T-plate noun [C]
/ˈtiːpleɪt/
a square, white sign with a green letter T on it, attached to the back and the front of a vehicle that is being driven by a tourist in an area where road accidents are frequent

Tourists driving in the Highlands are being encouraged to display “T-plates” in the hope it will reduce accidents. The signs are intended to alert other road users that the driver might not be familiar with Scotland’s roads. It comes after Transport Scotland warned earlier this year that the number of crashes caused by “inexperience of driving on the left” had increased sharply.
[bbc.co.uk/news, 11 September 2025]

About new words

Red-hot and roasting: words for describing things that are hot.

On December 24, 2025December 18, 2025 By Liz WalterIn Synonyms, the English language, Vocabulary4 Comments

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By Liz Walter

There are a lot of words for talking about temperature in English. Many of them describe particular types of thing. For example, some adjectives can be used to describe the weather but not food or people. This post is the first of a pair, and looks at some common words for things that are hot or warm.

I’ll start with red-hot, which is an emphatic word for something that is extremely hot. We use this adjective for objects, often metal objects, and not usually for weather or food:

Don’t touch that saucepan – it’s red-hot!

We talk about blistering or scorching (hot) weather, but we don’t usually use these words to talk about how people feel when they experience it:

They worked all afternoon in the blistering heat.

It was a scorching hot day.

There are however several words that can refer to both hot weather and the way we feel in it. These include baking (hot), boiling (hot), roasting (hot) and sweltering:

Everyone on the train was baking, but we couldn’t turn the heaters off.

It’s boiling hot here in the summer.

There was no shade on the beach and we were roasting.

We were forced to walk miles in the sweltering heat.

Scalding is an emphatic word used for liquids and implies that they will hurt you if you touch them. On the other hand, piping (hot) usually describes food or drink and is a rather positive description:

She accidentally put her hand in the scalding water.

Make sure the food is piping hot before you eat it.

If someone is too hot because they are ill, we say they have a temperature/are running a temperature, and if they are very hot because of a fever, we might say that they are burning (up):

Tom was running a temperature and feeling very ill.

She was burning up in the night.

If something is warm, it is fairly hot but not very hot. This word usually describes a pleasant temperature. Two more positive words are toasty, which usually describes a person’s body or sometimes a place that is comfortably warm, and balmy, which describes warm weather:

Make sure you stay warm if you’re going out in the snow.

My thick coat kept me toasty.

It was a balmy afternoon and we sat outside.

If you have found these words useful, look out for my next post, which will look at some of the words that describe things that are cold, or only slightly warm.