Today’s post is the latest in a thread devoted to describing people’s characters. In the previous two posts, we looked at ways of talking about people who are hard-working, ambitious, and lazy, among other traits. As usual, we start on a positive note, looking at words and phrases that describe people who are relaxed.
Continue reading “Laid-back and sunny (Describing character, part 3)”
long covid noun [U]
UK /ˈlɒŋ.kəʊvɪd/ US /ˈlɑːŋ.koʊvɪd/
a condition in which people who have had the covid-19 virus continue to have symptoms and feel unwell for a long time
“Long covid” is a term being used to describe illness in people who have either recovered from covid-19 but still report lasting effects of the infection or have had the usual symptoms for far longer than would be expected.
[bmj.com, 14 July 2020]
maskne noun [U]
/ˈmæsk.ni/
acne caused or made worse by wearing a mask
While maskne might be new to many of us, it didn’t originate out of nowhere. “It has always been an issue in professions where you have to wear a mask regularly,” says dermatologist, Amy Kassouf, MD. “But now that the general public has to wear masks, the incidence of it has certainly increased.”
[health.clevelandclinic.org, 13 July 2020]
Covid toe noun [U]
UK /ˌkəʊvɪd.ˈtəʊ/ US /ˌkoʊvɪd.ˈtoʊ/
a rash or red swelling on the toes, thought to be a symptom of the covid-19 virus
In May, the term “Covid toe” was increasingly discussed as a possible symptom of the coronavirus. The condition, which involves chilblain-like lesions appearing on the feet, is one of several skin conditions currently being investigated as potential signs of Covid-19.
[independent.co.uk, 15 July 2020]
by Liz Walter
One of our readers recently asked for a post on collocations relating to the world of work. Well, she’s lucky because she’s getting two of them! This first one focuses on starting and leaving jobs.
Continue reading “Applying for a job or handing in your notice: collocations for work (1)”
astrotourism noun [U]
UK /ˌæs.trəʊ.ˈtʊə.rɪ.zᵊm/ US /ˌæs.troʊ.ˈtʊr.ɪ.zᵊm/
travelling to places to look at the stars or to see other events related to outer space, such as eclipses, rocket launches, etc.
Dark Skies, which claims to be the world’s first guide to “astrotourism”, is designed to help you to see the night sky in a new light. It takes you on a night-time journey to 35 dark-sky sites and national parks, and provides practical information on how to witness the next decade’s solar eclipses.
[The Times, 23 November 2019]
heritage travel noun [U]
UK /ˈher.ɪ.tɪdʒ.træv.ᵊl/ US /ˈher.ɪ.t̬ɪdʒ.træv.ᵊl/
travelling to places where your ancestors lived to learn more about their lives
In 2019, Airbnb partnered with 23andMe to give heritage travel recommendations to its customers. When 23andMe users get their DNA results, they also receive suggestions from Airbnb for rentals and experiences in their ancestral locations. Airbnb also has pages on its website dedicated to heritage travel.
[breaktheicemedia.com, 26 February 2020]
philantourism noun [U]
UK /ˌfɪl.ən.ˈtʊə.rɪ.zᵊm/ US /ˌfɪl.æn.ˈtʊr.ɪ.zᵊm/
going on holiday to places where the tourist industry needs support
“Philantourism” is all about travel as a force for good… it’s a natural evolution of voluntourism, but less of a commitment; you don’t need to do anything after you arrive, other than enjoy the culture, buy local and put your spending money into the tourism economy.
[townandcountrymag.com, 17 June 2020]
With this post, we continue the ‘describing people’ thread, looking at adjectives that we use to describe people’s characters. Today, we focus on a set of near-synonyms for the adjective ‘kind’.
Continue reading “Kind-hearted or ruthless? (Describing character, Part 2)”
quaranteam noun [C]
UK /ˈkwɒr.ᵊn.tiːm/ US /ˈkwɔːr.ᵊn.tiːm/
a group of people who go into quarantine together
Quaranteams, therefore, are not simply a convenient idea because they let people see their friends and family. Isolation poses serious health risks – both physically and mentally – that social bubbles can help alleviate while improving social well-being and quality of life.
