Listen to the author reading this blog post:
The English language contains a lot of idioms and phrases on the theme of arguing. This post looks at some of the most useful ones. I hope you find it interesting. Continue reading “Crossing swords and sparks flying (Idioms about arguing)”
rage applying noun [U]
/ˈreɪdʒ əˌplaɪ.ɪŋ/
the activity of impulsively applying for several new jobs only because your present job is currently making you unhappy or angry
What can you do instead of rage applying? Spencer says that instead of soothing the panic and anger you’re feeling, rage applying can actually build on that negativity and make you feel even more burnt out. She recommends slowing down and turning inward instead of submitting applications in rapid-fire bursts of anger.
[themuse.com, 6 February 2023]
quiet thriving noun [U]
/ˌkwaɪ.ət ˈθraɪ.vɪŋ/
the activity of making small changes to the way you work to help you feel happier and more fulfilled in your job
If you’re frustrated at work — and who isn’t some of the time — quiet quitting, where you essentially disengage and do the bare minimum, is not the only answer. You can also try “quiet thriving,” which involves taking specific actions and making mental shifts that help you to feel more engaged on the job.
[washingtonpost.com, 14 December 2022]
hustle culture noun [C usually singular]
UK /ˈhʌs.əl ˌkʌl.tʃəʳ/ US /ˈhʌs.əl ˌkʌl.tʃɚ/
the idea that work must be the the most important thing in your life and that working long hours and not taking time off is the only way to achieve success
The rise of hustle culture in recent years was met almost as swiftly with a backlash. Promoters of hustle culture, frequently passionate and engaging, wrote and spoke breathlessly about grinding and hard work … Hustle culture puts work at the center of life. Long working hours are praised and glorified. Time off is seen as laziness. If you are not hustling, you are failing.
[forbes.com, 29 April 2022]
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by Liz Walter
The word ‘important’ is extremely common and is sometimes overused by learners of English. There are many possible alternatives – so many in fact, that this is the first of two posts on the topic. This one looks at general words, words meaning ‘extremely important’ and words that carry the sense of something being necessary. Continue reading “A matter of life and death: Talking about importance (1)”
breadflation noun [U]
/bredˈfleɪ.ʃᵊn/
a continuous increase in the price of bread
While prices are going up just about everywhere, a few items tend to stand out more than others. Enter “breadflation”. The average per-pound price of white bread in the U.S. has surged more than 25% since the pandemic began. And premium loaves of bread are selling for as much as $10.
[hits961.iheart.com, 22 July 2022]
nearshoring noun [U]
UK /ˈnɪə.ʃɔː.rɪŋ/ US /ˈnɪr.ʃɔːr.ɪŋ/
the practice of operating a business or part of a business in a nearby country, usually because this involves paying less tax or other costs but is still close enough to be convenient
A very similar process to offshoring, nearshoring involves employing teams in neighboring countries. These are usually territories within three time zones of your home country. For example, a Central European company that seeks cheaper technical skills from Eastern Europe … Nearshoring is seen as the middle ground between offshoring and onshoring. You can benefit from reduced costs for skilled workers while avoiding the communication issues that come with offshoring.
[futureofsourcing.com, 17 December 2022]
recommerce noun [U]
UK /ˌriːˈkɒm.ɜːs/ US /ˌriːˈkɑː.mɝːs/
the practice of buying and selling used goods online, usually on websites created for this purpose
Because recommerce revolves around buying and purchasing second-hand products, it leaves a positive impact on the environment. Now more than ever, consumers are buying more products but keeping them for a shorter amount of time, which causes concern for an increasing amount of discarded textiles in landfills each year. The recommerce space helps avoid this by encouraging the recycling of clothing and other products to consumers.
[whiplash.com, 20 October 2022]
Listen to the author reading this post:
Today’s offering is Part 2 of a post looking at the language of large numbers or amounts of things. Part 1 focused on adjectives and verbs, so this post looks at nouns and phrases in this area. Continue reading “No shortage of phrases (The language of large amounts or numbers, Part 2)”
resilience hub noun [C]
/rɪˈzɪl.jəns ˌhʌb/
a place in a city where someone can go during a heatwave to access air conditioning, get water, use the internet etc.
Cities around the world are adopting various measures to deal with the threat of heatwaves, which are increasing in frequency and severity, and put old and infirm people at particular risk. Resilience hubs are designated buildings—or, in some cases, pods made from shipping containers—within a community that provide air-conditioned places of refuge with drinking water, internet access and phone-charging facilities.
[economist.com, 14 November 2022]
doughnut city noun [C]
UK /ˈdəʊ.nʌt ˌsɪt.i/ US /ˈdoʊ.nʌt ˌsɪt̬.i/
a city where most people live in the outskirts and the city centre does not have many amenities such as shops, restaurants etc
When the proportion of teleworking becomes sufficiently large, our gentrified city turns into a doughnut city, as skilled workers abandon their central homes in search of more affordable suburban options. The unskilled workers, still doing all work onsite, relocate to the central neighbourhoods.
