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This post is for anyone who feels they use the word ‘tired’ too much and is looking for some more interesting and emphatic alternatives. As usual, it will include both single words and phrases. Continue reading “Dog-tired (Ways of saying ‘tired’)”
Norwegian life-cleaning noun [U]
UK /nɔːˌwiː.dʒən ˈlaɪf ˌkliː.nɪŋ/ US /nɔːrˌwiː.dʒən ˈlaɪf ˌkliː.nɪŋ/
the practice of gradually reducing your possessions as you get older to make your life more comfortable and make it easier for your family later
The aim of Norwegian life-cleaning is to take care of your home’s decluttering before you reach the end of your life, so you can enjoy a streamlined space for years to come, and prevent burdening your loved ones with decluttering your belongings later. However, it doesn’t matter if you’re young or old – Norwegian life-cleaning is really suitable for any person, in any phase of life.
[homesandgardens.com, 23 April 2025]
house burping noun [U]
UK /ˈhaʊs ˌbɜːpɪŋ/ US /ˈhaʊs ˌbɝːpɪŋ/
the practice of opening windows and doors for a short time, even in cold weather, to let fresh air in
House burping, a new home health trend, is the term for opening windows for 10 to 15 minutes to let fresh air in, even during the coldest months of the year. The trend is currently making rounds on TikTok, with one video shared earlier this month showing a woman opening the front door of her home, reminding people to “burp” their houses for five to 10 minutes a day.
[independent.co.uk, 23 January 2026]
zero-bills home noun [C]
UK /ˌzɪə.rəʊ.bɪlz ˈhəʊm/ US /ˌzɪr.oʊ.bɪlz ˈhoʊm/
a home that has been fitted with insulation, solar panels etc. so that it produces as much energy as it consumes and the householder does not receive any gas or electricity bills
Many people in the UK are taking advantage of private schemes to reduce their energy bills, buying “zero-bills homes” not only to reduce their energy bills, but remove them entirely … The switch to a zero-bills home doesn’t necessarily come cheap, though. Depending on the size of the houses, and if any of the accessories are pre-installed, the average cost of technology and installation can range from £5,000 to £20,000.
[theweek.com, 21 January 2026]
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By Liz Walter
Today’s post looks at some of the phrases we use when bad things happen to people. It appears that we must be very judgmental, since there are many more phrases for saying that a person deserves what happened to them than there are for being sympathetic! Continue reading “It’s your own fault! Talking about deserving bad things.”
treatonomics noun [U]
UK /ˌtriːtəˈnɒm.ɪks/ US /ˌtriːtəˈnɑː.mɪks/
an economic trend where people buy small, inexpensive treats during times when living costs are high and they cannot afford bigger purchases
Maybe it’s that fancy latte, a piece of dark chocolate, or a $5 snack you didn’t need but wanted. That little indulgence feels like a reward, a reset, and a reminder that joy can come in small doses. That’s treatonomics. “Treatonomics” is a consumer trend and marketing term for spending on small, affordable luxuries or experiences to gain a mood boost and combat economic anxiety.
[sunsplashmediagroup.com, 27 September 2025]
exfluencer noun [C]
UK /ˈeks.flu.ən.səʳ/ US /ˈeks.flu.ən.sɚ/
a former influencer who has stopped creating online content and promoting products on social media, and now lives a more private life
The first half of the 2020s brought an influx of people making a living recording their lives as social media influencers, but the initial descent of the decade will be distinguished by a new phenomenon: the exfluencer. The constant grind of that life has already led some prominent people to hang up their hats (or tripods) for greener pastures.
[nytimes.com, 31 December 2025]
shoppertainment noun [U]
UK /ˌʃɒp.ə.ˈteɪn.mənt/ US /ˌʃɑː.pɚˈteɪn.mənt/
a marketing approach that combines activities such as livestreams and interactive content with the process of selling products, to make shopping a fun and enjoyable experience for the consumer
Several brands are already making shoppertainment a reality. Sephora’s Virtual Artist app, for instance, allows customers to try on makeup virtually, making beauty shopping both personal and interactive. Lego’s in-store build stations engage children in creative play while their parents shop, making it a family-friendly experience.
