Listen to the author reading this blog post:
I recently wrote a post on expressions that we use to convey that there is enough of something. Today I’m looking at the opposite – the way we talk about too little or too few of something. Continue reading “Scarce, scant and sparse (Ways of saying ‘not enough’)”
bucket budgeting noun [U]
/ˈbʌk.ɪt ˌbʌdʒ.ɪtɪŋ/
a way of organizing your finances that involves saving money in a different bank account for each type of bill or purchase
“Bucket budgeting”, sometimes referred to as “bucketing”, is basically a modern version of “envelope budgeting”. The key difference between the two is that with bucket budgeting, instead of setting aside cash in envelopes for regular spending, you set up targeted savings accounts for various savings goals.
[gulfnews.com, 26 January 2022]
bougie broke adjective
UK /ˌbuː.ʒi ˈbrəʊk/ US /ˌbuː.ʒi ˈbroʊk/
not having as much money as you want, but still able to buy and do relatively expensive things (see bougie)
A new guide on embracing a “bougie broke” lifestyle — a personal finance trend crafted as a humorous yet critical response to the cost of living crisis — has stirred a cocktail of amusement and ridicule online. The “bougie broke” trend originated from TikTok, where users bemoaned about how broke they were while pursuing a luxury lifestyle.
[msn.com, 27 July 2023]
financial cleanse noun [C]
/faɪˌnæn.ʃəl ˈklenz/
a detailed examination of your finances to identify ways of saving money and spending less
Self-styled financial influencers are giving Gen Zers some much-needed advice, touting a month-long “financial cleanse” as the ultimate way to whittle down spending in 2023. Seema Sheth, who coined the “30-day financial cleanse,” boasts her method as a way to cut down on unnecessary costs and ensure more money in your pockets this year.
[nypost.com, 3 January 2023]
Listen to the author reading this blog post:
by Liz Walter
Today’s post looks at ways of talking about the speed at which people, vehicles, or other things move. Many of the items in this post can also be used figuratively, for instance to describe the speed of change or progress. Continue reading “Flat out or at a snail’s pace? Talking about speed”
haycation noun [C]
/heɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
a holiday spent on a farm, during which the guests sometimes help out with the farm work
Check out of the city life for a few days and check into a stay that’s raw, real, and rural. A haycation on a family-owned farm is good for the soul and a fast track to connecting with a more grounded way of life. Pack the car, pop on some hard-wearing denim, and spend a few nights at any one of these regional stays.
[www.australiasgoldenoutback.com, 15 February 2023]
trip lit noun [U]
/ˈtrɪp ˌlɪt/
a type of book whose story takes place in the city or country you are going to for your holiday
This summer, why not take a break with the most escapist “new” book trend – let’s call it “trip lit”. “Trip lit” per se is not a new concept for us, but nevertheless we are delighted to see that the idea of travelling by book is becoming much more mainstream and the pleasures of walking into new environments and wonderful settings are being appreciated.
[tripfiction.com, 4 August 2023]
gamma destination noun [C]
/ˌgæm.ə ˌdes.təˈneɪ.ʃᵊn/
a place to go on holiday that very few other people in the world go to
Over the next five years, high-net-worth explorers will increasingly be avoiding over-crowded “alpha destinations”. Even “beta destinations” such as Rwanda and Antarctica will start to become overly busy at certain times of year. As luxury travellers dream of even more extreme adventures, there is a greater opportunity to devise trips to emerging gamma destinations that offer an array of entirely new experiences.
[globetrender.com, 27 November 2022]
Listen to the author reading this blog post:
One of various things that we like to do on this blog is consider the many different ways we express the same thing in English. (Of course, we are rarely expressing exactly the same thing and it’s the differences – sometimes very subtle – that make language interesting.) In today’s post, I’m looking at words and phrases we use to convey the basic meaning of ‘enough’. Continue reading “Ample and adequate (Other ways of saying ‘enough’)”
grandpa chic noun [U]
/ˈgræn.pɑː ˌʃiːk/
a way of decorating and furnishing your home that uses dark colours, a typically masculine style and old, good-quality furniture
The nature of grandpa chic? “It’s essentially a blend of vintage nostalgia and contemporary design,” explains interior designer Artem Kropovinsky. “It celebrates the loved, and the time-tested, infusing spaces with a warm sense of history and comfort.”
