New words – 19 May 2025

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boomerasking noun [U]
UK /ˈbuː.mər.ɑːs.kɪŋ/ US /ˈbuː.mɚ.æs.kɪŋ/
asking a question not because you want to hear the other person’s answer but because you want to tell them what you think the answer is

Have you heard of boomerasking? It’s when someone asks a question, not because they care to hear your response, but because they can’t wait to answer the question themselves … The researchers say there are ways to counteract boomerasking’s inherent selfish cynicism. If you notice that you have some nasty boomerasking instincts, the researchers suggest asking questions that you cannot answer yourself.
[vice.com, 25 March 2025]

See also boomerang

manterrupting noun [U]
UK /ˈmæn.təˌrʌp.tɪŋ/ US /ˈmæn.t̬əˌrʌp.tɪŋ/
of a man: interrupting a woman when she is speaking, usually because the man thinks what he has to say is more important

Men interrupt women. A lot. There is plenty of research that show men speak up to 75 percent more in meetings, are more likely to interrupt and are almost three times as likely to interrupt women as they are to interrupt other men. In fact, they interrupt women so much there’s a term for it: manterrupting, the unnecessary (because it’s never necessary) interruption of a woman by a man.
[ellevatenetwork.com, 9 April 2025]

shelaborating noun [U]
/ʃiːˈlæb.ə.reɪ.tɪŋ/
of a woman: explaining something in a much more detailed way than is necessary, often making the explanation more confusing

“Shelaborating” is a term gaining traction on social media, which describes the tendency to over-explain and provide excessive details, or elaborate far beyond what was asked. Shelaborating is not inherently negative — ensuring clarity and fostering connection are valuable communication strengths. However, overexplaining can sometimes disrupt conversations or lead to mental fatigue.
[forbes.com, 6 March 2025]

About new words

A person holding a round mirror in front of their face with a reflection of the sunset in the mirror

Smoke and mirrors (Newspaper idioms)

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A person holding a round mirror in front of their face with a reflection of the sunset in the mirror
EyeEm Mobile GmbH / iStock / Getty Images Plus

by Kate Woodford

Today’s post is the latest in my Newspaper idioms thread, in which I present you with a selection of English idioms and phrases used in several newspapers published on the same day. The aim is to provide you with a range of contemporary, frequently used English idioms.

Continue reading “Smoke and mirrors (Newspaper idioms)” →

an angry airline passenger confronting the passenger sitting in the row behind

New words – 12 May 2025

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seat squatting noun [U]
UK /ˈsiːt skwɒ.tɪŋ/ US /ˈsiːt skwɑː.tɪŋ/
the practice of sitting in an unassigned aeroplane seat, usually a better one than the assigned one, in the hope of staying there without being asked to move

People who travel internationally are up in arms over a new trend known as “seat squatting”. The craze sees passengers take seats that have not been assigned to them, often ignoring cabin crew, and not waiting until boarding has finished.
[mirror.co.uk, 1 January 2025]

mileage run noun [C]
/ˈmaɪ.lɪdʒ rʌn/
a flight taken purely to earn points with the airline’s loyalty programme and not to visit a particular place

Over the years, the popularity of mileage runs has decreased as airlines have switched from a distance-based to a revenue-based frequent flier system. Despite this, mileage runs are not entirely dead, but they are almost not worth it.
[simpleflying.com, 23 June 2024]

air jail noun [S]
UK /ˈeə dʒeɪl/ US /ˈer dʒeɪl/
the activity of lifting a pet animal, usually a dog, into the air and holding them there for a short time to stop or prevent bad behaviour

Dr. Liza Cahn, veterinarian at Embrace Pet Insurance, told Newsweek that, as a veterinarian, she is not a fan of “air jail” for cats, and it is not something that she does with her own cats. “Whether ‘air jail’ is being used in a playful manner or as a form of punishment, there are several things to consider before trying this trend,” Cahn said.
[newsweek.com, 14 October 2024]

About new words

wooden figures ascending a stack of wooden blocks, symbolizing climbing up in social or work status

The pecking order: talking about how important people are (1)

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wooden figures ascending a stack of wooden blocks, symbolizing climbing up in social or work status
Zolak / iStock / Getty Images Plus

by Liz Walter

Zoologists tell us that if you watch a group of chickens, you can place them in order of importance because birds with a high status peck those with a lower status. While humans don’t peck or – usually at any rate – physically harm one another to demonstrate power, we do use the phrase pecking order to talk about social hierarchy, in other words how important one person is in relation to others.

Continue reading “The pecking order: talking about how important people are (1)” →

a trader anxiously watches as stocks crash on the market screen

Stock market turmoil (Talking about stock markets and share prices)

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a trader anxiously watches as stocks crash on the market screen
Caroline Purser / The Image Bank

by Kate Woodford

The world’s stock markets are very much in the news these days. With this in mind, I thought I’d take a look at the sort of language that is commonly used to talk about market fluctuation. I’ll focus especially on the colourful terms that describe dramatic changes in trading and share prices.

