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by Liz Walter
It is very common to use prepositions and preposition-based phrases to talk about where a place is in relation to where you are yourself. This could be within a country, a region or a city. There are some subtle differences in the way speakers of British and American English do this. In this post, I’ll discuss some of the most common ones.
Continue reading “Up north and down south: prepositions for expressing directions”
tadpole water noun [U]
UK /ˈtæd.pəʊl ˌwɔː.təʳ/ US /ˈtæd.poʊl ˌwɑː.t̬ɚ/
a drink made from warm water, chia seeds and lemon
Tadpole water is the newest viral health trend on social media, with wellness influencers uploading videos sharing their recipes on TikTok and reporting health benefits. Popular among Gen Z, tadpole water gets its name thanks to its gloopy texture making it look like frog spawn, but fear not, it is in fact made from chia seeds.
[scotsman.com, 20 September 2024]
lemonading noun [U]
/ˌlem.əˈneɪ.dɪŋ/
a way of approaching problems or challenges in life that involves remaining positive and optimistic and seeing them as opportunities for growth or improvement
When life gives you lemons, what do you do? According to a new study, ‘lemonading’ can help you feel better. Originating from positive psychology, the concept of lemonading is all about creatively approaching hurdles as opportunities for growth. It’s not about brushing things under the carpet or faking a smile in the way you might expect from toxic positivity, but rather, about pursuing the possibility of enjoyable experiences among, and perhaps as a result of, the challenges you face.
[happiful.com, 21 February 2025]
gut pop noun [U]
UK /ˈgʌt ˌpɒp/ US /ˈgʌt ˌpɑːp/
a fizzy drink that helps good bacteria grow in your body and may keep you healthy
Sales of so-called gut pop are growing in the U.S. as more consumers shift from sugary soda mainstays to healthier, more natural alternatives. With traditional soda sales gone flat, both companies are jumping into the prebiotic soft-drink market now dominated by upstart brands Olipop and Poppi. The two startups have aggressively marketed gut pop into the zeitgeist.
[msn.com, 18 February 2025]
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‘Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.’ So said Albert Einstein. It may be comforting to remember this quote when an action of yours produces unwanted results. Of course, no one likes making mistakes, but mistakes are part of life. That’s why we have so many ways of talking about them. This post and my next are dedicated to this subject.
Continue reading “Rookie mistakes and schoolboy errors (Talking about mistakes)”
career catfishing noun [U]
UK /kəˌrɪər ˈkæt.fɪʃ.ɪŋ/ US /kəˌrɪr ˈkæt.fɪʃ.ɪŋ/
the act of accepting a job offer but then not arriving at work on the first day of employment, or any other day after that
“Career catfishing” — the trend of job seekers accepting a job and refusing to show up on the first day — is a reflection of simmering gripes from a new generation of workers. It’s one way Gen Z tries to take back power in their professional lives, but it’s also a sign of a deeper and growing divide between big business and the younger generation.
[forbes.com, 2 February 2025]
See also catfishing
taskmasking noun [U]
UK /ˈtɑːsk.mɑːs.kɪŋ/ US /ˈtæsk.mæs.kɪŋ/
appearing to be busy at work when you are actually not working very much at all
Taskmasking is not necessarily just a new name for procrastination … it’s effectively ‘performative productivity’ – creating the illusion of being hard at work when really, we’re not achieving much at all. However, while it’s easy to simply dismiss taskmasking as laziness or boredom, workplace experts have indicated that sudden changes to workplace expectations and environments [are the] reason why an increasing number of workers consider themselves guilty of it.
[harpersbazaar.com, 27 March 2025]
chronoworking noun [U]
UK /ˈkrɒn.əʊ.wɜː.kɪŋ/ US /ˈkrɑː.noʊ.wɝː.kɪŋ/
adapting your working hours to when you feel most awake and energetic
Our circadian rhythms operate on different schedules, but for many office-based staff, work is the one place where we’re all expected to log-in and log-off at the same time. Thankfully, the new workplace trend of “chronoworking” promises to help those who find they are most productive outside the traditional nine to five by allowing for more flexibility in our working hours.
[raconteur.net, 31 January 2024]
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by Liz Walter
When my dear Granny had completed a task to her satisfaction, she used to exclaim, ‘That’s a good job jobbed!’ Although she wasn’t the only person to use this phrase, it’s pretty rare, so this post will cover some much more common ways of talking about doing things successfully.
Continue reading “Killing two birds with one stone: talking about achievements”
glampervanning noun [U]
UK /ˈglæm.pə.væn.ɪŋ/ US /ˈglæm.pɚ.væn.ɪŋ/
a holiday in a camper van that is more comfortable and luxurious than traditional campervanning
Glampervanning is all about merging the thrill of camping with the comfort of a luxurious stay. Imagine having all the perks of glamorous camping—sleeping under the stars, waking up to breathtaking views, and exploring rugged landscapes—while enjoying modern amenities like a cozy bed, a fully equipped kitchen, and stylish interiors.