[homesandgardens.com, 12 July 2023]
minimaluxe noun [U]
UK /ˈmɪn.ɪ.mə.lʌks/ US /ˈmɪn.ə.mə.lʌks/
the trend of using a small number of high-quality items in simple shapes and neutral colours to create a spacious, elegant look in your home
Minimaluxe is the brand new design trend that will define this decade, making your home more elevated and you more calm. As an interior design trend, minimaluxe has been taking shape since 2020 and has now become a fully formed aesthetic era. It’s about paring back the visual clutter in order to celebrate the things that make you feel wonderful.
[livingetc.com, 4 May 2023]
clustering noun [U]
/ˈklʌs.tə.rɪŋ/
the trend of displaying several small objects in a group as a way of decorating a room
“Clustering is an art form,” she said. “And it’s hard to pull off because if you do it wrong, it can veer toward [being] messy. It’s the art of taking your things and putting them on display in little corners of your apartment.”
[apartmenttherapy.com, 14 February 2023]
Listen to the author reading this blog post:
by Liz Walter
This post is one of an occasional series on alternatives for very common words (see, for example, my post on different ways of saying ‘get’). Continue reading “I’d give my right arm for it: ways of saying ‘want’”
soft hiking noun [U]
UK /ˌsɒft ˈhaɪ.kɪŋ/ US /ˌsɑːft ˈhaɪ.kɪŋ/
the activity of going for long walks in the countryside without any pressure to walk fast, climb hills or cover a certain distance
Soft hiking is the viral exercise trend that’s accessible to all fitness levels. You don’t have to be concerned about distance, elevation or reaching a summit. In short, soft hiking is simply another way to get outside and explore the great outdoors, get some steps in and soak up all that Mother Nature has to offer without pushing yourself in a way that feels gruelling.
[glamourmagazine.co.uk, 20 April 2023]
Hot Girl Walk noun [C]
UK /ˌhɒt gɜːl ˈwɔːk/ US /ˌhɑːt gɝːl ˈwɑːk/
a 4-mile (6.4 km) brisk walk outdoors during which you think about your goals and what you’re grateful for
The “Hot Girl Walk,” a fitness and lifestyle trend which unsurprisingly originated on TikTok, might appear almost identical to traditional walking at first glance. Hot-Girl Walkers are simply encouraged to get up, get out, and go for a long walk alone or with workout buddies, for the purposes of mental and physical health.
[thehill.com, 9 October 2022]
speed hiking noun [U]
/ˈspiːd ˌhaɪ.kɪŋ/
a physical exercise that involves going for long walks in the countryside at a fast pace and usually over hilly terrain
Currently sweeping TikTok with bloggers posting scenic snapshots of their adventures, the aim of speed hiking is to cover as much terrain as possible in the fastest time, at a turbo-charged pace between hiking and trail running.
[womensfitness.co.uk, 16 May 2023]
Listen to the author reading this blog post:
Today’s post is the latest in my ‘newspaper idioms and phrases’ series. The aim of this series is to keep you supplied with up-to-date, frequent English idioms. As with previous ‘newspaper idioms’ posts, these expressions all come from a range of national newspapers published on the same day. Continue reading “A flash in the pan (Newspaper idioms)”
global boiling noun [U]
UK /ˌgləʊ.bəl ˈbɔɪ.lɪŋ/ US /ˌgloʊ.bəl ˈbɔɪ.lɪŋ/
a very fast and sharp increase in world temperatures caused by gases such as carbon dioxide that are collecting in the air around the earth and stopping heat escaping into space
The era of global warming has ended and “the era of global boiling has arrived”, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, has said after scientists confirmed July was on track to be the world’s hottest month on record.
[theguardian.com, 27 July 2023]
heat storm noun [C]
UK /ˈhiːt ˌstɔːm/ US /ˈhiːt ˌstɔːrm/
a period of extremely hot weather and high humidity that lasts several days
Europe is preparing for a “severe heat storm” with a second heatwave pushing temperatures even higher in the coming days and triggering warnings for tourists planning to travel for the school holidays. The new “heat storm” is being triggered by an anticyclone – a large-scale circulation of winds around an area of high atmospheric pressure – pushing north.
[telegraph.co.uk, 16 July 2023]
cooling centre noun [C]
UK /ˈkuː.lɪŋ ˌsen.təʳ/ US /ˈkuː.lɪŋ ˌsen.t̬ɚ/
a place such as a library, museum or other public building where someone can go to cool down in periods of severe hot weather, run as a public service and providing air conditioning, cold water and other facilities
Some community centres and most public library branches have air-conditioned spaces. These facilities become cooling centres when Environment Canada issues a heat warning or declares an extreme heat emergency. You don’t need to register, pay, or show identification to visit a cooling centre.
[vancouver.ca/home-property-development, 28 July 2023]