an electric car parked outside a house, with a charging cable connecting the car to a device in the wall, illustrating the concept of V2H, or vehicle-to-home charging

New words – 27 November 2023

an electric car parked outside a house, with a charging cable connecting the car to a device in the wall, illustrating the concept of V2H, or vehicle-to-home charging
piranka / E+ / Getty

V2H noun [U]
/ˌviː.tuːˈeɪtʃ/
abbreviation for vehicle-to-home: a system that allows electric vehicles to transfer the energy stored in their batteries back into the electrical system of a home

The idea is that electric vehicles, when not in use, often have surplus energy stored in their batteries. Rather than letting this energy go to waste, V2H systems enable the vehicle’s stored energy to be fed back into the home’s power grid, powering household appliances and systems. With V2H, EV owners can potentially save on their electricity bills and make more efficient use of their renewable energy resources, while also providing a backup power source for their homes.
[electriccarguide.co.uk, 19 October 2023]

bidirectional charging noun [U]
UK /ˌbaɪ.daɪˈrek.ʃᵊn.ᵊl ˈtʃɑː.dʒɪŋ/ US /ˌbaɪ.dɪˈrek.ʃᵊn.ᵊl ˈtʃɑːr.dʒɪŋ/
a system that allows the electricity put into the battery of an electric vehicle to be transferred out of the vehicle and used to provide electrical power for something else

One of the most talked about features in the EV world works only when your car is parked: Bidirectional charging allows owners to turn their vehicles into four-wheeled batteries, sending power back to their homes, appliances and even to the utility grid. Currently, bidirectional charging is available in only a handful of cars. But its popularity is growing: GM announced that the technology will come standard in all its electric vehicles by model year 2026.
[cnet.com, 4 September 2023]

charge rage noun [U]
UK /ˈtʃɑːdʒ ˌreɪdʒ/ US /ˈtʃɑːrdʒ ˌreɪdʒ/
anger or violence between a driver who is charging their electric vehicle and other drivers who are waiting in a queue to do so

Electric vehicle owners furiously arguing with each other over charging points because there aren’t enough of them available are having to get up in the dead of night to power up their motors. Such is the “charge rage” that marshals are being brought in to police frustrated drivers at motorway service stations.
[dailymail.co.uk, 3 October 2023]

See also road rage

About new words

a young woman smiling and gesturing confidently at a young man who looks sceptical and disbelieving

I feel it in my bones: phrases connected with believing or disbelieving

Listen to the author reading this blog post:

a young woman smiling and gesturing confidently at a young man who looks sceptical and disbelieving
Westend61 / Getty Images

by Liz Walter

We all make judgments every day about what to believe and what not to believe, so it’s not surprising that there are several nice phrases to express this process.

If you have something on good authority, you have been given information about it by someone you trust:

I have it on good authority that she’s considering selling the property. Continue reading “I feel it in my bones: phrases connected with believing or disbelieving”

close-up of a person using a laptop with one hand and a smartphone with the other, with overlaid graphics of speech bubbles and a stylised robot suggesting the use of an online chatbot, used to illustrate the concept of conversational commerce

New words – 20 November 2023

close-up of a person using a laptop with one hand and a smartphone with the other, with overlaid graphics of speech bubbles and a stylised robot suggesting the use of an online chatbot, used to illustrate the concept of conversational commerce
Galeanu Mihai / iStock / Getty Images Plus

conversational commerce noun [U]
UK /ˌkɒn.vəˈseɪ.ʃən.əl ˈkɒm.ɜːs/ US /ˌkɑːn.vɚˈseɪ.ʃən.əl ˈkɑː.mɝːs/
the use of chatbots and other machine learning technology to make people feel they are talking to a real person when they buy things, ask for advice etc. online

With conversational commerce, customers can get quick answers to important questions, easily purchase items without having to navigate through entire websites, and receive helpful suggestions based on their previously collected customer data, including personalized product recommendations.
[bloomreach.com, 24 August 2023]

immaculate disinflation noun [U]
/ɪˌmæk.jə.lət dɪs.ɪnˈfleɪ.ʃᵊn/
the situation where inflation falls but this does not lead to a rise in unemployment, which would usually be expected

