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by Liz Walter
Most readers of this blog will be familiar with the verb throw when it means using your hand and arm to send something such as a ball through the air. Today’s post looks at some of the many ways that this basic sense of ‘throw’ is used in more idiomatic ways, often in fixed or semi-fixed phrases. Continue reading “Throwing a punch or throwing your head back: using the verb ‘throw’”
hushpitality noun [U]
UK /ˌhʌʃ.pɪˈtæl.ə.ti/ US /ˌhʌʃ.pɪˈtæl.ə.t̬i/
a style of tourism that focuses on providing travellers with quiet places to stay and a peaceful atmosphere with no loud activity or disturbance
By 2026, more than 56 per cent of travellers will choose destinations primarily to rest and recharge, rather than to sightsee or stay busy. As daily life grows louder and more demanding, “hushpitality” is quietly reshaping the idea of luxury. This new travel philosophy is not about simply switching off devices or booking a quieter hotel room. It is about seeking a complete sensory reset. The focus is on intentional sound, or the lack of it, where silence itself becomes the experience.
[www.harpersbazaar.in, 25 December 2025]
inheritourism noun [U]
UK /ɪnˈher.ɪ.ˌtʊə.rɪ.zᵊm/ US /ɪnˈher.ɪ.ˌtʊr.ɪ.zᵊm/
a travel trend where people choose the same types of holiday and often the same accommodation as their parents and grandparents did in the past
“Inheritourism reflects how travel preferences are passed down across generations,” said Jess Petitt. “Many people inherit travel preferences from their parents, with family experiences often shaping how people travel well into adulthood.” A 2026 travel report from Hilton identified “inheritourism” as a notable trend for the new year ― with 66% of travelers saying that their parents have influenced their choice of accommodations and 73% saying they shaped their general travel style.
[huffingtonpost.co.uk, 3 February 2026]
onebagging noun [U]
/ˌwʌnˈbægɪŋ/
the practice of travelling with only a single carry-on sized bag, to simplify the trip and reduce costs
If you’re like me, then it’s time to learn about a minimalist approach to travelling in the form of onebagging. In some ways, it’s just a way to pack light, but in others, it’s more a philosophy of travel akin to feng shui with a passport. This travel subculture has spread globally, with the onebag subreddit now containing over 871,000 members, the community nurturing a love for the approach that is both highly practical and near-spiritual.
[faroutmagazine.co.uk, 16 November 2025]
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by Kate Woodford
This post is for anyone who feels they use the word ‘tired’ too much and is looking for some more interesting and emphatic alternatives. As usual, it will include both single words and phrases. Continue reading “Dog-tired (Ways of saying ‘tired’)”
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By Liz Walter
Today’s post looks at some of the phrases we use when bad things happen to people. It appears that we must be very judgmental, since there are many more phrases for saying that a person deserves what happened to them than there are for being sympathetic! Continue reading “It’s your own fault! Talking about deserving bad things.”
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Today’s post looks at the various ways we talk about thinking, in the sense of using our brains to consider or understand something, or to solve a problem or plan something. Continue reading “Pondering, musing, and brooding (The language of thinking)”
fricy adjective
/ˈfraɪ.si/
having a taste that is both fruity and spicy
“Fricy” is 2026’s defining food trend, fusing fruity and spicy flavours in bold, new ways. Born out of a growing appetite for contrast-driven flavours, fricy food distinguishes itself by leaning into an intensified interplay of heat and sweetness, resulting in dishes that are sharper, more vibrant, and impossible to ignore compared to traditional spicy or fruity fare.
[oteats.outlooktraveller.com, 25 January 2026]
swangy adjective
/ˈswæŋ.i/
having a taste that is both sweet and tangy
Swangy foods will have chefs thinking outside the box, too, creating foods that are the best of both worlds. These two flavor profiles balance each other out, with tangy ingredients brightening sweet ingredients, and sweet ingredients mellowing out the sharpness of mouth-puckering notes.
[tastingtable.com, 17 January 2026]
spour adjective
UK /spaʊəʳ/ US /spaʊr/
having a taste that is both spicy and sour
The world of drinks is also moving in the same direction, adopting spicy and sour variations that reinterpret well-known classics. This has led to the creation of cocktails known as “spour,” where spicy and citrus flavors meet, and ingredients such as Tajín become a permanent fixture on the rims of glasses. The success of these flavors reflects a more curious public, less fearful of spice and increasingly attracted to immediate but layered taste experiences.
[reportergourmet.com, 8 January 2026]
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by Liz Walter
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the most visited painting in the world, is famous for its subject’s strange smile. That smile is often described as enigmatic, meaning that it is rather mysterious and it is impossible to guess what she is thinking. Today’s post looks at some other words and phrases to do with people hiding or showing their emotions. Continue reading “Poker faced or heart on your sleeve? Showing or hiding emotions.”
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The idioms and phrases in today’s post all come from a range of national newspapers published on the same day. I write a post like this every couple of months in order to provide you with a regular supply of frequent, contemporary English idioms. Continue reading “Flavour of the month (Newspaper idioms)”
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by Liz Walter
When we want to speak to someone for a specific reason, we don’t usually begin immediately with the thing we want to say. Instead, we often use a phrase that will help the other person get some idea of what sort of conversation it is going to be. Continue reading “I need to ask you a favour: signalling what we are going to say”
analogue bag noun [C]
UK /ˈæn.ə.lɒg ˌbæg/ US /ˈæn.ə.lɑːg ˌbæg/
a bag filled with activities such as knitting or books to help someone use their smartphone less in their free time
So-called analogue bags, filled with activities such as crosswords, knitting, novels and journals, have become the unexpected accessory of the season. They are being championed by millennials and gen Z as a way to reduce screen time – the idea is that the bag should contain the essentials needed to remain offline for as long as possible.
[theguardian.com, 9 January 2026]
Janalogue noun [C]
UK /ˈdʒæn.ə.lɒg/ US /ˈdʒæn.ə.lɑːg/
a campaign organized in the month of January that encourages people to spend less time using digital devices and more time on non-digital activities
Deloitte expects the next New Year’s resolution trend could be a digital detox, with Brits starting the year with an “analogue January” or “Janalogue” – a conscious disconnect from digital devices and apps. Of course, some resolutions may not endure, but “Janalogue” could well become an annual month of digital disconnection for UK consumers.
[advanced-television.com, 17 December 2025]
friction-maxxing noun [U]
/ˈfrɪk.ʃᵊn.ˌmæksɪŋ/
the practice of making everyday activities slightly less convenient to reduce reliance on digital devices and to discourage overuse
Paying with cash instead of a card. Using a flip-phone instead of a smartphone. Expressing your true opinion, even if it causes tension. Welcome to the new trend of friction-maxxing that’s catalyzing what it means to be human in 2026. Kathryn Jezer-Morton argues that in the face of technologies that sell us escapism at every turn, we need to build up tolerance for “inconvenience” and start friction-maxxing.
[cybernews.com, 7 January 2026]