ghost driver noun [C] UK /’gəʊst ˌdraɪ.və/, US /’goʊst ˌdraɪ.vɚ/
a taxi driver who uses a frightening profile photograph to encourage the passenger to cancel the taxi ride

The practice, which has been nicknamed the ghost driver issue, involves scam drivers using gruesome pictures that force users to hit “cancel” when they see who is coming to pick them up, and pay a cancellation fee. [The Telegraph 20 September 2016]

creepy clown noun [C] /ˈkriː.pi ˌklaʊn/
someone who dresses up as a clown in order to frighten people

… [C]reepy clown sightings are cropping up across the country without explanation. [www.rollingstone.com 29 September 2016]

trumpkin noun [C] /’trʌmpkɪn/
a pumpkin made to look like Donald Trump

People are carving their pumpkins to resemble Donald Trump in what is undeniably one of Halloween’s scariest offerings. The ‘Trumpkin’ is taking over social media with hundreds of people carving out or painting ridiculous expressions onto their vegetables.  [Metro 13 October 2016]

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bobu noun [C] UK /’bəʊ.bu:/ US /’boʊ.bu:/
a businessman who leads a bohemian lifestyle

Welcome to the world of the bobu — bohemian businessman — the new breed of freedom-seeking creative entrepreneur. He either rejects the world of conventional employment or has been rejected by it.
[The Times 25 September 2016]

Gen Z noun [U] UK /ˌdʒen ‘zed/ US /ˌdʒen ‘zi:/
a way of referring to the group of people born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s

Marketing has a new buzzword: Gen Z. Younger than millennials, the next generation is more reliant on digital than its predecessor, forcing brands to get more creative in their marketing.
[Adweek 28 September 2016]

midult noun [C] /ˈmɪd.ʌlt/
someone, especially a woman, in the middle stage of adulthood who has interests more associated with those of younger people

Marketers and political pundits are fond of identifying new demographic groups […] The latest is the Midult – a phrase coined by journalists Emilie McMeekan and Annabel Rivkin to describe a new tribe of women aged 35-55. The Midult is being described as more than just a demographic but a movement and a mindset.
[www.translatemedia.com 13 July 2016]

About new words

chatbot noun [C] UK /’tʃæt.bɒt/ US /’tʃæt.bɑːt/
a software program that uses artificial intelligence to mimic conversation with the user

Nadella and Marcus see chatbots – computer programs that you interact with by “chatting” – for example in threads in messaging apps – as an important new human/machine interface.

[The Guardian 18 September 2016]

blockchain noun [C]  UK /’blɒk.tʃeɪn/ US /’blɑːk.tʃeɪn/
an encrypted database of online transactions

Most have heard of bitcoin, fewer are familiar with blockchain. Bitcoin uses blockchain to form a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment system.

[www.forbes.com 30 September 2016]

commjacking noun [U]  UK /ˈkɒm.dʒæk.ɪŋ/ US /ˈkɑːm.dʒæk.ɪŋ/
a method of intercepting the data flow on a wifi network

This notion of commjacking was invented to describe the ability to hijack the communication channel between any device and the WiFi or cellular networks to which it is connected. Commjacking gives the attacker the ability to eavesdrop on conversations, intercept data transmissions to and from the device, and manipulate the data, or the device itself.

[The Telegraph 20 September 2016]

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freakshake noun [C] /’friːk.ʃeɪk/
a milkshake made with ice cream and other sweet foods including cream, chocolate and cake

Could there be a more epic drink (if you can call it a drink) than the freakshake? Originating in Australia, these monstrous concoctions promise to fix all your sugar cravings at once with their combo of milky goodness, rich, gooey cake, cookie chunks, lashings of cream and a carnival of colourful toppings.

[Time Out 12 July 2016]

frosé noun [C or U] UK /ˈfrəʊ.zeɪ/, US /froʊ.ˈzeɪ/
a type of alcoholic drink made of frozen rosé wine mixed with sugar, lemon juice and sometimes other alcoholic drinks

Seemingly kick-started over social media, frosé has emerged as the latest drink of choice for sun worshipping Instagrammers, with wine-lovers taking to their apps to show their appreciation for a bottle of frozen blush.

[Standard 21 June 2016]

hamdog noun [C] UK /ˈhæm.dɒg/, US /ˈhæm.dɑːg/
a combination of a hamburger and a hot dog

An entrepreneur in Australia is hoping to make plenty of dough after inventing the “hamdog”. Despite securing a US patent for the “combination hamburger hot dog bread bun” in 2009, Mr Murray failed to obtain funding from potential investors.

[The Telegraph 20 September 2016]

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extreme phone pinching noun the practice of holding a mobile phone between the thumb and forefinger and dangling it over a perilous place while taking a selfie

Have you got what it takes to stomach the extreme phone pinching challenge? No, seriously.

[http://www.telegraph.co.uk 05 October 2015]

gloving noun dance performed with the hands while wearing special gloves with LED lights

To get why gloving has become so huge, you have to understand EDM, the American version of house music.

[www.theguardian.com 20 December 2015]

pabebe noun a style of waving with the fingers closed

Millions of people in the Philippines and beyond are taking pictures of themselves giving a cute little wave called the ‘Pabebe’.

[www.bbc.co.u 29 October 2015]

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