Economists added yet another term to their lexicon in recent months: immaculate disinflation. While there’s no official definition of immaculate disinflation, the phrase is being used to describe a scenario where inflation cools without causing a spike in unemployment … President Joe Biden’s top economic adviser, Jared Bernstein, expressed skepticism about the term. “I wouldn’t call this disinflation immaculate,” he said.
[edition.cnn.com, 6 September 2023]

hyperphysical retail noun [U]
UK /haɪ.pəˌfɪz.ɪ.kᵊl ˈriː.teɪl/ US /haɪ.pɚˌfɪz.ɪ.kᵊl ˈriː.teɪl/
the activity of making a shop more visually appealing and creating interesting experiences for the people who go there

With consumers’ growing appetite for engaging shopping experiences, brick-and-mortar stores now have to find more imaginative ways to compete. That’s why some brands are reinventing their retail spaces to make them so spectacular that visiting them is an emotional experience. Adding sensory and emotional attractions to a shop is a new trend called “hyperphysical retail”.
[medium.com, 29 September 2023]

About new words

the title "2023 Word of the Year" on an illustrated background showing a modern city, a flying robot and a plane with bird-like wings

Understanding AI jargon: Artificial intelligence vocabulary

Listen to the author reading this blog post:

the title "2023 Word of the Year" on an illustrated background showing a modern city, a flying robot and a plane with bird-like wingsby Kate Woodford

Today, the Cambridge Dictionary announces its Word of the Year for 2023: hallucinate. You might already be familiar with this word, which we use to talk about seeing, hearing, or feeling things that don’t really exist. But did you know that it has a new meaning when it’s used in the context of artificial intelligence? Continue reading “Understanding AI jargon: Artificial intelligence vocabulary”

a group of people smiling and dancing together at a party in a living room decorated with balloons and coloured lights

Reunions and housewarmings (Words for different parties)

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a group of people smiling and dancing together at a party in a living room decorated with balloons and coloured lights
Flashpop / DigitalVision / Getty Images

by Kate Woodford

This week we’re putting on our best clothes and grabbing a box of chocolates for the host because we’re going to a party! Well, okay, we’re not actually going to a party, but we are looking at words that we use to refer to social occasions where people meet up to enjoy themselves. You might be surprised at how many words there are. Continue reading “Reunions and housewarmings (Words for different parties)”

a group of people in business clothing drinking coffee together and talking, illustrating the concept of making small talk and chatting to people you don't know

Have you come far? Chatting to someone you don’t know (2)

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a group of people in business clothing drinking coffee together and talking, illustrating the concept of making small talk and chatting to people you don't know
Edwin Tan / E+ / Getty Images

by Liz Walter

My last post looked at ways of responding to introductions and introducing other people. Today’s post gives some ideas about how to take the conversation further. We call this kind of chatting small talk but with luck it can lead to deeper and more interesting conversations! Continue reading “Have you come far? Chatting to someone you don’t know (2)”

a mother kissing her young child in a nursery decorated in white and pale brown, illustrating the concept of "sad beige"

New words – 30 October 2023

a mother kissing her young child in a nursery decorated in white and pale brown, illustrating the concept of "sad beige"
Serhii Mazur / Moment / Getty

sad beige adjective
/ˌsæd ˈbeɪʒ/
a way of describing the trend of dressing babies and young children in pale brown and other neutral shades because these colours are thought by the parents to be more tasteful and stylish than bright colours

What is “sad beige,” and why do some parents love it so much? The muted palette is hot now: influencers’ Instagram grids are full of photos of children wearing shades ranging from ivory to tan. There’s even a backlash against the so-called “sad beige” trend from people who believe children need a little more color in their lives.
[today.com, 18 January 2023]

traumedy noun [U]
UK /ˈtrɔː.m.ə.di/ US / ˈtrɑː.mə.di/
a type of comedy that involves someone talking about past traumatic events in their life in a funny way

