New words – 12 March 2018

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coffin cubicle noun [C]
UK /ˈkɒf.ɪn kjuː.bɪ.kᵊl/ US /ˈkɑː.fɪn kjuː.bɪ.kᵊl/
a very small living space for one person made from an apartment that has been subdivided into units

The cost of living in a coffin cubicle? Over half of their monthly income. Few have their own bathroom facilities and virtually none have any sanitary space for cooking, washing or eating. Facilities are shared or, worse still, kitchens share space with bathrooms.
[www.theclever.com, 9 October 2017]

broken-heart syndrome noun [U]
UK /ˈbrəʊ.kᵊnˈhɑːt ˈsɪn.drəʊm/ US /ˈbroʊ.kᵊnˈhɑːt ˈsɪn.droʊm/
a temporary medical condition which affects the heart and is usually caused by a stressful or upsetting situation

Once medications stabilised Simpson, the physicians talked to her about the stress in her life, and they told her about broken-heart syndrome. It “made complete sense,” Simpson said. She was sent home after two days, and though she still takes two heart medications, she is doing fine.
[www.independent.co.uk, 20 October 2017]

death cleaning noun [U]
/ˈdeθ kliː.nɪŋ/
the practice of throwing away things you don’t need as you get older, so that after your death your friends or family do not have to deal with a large number of possessions you have left behind

Magnusson says people should start thinking about death cleaning as soon as they’re old enough to start thinking about their own mortality. “Don’t collect things you don’t want,” she says. “One day when you’re not around anymore, your family would have to take care of all that stuff, and I don’t think that’s fair.”
[Time, 17 October 2017]

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