[medium.com, 20 March 2025]
Listen to the author reading this blog post.
Today’s post looks at the various ways we talk about thinking, in the sense of using our brains to consider or understand something, or to solve a problem or plan something. Continue reading “Pondering, musing, and brooding (The language of thinking)”
fricy adjective
/ˈfraɪ.si/
having a taste that is both fruity and spicy
“Fricy” is 2026’s defining food trend, fusing fruity and spicy flavours in bold, new ways. Born out of a growing appetite for contrast-driven flavours, fricy food distinguishes itself by leaning into an intensified interplay of heat and sweetness, resulting in dishes that are sharper, more vibrant, and impossible to ignore compared to traditional spicy or fruity fare.
[oteats.outlooktraveller.com, 25 January 2026]
swangy adjective
/ˈswæŋ.i/
having a taste that is both sweet and tangy
Swangy foods will have chefs thinking outside the box, too, creating foods that are the best of both worlds. These two flavor profiles balance each other out, with tangy ingredients brightening sweet ingredients, and sweet ingredients mellowing out the sharpness of mouth-puckering notes.
[tastingtable.com, 17 January 2026]
spour adjective
UK /spaʊəʳ/ US /spaʊr/
having a taste that is both spicy and sour
The world of drinks is also moving in the same direction, adopting spicy and sour variations that reinterpret well-known classics. This has led to the creation of cocktails known as “spour,” where spicy and citrus flavors meet, and ingredients such as Tajín become a permanent fixture on the rims of glasses. The success of these flavors reflects a more curious public, less fearful of spice and increasingly attracted to immediate but layered taste experiences.
[reportergourmet.com, 8 January 2026]
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by Liz Walter
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the most visited painting in the world, is famous for its subject’s strange smile. That smile is often described as enigmatic, meaning that it is rather mysterious and it is impossible to guess what she is thinking. Today’s post looks at some other words and phrases to do with people hiding or showing their emotions. Continue reading “Poker faced or heart on your sleeve? Showing or hiding emotions.”
clip farming noun [U]
UK /ˈklɪp ˌfɑː.mɪŋ/ US /ˈklɪp ˌfɑːr.mɪŋ/
the act of deliberately doing or saying something shocking or dramatic in a video on social media with the aim of producing short videos that are then widely shared online
Clip farming is a debated tactic in the streaming world that is used as a growth hack for creators. At its core, clip farming is when a streamer does or says something intentionally outrageous, funny, or shocking on stream—just to get clipped and shared. It’s like clickbait, but live.
[streamlabs.com, 11 July 2025]
nuisance streamer noun [C]
UK /ˈnjuː.sᵊns ˌstriː.məʳ/ US /ˈnuː.sᵊns ˌstriː.mɚ/
a live streamer who deliberately annoys people or causes trouble in public or online in order to attract viewers and followers
The stance is growing increasingly common across East and Southeast Asia: When it comes to nuisance streamers — online personalities who livestream their travels, often leaning on transgressive behavior as a means of creating viral content — criminal behavior is being met not with slaps on the wrist or expedited deportation but with serious legal consequences.
[japantimes.co.jp, 27 December 2025]
dark social noun [U]
UK /ˌdɑːk ˈsəʊ.ʃəl/ US /ˌdɑːrk ˈsoʊ.ʃəl/
the sharing of content privately online rather than on public social media platforms, making it difficult to track where the content has come from
Public likes and comments are fading while private chats are exploding. This quiet migration has a name: dark social. Dark social isn’t as sinister as it sounds. It’s simply the collective term for private or semi-private channels where people pass links, screenshots, memes, and recommendations.
[thedigitalage.co.uk, 26 September 2025]
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The idioms and phrases in today’s post all come from a range of national newspapers published on the same day. I write a post like this every couple of months in order to provide you with a regular supply of frequent, contemporary English idioms. Continue reading “Flavour of the month (Newspaper idioms)”
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]