[theconversation.com, 17 June 2020]
lockstalgia noun [U]
UK /lɒk.ˈstæl.dʒə/ US /lɑːk.ˈstæl.dʒə/
a feeling of nostalgia for the lockdown period of the covid-19 pandemic
Above all, just as you may have entered lockdown with purpose, exit it with purpose too. If you do not, then you may start having feelings of “lockstalgia”, and start regretting that you did not keep doing the things that you not only found more efficient but preferred and actually enjoyed.
[citywire.co.uk, 2 July 2020]
twindemic noun [C]
/twɪn.ˈdem.ɪk/
a widespread outbreak of both flu and covid-19 at the same time
As public health officials look to fall and winter, the specter of a new surge of Covid-19 gives them chills. But there is a scenario they dread even more: a severe flu season, resulting in a “twindemic.” … The concern about a twindemic is so great that officials around the world are pushing the flu shot even before it becomes available in clinics and doctors’ offices.
[www.nytimes, 16 August 2020]
by Liz Walter
I was writing some learning materials on the topic of communication the other day, when I noticed how many common phrases include the word ‘say’. This post looks at some of the most useful of them.
Continue reading “It goes without saying: phrases with ‘say’”
dalgona coffee noun [C, U]
UK /dæl.ˌgəʊnə.ˈkɒf.i/ US /dæl.ˌgoʊnə.ˈkɑːf.i/
a drink made from instant coffee, sugar and hot water whipped together until thick and creamy and served over hot or cold milk
I fiddled with a number of approaches to dalgona coffee. I tried using fresh-brewed espresso, but it doesn’t froth sufficiently even when I added heavy cream and extra sugar to the mixture. (I later learned there’s something to the science of instant coffee that helps generate the necessary air bubbles.)
[spokesman.com, 4 May 2020]
bluicing noun [U]
/ˈbluː.sɪŋ/
the process of extracting the juice out of fruit or vegetables then mixing it with other ingredients in a blender to make a smoothie or similar drink
Then, along came the “bluicing” trend, the savior to many of my healthy eating demons. Bluicing is the act of extracting freshly made juice straight into a blender in order to make the most delicious and fresh slushies, smoothies and more. With this multi-functional wellness hack, you can skip the milk-based addition to your smoothies and use juice as the binder for all your ingredients.
[newbeauty.com, 6 February 2020]
walktail noun [C]
UK /ˈwɒk.teɪl/ US /ˈwɑːk.teɪl/
a cocktail that you drink while you walk
For those on a budget, the walktail can just as easily be made at home. Kummer also added that it offers an additional outlet for of-age adults to socialize while maintaining a safe distance. “It’s another way of meeting your neighbors, keeping social distance, and having a drink,” he said.
[wgbh.org, 22 May 2020]
We often describe the characters of people that we know. Sometimes we say something complimentary (= positive) about a person and at other times, we’re more critical (= negative). Very often, we mention a particular aspect of someone’s character, perhaps in relation to something that has happened. As this topic has so much useful vocabulary, this is the first post of a thread on this blog.
Continue reading “Driven or bone idle? (Describing people’s characters, Part 1)”
crisis beard noun [C]
UK /ˌkraɪ.sɪs.ˈbɪəd/ US /ˌkraɪ.sɪs.ˈbɪrd/
a beard grown by a man who is undergoing a difficult or stressful situation
When is a beard just a beard – and when is it a “crisis beard”? US website Vox coined the phrase to define the moment when a man of a certain age has a moment of existential crisis, downs tools and ditches the razor.
[www.guardian.com, 6 February 2020]
skin hunger noun [U]
UK /ˌskɪn.ˈhʌŋ.gəʳ/ US /ˌskɪn.ˈhʌŋ.gɚ/
the basic human need to be touched
For many people, these past few months in lockdown might be the longest they have ever gone without physical contact with a friend. In our new Hidden Value series, we explore the effect “skin hunger” is having on our wellbeing.
[www.bbc.com/future, 7 July 2020]
lockdown tache noun [C]
UK /ˌlɒk.daʊn.ˈtæʃ/ US /ˌlɑːk.daʊn.ˈtæʃ/
a moustache that its wearer has allowed to grow during lockdown
Ever the disciple of the zeitgeist, Harry Styles has joined the long line of celebrities who have grown a moustache during the coronavirus pandemic. The “lockdown tache” has been seen on a wide variety of famous top lips including Armie Hammer, Tyler, the Creator, Dele Alli and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
[theguardian.com, 24 July 2020]
Be bright, be ready