Standup has certainly taken a sharp turn towards inner trauma in recent years, giving rise to the dismissive portmanteau term “traumedy” to describe the comedic habit of processing disturbing experiences live on stage. And the 2023 Edinburgh fringe now looks like the peak of the trend.
[theguardian.com, 20 August 2023]

crying make-up noun [U]
/ˈkraɪ.ɪŋ ˌmeɪk.ʌp/
a style of make-up that makes the wearer look as though they are, or have recently been, crying

“Crying make-up” is taking over TikTok, but has the “sad girl aesthetic” finally gone too far? Noor Mubarak, a psychological wellbeing practitioner, agrees that the crying make-up trend can be problematic. “For those who are struggling with feelings of despair and tearfulness, it can feel trivialising to see people trying to look like they are struggling for aesthetic purposes.”
[glamourmagazine.co.uk, 28 October 2022]

About new words

a group of people standing around a man who is reading a newspaper under an umbrella, illustrating a post on the meaning of "the calm before the storm" and other idioms in newspapers

The calm before the storm (Newspaper idioms)

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a group of people standing around a man who is reading a newspaper under an umbrella, illustrating a post on the meaning of "the calm before the storm" and other idioms in newspapers
Digital Cision / Photodisc / Getty Images

by Kate Woodford

Readers of our About Words blog often ask us for posts on currently used English idioms. One way that we make sure we give you up-to-date idioms is by looking at expressions used in current newspapers. This week, the idioms come from a range of national newspapers that were published on 5 October 2023. Continue reading “The calm before the storm (Newspaper idioms)”

four young people smiling and shaking hands as they introduce themselves to each other, illustrating the concept of conversation and chatting to people you don't know

Do you know many people here? Chatting to someone you don’t know (1)

Listen to the author reading this blog post: 

four young people smiling and shaking hands as they introduce themselves to each other, illustrating the concept of conversation and chatting to people you don't know
andresr / E+ / Getty Images

by Liz Walter

Chatting to someone you don’t know can be difficult at any time, but it’s especially hard if you aren’t speaking in your first language. Back in 2017, my colleague Kate Woodford wrote a useful post about introducing yourself and giving a little information about yourself. This post and my next look at ways of continuing the conversation. Continue reading “Do you know many people here? Chatting to someone you don’t know (1)”

A man and woman facing each other across a table. The woman looks confused and apprehensive. Picture illustrating the concept of a "beige flag".

New words – 16 October 2023

A man and woman facing each other across a table. The woman looks confused and apprehensive. Picture illustrating the concept of a "beige flag".
Antenna / FStop / Getty

beige flag noun [C]
/ˌbeɪʒ ˈflæg/
a sign that someone you have started a romantic relationship with is a little strange or boring but not enough for you to end the relationship

According to the TikTok users who have latched on to the term in the past month, a beige flag is an odd trait in a romantic prospect that is not quite a deal breaker, but not exactly a plus, either. As one user put it, a beige flag makes a potential partner or a partner pause and say “Huh?” for a few seconds before carrying on with the relationship.
[nytimes.com, 7 June 2023]
See also red flag

ghostlighting noun [U]
UK /ˈgəʊst.laɪ.tɪŋ/ US /ˈgoʊst.laɪ.t̬ɪŋ/
the act of ending a relationship with someone by suddenly stopping all communication with them, then trying to make them believe that this did not actually happen and they must have imagined it

Ghostlighting mixes together ghosting – which is where a potential love interest disappears without an explanation – with the more sinister gaslighting, which is an emotional abuse or manipulation tool where a person purposefully tries to twist information to make their partner feel as though they are in the wrong.
[www.mirror.co.uk, 25 June 2023]
See also ghosting, gaslighting

groundhogging noun [U]
UK /ˈgraʊnd.hɒg.ɪŋ/ US /ˈgraʊnd.hɑːg.ɪŋ/
the act of dating the same type of person again and again, even though it never ends in a successful relationship

In dating, groundhogging means you date the same person repeatedly, which never works out for you. Think back on your relationships. Do they all tend to start and end the same way? Do your past significant others have a lot in common? If you answered yes, groundhogging could very well be to blame for your relationship woes.
[marriage.com, 14 March 2023]
See also Groundhog Day

About new words