[vdubadventures.com, 26 September 2024]
See also glamping
airport theory noun [U]
UK /ˈeə.pɔːt ˌθɪə.ri/ US /ˈer.pɔːrt ˌθɪr.i/
a social media trend where travellers arrive at the airport 15–20 minutes before their flight departs, rather than several hours earlier, getting to the departure gate just as boarding begins
If airports weren’t already a hellscape, TikTok has found a way to make them worse. Welcome to airport theory, a viral delusion that suggests you can roll up to the airport 15 minutes before boarding, waltz through security, and still make your flight with time to spare. No stress, no waiting, just pure main character energy. It’s a fun fantasy, which explains why “airport theory” has racked up over 400 million views on TikTok.
[wired.com, 18 March 2025]
me-moon noun [C]
/ˈmiː.muːn/
a luxury holiday you take on your own
With social media feeds feeling increasingly flooded with honeymoon and babymoon posts, a fresh trend is on the rise in response: the ‘me-moon’. Instead of following the crowd, 23 per cent are embracing their own ‘main character energy’ with a solo me-moon. But, it’s not all about isolation. Twenty-one per cent of those wanting a me-moon are out to meet new friends, while 12 per cent are looking for a little romance along the way.
[dailymail.co.uk, 30 September 2024]
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A few years ago on this blog, we published a post on words that mean ‘funny’. It recently occurred to me that we should also look at the opposite, so today’s post looks at the language we use to describe things or people that are serious – sometimes too serious.
Continue reading “It’s no laughing matter! (Words that mean ‘serious’)”
neocloud noun [C]
UK /ˈniː.əʊˌklaʊd/ US /ˈniː.oʊˌklaʊd/
a start-up that specializes in AI-based cloud computing
The race to dominate the AI industry is heating up, and it’s not just big tech in the spotlight. Startups known as “neoclouds” are redefining the landscape, competing with established giants … The rise of neoclouds represents a shift in how AI infrastructure is built and deployed. As the AI revolution unfolds, the contributions of neoclouds will undoubtedly play a crucial role.
[tlciscreative.com, 24 January 2025]
smartphone face noun [U]
UK /ˈsmɑːt.fəʊn ˌfeɪs/ US /ˈsmɑːrt.foʊn ˌfeɪs/
the situation where an actor’s face looks too modern for them to be believable in a drama set in the past
In a nutshell, “smartphone face” refers to people who look as though they’re from modern times. But when placed in a different time period for a play, TV show or even a movie, there’s just something about them that doesn’t feel believable, even after the makeup and costume departments have worked their magic.
[yahoo.com, 17 May 2023]
DPP noun [C]
/ˌdiː.piːˈpiː/
abbreviation for digital product passport: an online record of important information about a product, such as what it is made of and what its impact on the environment is
Industrial and electric vehicle batteries will be the first products to have mandatory DPPs, from 2027. Other product categories, including textiles, are expected to follow by 2030 … Manufacturers will often have multiple suppliers for the same raw materials and components, so items that look alike could have different carbon footprints. The data in the DPP will reflect those differences.
[bbc.co.uk, 1 March 2024]
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by Liz Walter
My last post looked at idioms that come from the sport of boxing. This post presents some more common sporting idioms. Back in 2019, I wrote about idioms with the word ‘ball’. I won’t repeat those here, but there are plenty of others!
Continue reading “Open goals and jumping the gun: more sporting idioms”
eggflation noun [U]
/egˈfleɪ.ʃᵊn/
a significant increase in the price of eggs, normally because of higher production costs or shortages
So-called ‘eggflation’ – a phenomenon that’s seen the price of eggs rise by as much as 15% – is skyrocketing, with prices for the breakfast and baking essential scrambling to record highs. Factors range from bird flu outbreaks to rising production costs, but while some nations are grappling with a full-blown egg affordability crisis, others are getting off relatively lightly.
[lovemoney.com, 20 March 2025]
bi-globalization noun [U]
UK /ˌbaɪ.gləʊ.bᵊl.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /ˌbaɪ.gloʊ.bᵊl.əˈzeɪ.ʃᵊn/
a situation where the world economy is divided into two major centres of power rather than operating as a single global market
What’s ‘bi-globalization’ and could this be the near future for geo-economics and global trade? Geo-economic bi-globalization is underpinned by the logic of geopolitical competition and reflects structural changes in international power. The challenge now is to help manage coexistence in a situation of geo-economic competition.
[weforum.org, 19 December 2024]
negative wealth noun [U]
UK /ˌneg.ə.tɪv ˈwelθ/ US /ˌneg.ə.t̬ɪv ˈwelθ/
the situation where someone owes more money than the value of everything they own
Gen Z and young millennials are battling a “negative wealth” problem due to growing debt burdens that limit their life chances, according to a new analysis from the Fairness Foundation. The thinktank says negative wealth, where debts outweigh assets, is linked to lower wages and worse health in later life.
[theguardian.com, 5 April 2025]