Continue reading “Stock market turmoil (Talking about stock markets and share prices)” →

credit cards and a padlock sitting on a computer keyboard

New words – 28 April 2025

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bluesnarfing noun [U]
UK /ˈbluː.snɑː.fɪŋ/ US /ˈbluː.snɑːr.fɪŋ/
using a Bluetooth connection to access information illegally on someone else’s computer or phone

When someone performs a bluesnarfing attack, they can potentially access sensitive information such as contact lists, emails, text messages, and even calendars. The scary part is that the victim is often unaware of this unauthorized access. In essence, bluesnarfing can be likened to a digital pickpocketing method, where your personal data is quietly snatched from your device without your knowledge.
[mcafee.com, 25 February 2025]

digital sobriety noun [U]
UK /ˌdɪdʒ.ɪ.tᵊl səˈbraɪ.ə.ti/ US /ˌdɪdʒ.ə.t̬ᵊl səˈbraɪ.ə.t̬i/
the practice of using computers, smartphones etc. less in order to reduce the negative impact of technology on the environment

Although it can be challenging to quantify the exact impact of digital sobriety, organizations implementing ambitious strategies can reduce their digital carbon footprint by 10-20% over three years. To meet both short-term regulatory requirements and long-term environmental goals, a structured digital sobriety roadmap is essential.
[wavestone.com, 13 November 2024]

dark data noun [U]
UK /ˌdɑːk ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /ˌdɑːrk ˈdeɪ.t̬ə/
infomation that companies collect and store on their computers but that they do not then use

Dark data often resides in the hidden recesses of a metaphorical jungle: It comprises unstructured and unused data accumulated over years of digital transactions, interactions, and operations. Dark data is information that has been collected but not actively used or analyzed, leaving its potential benefits to remain speculative.
[dataversity.net, 19 December 2024]

About new words

a bored young woman surrounded by evidence of a party

Did it live up to your expectations? (Talking about disappointment)

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a bored young woman surrounded by evidence of a party
epicurean / E+

by Kate Woodford

We’ve all had the experience of looking forward to something and expecting it to be great but finding, when it happens, that it’s a disappointment. Conversely, we all know what it’s like to have low expectations of something but find that it’s much better than we were expecting. This post looks at language in this area and includes both single words and phrases.

Continue reading “Did it live up to your expectations? (Talking about disappointment)” →

a woman with her hair in large curlers peeling cosmetic strips from under her eyes

New words – 21 April 2025

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morning shed noun [C]
UK /ˌmɔː.nɪŋ ˈʃed/ US /ˌmɔːr.nɪŋ ˈʃed/
a beauty routine that involves applying various products to the face and hair and leaving them overnight, then removing them the next morning

It might not sound unique, but most morning sheds—and therefore, nighttime routines performed about eight hours before them—consist of fairly robust lineups. Think: overnight collagen wrap masks, wrinkle patches, undereye masks, lip masks, mouth tape, jaw straps, hair wrap, and heatless curlers—all worn at once and overnight.
[glamour.com, 24 July 2024]

fox tox noun [U]
UK /ˈfɒks ˌtɒks/ US /ˈfɑːks ˌtɑːks/
a cosmetic treatment where Botox injections are used to lift the outer corners of someone’s eyes, making their face look like that of a fox

Fox tox is the latest neurotoxin aesthetic to become buzzy in beauty. “The fox tox look strikes a balance between drama and subtlety by giving your brows a noticeable lift that’s still fresh and natural,” says Marris. She explains that with fox tox, the brows appear snatched while the eyes look elongated and youthful.
[newbeauty.com, 5 December 2024]

aufguss noun [U]
/ˈaʊf.gʊs/
a type of sauna session where a trained expert uses perfumed oils, special lighting and music to create an experience said to be good for physical and mental health

Candlelit and subterranean, Barcelona’s best spa blends Roman-style bathing with expert-led aufguss sessions. Don’t miss its Himalayan salt sauna, which hosts beautifully choreographed infusions, mixing aromatic steam and meditative rituals.
[cntraveller.com, 7 February 2025]

About new words

a bricklayer's hand using a trowel to apply a thick blob of mortar to a wall in construction

Laying it on thick: talking about exaggeration

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a bricklayer's hand using a trowel to apply a thick blob of mortar to a wall in construction
Iryna Melnyk / iStock / Getty Images Plus

by Liz Walter

“If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a million times: don’t exaggerate!” So goes the old joke. In general, we disapprove of people who exaggerate, that is, make something seem more extreme than it really is. Today’s post looks at some of the many ways we have of describing this behaviour.

Continue reading “Laying it on thick: talking about exaggeration” →

unhappy toddler sitting in a swing

Stop whining! (Words for ‘complain’ and ‘complaint’)

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unhappy toddler sitting in a swing
Kerkez / iStock / Getty Images Plus

by Kate Woodford

From time to time, we all complain, whether it’s about the poor quality of service in a restaurant, a noisy neighbour, or rain that won’t stop. (Some people – and I certainly know one or two – never stop complaining!) This post will provide you with a range of interesting alternatives to ‘complain’ and ‘complaint’ and will explain the differences between them.

Continue reading “Stop whining! (Words for ‘complain’ and ‘complaint’)” →