[cepr.org, 6 December 2022]
zoom town noun [C]
/ˈzuːm ˌtaʊn/
a town in which a large number of residents work remotely
The term “zoom town” is a play on the old term boomtown, which referred to towns and cities that experienced large growth due to oil discovery. The “zoom” in zoom town refers to the virtual conferencing software, Zoom, which many remote workers use. So instead of oil, zoom towns are communities growing due to increased remote work opportunities.
[rocketmortgage.com, 23 November 2022]
Listen to the author reading this blog post:
by Liz Walter
There are an extraordinary number of phrases containing the word ‘back’, so today’s post will pick out some of the most useful ones, all of which use ‘back’ in the sense of a part of the body. Continue reading “Watch your back! Idioms with the word ‘back’”
social omnivore noun [C]
UK /ˌsəʊ.ʃəl ˈɒm.nɪ.vɔːʳ/ US /ˌsoʊ.ʃəl ˈɑːm.nɪ.vɔːr/
a person who never eats meat at home but sometimes eats it when in a restaurant or at someone else’s house
Levy is part of a growing number of people who seek a middle ground. They’re social omnivores—vegetarian at home but sometimes partake in meat when out with friends and family. It’s different from following vague flexitarian or reducetarian principles, which both eschew clear-cut rules in favor of generally prioritizing plants over animals. Social omnivores, on the other hand, have one very clear boundary: They don’t buy or cook meat at home.
[bonappetit.com, 4 January 2023]
sustainatarian noun [C]
UK /səˌsteɪn.ɪˈteə.ri.ən/ US /səˌsteɪn.əˈter.i.ən/
a person who only eats food that has been produced in a way that causes little or no damage to the environment, and usually very little meat or fish
Sustainatarians orient their diet towards reducing food waste as well as reducing consumption of animal products, according to Vox. Sustainatarians might eat homegrown vegetables, or even hunt overpopulated animals for food using humane and sustainable methods rather than buy factory-farmed meat from the grocery store.
[tastingtable.com, 2 February 2023]
regenivore noun [C]
UK /ˌrɪˈdʒen.ɪ.vɔːʳ/ US /ˌrɪˈdʒen.ə.vɔːr/
a person who tries to actively stop or reverse the damage being done to the environment through the foods they choose to buy and eat
In addition to environmental concerns, regenivores take a big-picture view of the landscapes where food is grown, how livestock is raised, and how the people who produce and harvest food are treated … And when you consider the many threats facing planet earth, it’s easy to see why regenivores are growing in number.
[thedailymeal.com, 28 December 2022]
Today, I’m looking at the language we use to describe large amounts or numbers of things. Of course, words that mean ‘very large’ such as huge and massive, are often used in this way, but for the purposes of this post, I’ll focus on words and phrases which refer specifically to large amounts and numbers. It’s a very rich area of the language so the post will be in two parts. Continue reading “Teeming with and abundant (The language of large amounts and numbers, Part 1)”
crypto winter noun [C]
UK /ˈkrɪp.təʊ ˌwɪn.təʳ / US /ˈkrɪp.toʊ ˌwɪn.t̬ɚ/
a situation when the price of cryptocurrency falls and remains very low for a long period of time
When will the crypto winter end? No one can say for sure, but given the current economic trajectory and recent string of bankruptcies, experts don’t think it’ll end anytime soon. We’ll be here until at least mid-2023 …That said, there are similarities between this crypto winter and prior ones that point to 2024 as the next time this market might boost back up.
[time.com, 2 December 2022]
bossware noun [U]
UK /ˈbɒs.weəʳ / US /ˈbɑːs.wer/
a type of software that employers can use to monitor what their employees are doing on their computers
Can a company really use computer monitoring tools – known as “bossware” to critics – to tell if you’re productive at work? Or if you’re about to run away to a competitor with proprietary knowledge? Or even, simply, if you’re happy? Many companies in the US and Europe now appear – controversially – to want to try, spurred on by the enormous shifts in working habits during the pandemic, in which countless office jobs moved home.
[theguardian.com, 27 April 2022]
cyber ambassador noun [C]
UK /ˌsaɪ.bər æmˈbæs.ə.dəʳ / US /ˌsaɪ.bɚ æmˈbæs.ə.dɚ/
a person who helps other people use the internet safely and protect themselves and their computer information against crime or attacks carried out online
Rajeshwari is one among thousands of students from the south Indian state of Telangana who are being trained to become “cyber ambassadors” in the region. Over 3,000 students graduated from the first class of cyber ambassadors last year. And following the success of the first batch, the Telangana government—which is perhaps the first state in India to have come up with a novel concept like this—has started the second batch of the course with almost 10,000 students.
[wired.com, 13 January 2023]