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This week’s post is a companion to one that I published last December on the language of embarrassment. That post focused on the feeling of being ashamed or shy in the company of others. Today’s post looks at the related theme of feeling or appearing foolish or making someone feel this way.
Continue reading “It’s so humiliating! (The language of feeling foolish)”
burnt toast theory noun [S]
UK /ˌbɜːnt ˈtəʊst ˌθɪə.ri/ US /ˌbɝːnt ˈtoʊst ˌθɪr.i/
the idea that a minor inconvenience, like burning your toast in the morning, might actually be preventing something worse happening later in the day
Small snags or setbacks — like spilling your coffee or waiting in a long line at the gas station — can derail your day. But the burnt toast theory is a belief that those minor inconveniences can lead to a positive outcome at a later time — for example, maybe you miss rush-hour traffic or maybe you arrive at work just in time to walk into the office with a friend.
[https://health.clevelandclinic.org/, 9 April 2025]
orange peel theory noun [S]
UK /ˈɒr.ɪndʒ piːl ˌθɪə.ri/ US /ˈɔːr.ɪndʒ piːl ˌθɪr.i/
the idea that someone’s love for their partner is demonstrated through small acts of kindness, like peeling an orange for them, rather than big romantic gestures
At the end of the day, we all deserve people who show up for us and meet our needs of love, no matter how small or trivial those needs may be. I think that’s the core of the orange peel theory. Sometimes, the simplest acts are the clearest expressions of affection. If you’re lucky enough to have someone who peels your orange without hesitation, maybe it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate that as a sign of great love.
[dailycal.org, 21 November 2024]
invisible string theory noun [S]
UK /ɪnˌvɪz.ə.bᵊl ˈstrɪŋ ˌθɪə.ri/ US /ɪnˌvɪz.ə.bᵊl ˈstrɪŋ ˌθɪr.i/
the idea that two people who are destined to be together are connected by an invisible string that will eventually enable them to find each other
The invisible string theory follows the idea that you are connected to your soulmate via a metaphorical string. While this belief can provide hope and comfort, it can also lead to people staying in an unhealthy relationship due to a perceived destined connection.
[healthline.com, 20 May 2025]
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by Liz Walter
Back in 1974, the world looked on as Muhammed Ali beat the great George Foreman in the thrilling boxing match known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’. Foreman’s recent death was a reminder of that contest, and also of just how many boxing terms have made their way into general idiomatic use. This post will cover a few of the most common ones.
Continue reading “The gloves are off: idiomatic phrases from boxing”
femgore noun [U]
UK /ˈfem.gɔːʳ/ US /ˈfem.gɔːr/
horror stories focusing on female characters who commit acts of violence rather than being the victims
Historically, horror has often cast women as passive victims—screaming final girls, damsels in distress, or helpless figures of innocence. In contrast, femgore puts women in control of the narrative. These are stories where the female protagonist doesn’t run from the monster—she is the monster.
[vocal.media, 19 April 2025]
litRPG noun [U]
UK /ˈlɪt.ɑː.piːˌdʒiː/ US /ˈlɪt.ɑːr.piːˌdʒiː/
stories that are set in the world of a role-playing game, where characters can progress through levels and gain points in the same way as someone playing a real video game
LitRPG, short for Literary Role Playing Game, brings the strategic elements of role-playing games to science fiction and fantasy. These stories feature game-like mechanics and mirror the progression-based nature of RPGs … In litRPG novels, characters aren’t just wandering aimlessly in a game; they live, breathe, and are often acutely aware of the RPG mechanics at play. In fact, their success hinges on mastering these very game elements.
[campfirewriting.com, 20 November 2024]
See also RPG
hopepunk noun [U]
UK /ˈhəʊp.pʌŋk/ US /ˈhoʊp.pʌŋk/
stories that focus on optimism, kindness and positivity in the face of challenges
Enter hopepunk books, a rising literary genre that’s capturing hearts with its radical optimism, defiant kindness, and belief in the power of human connection. If you’re looking for stories that celebrate empathy, resilience, and the fight for a better future, hopepunk novels are your next must-reads.
[https://nickycammarata.medium.com/, 24 February 2025]
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Do you like learning English by playing games? Here at Cambridge Dictionary, we now have a Games Hub with daily word games so you can practise your English in a way that is both fun and motivating. To mark the arrival of our fabulous games, we thought we’d take a look at the language that people often use when they’re playing games.
Continue reading “Whose go is it? (The language of playing games)”
recession blonde noun [U]
UK /rɪˌseʃ.ᵊn ˈblɒnd/ US /rɪˌseʃ.ᵊn ˈblɑːnd/
a darker shade of blonde hair that costs less to maintain because it needs fewer visits to the hairdresser
Recession blonde refers to the darker, more brown-tinted hue that many are letting grow in with their normally bright, golden strands. TikTok users explain that while it may look like “old-money blonde,” letting their natural roots grow actually points to how the economy is affecting their spending habits; many are opting out of their touch-up appointments to save money.
[vogue.com, 17 March 2025]
meta face noun [U]
UK /ˈmet.ə feɪs/ US /ˈmet̬.ə feɪs/
a trend where photos that have been enhanced using AI technology make everyone look similarly flawless and unrealistically beautiful
The rise of the “meta face” reflects a broader trend towards digital hyper-perfection in beauty standards. AI technology has the potential to democratize beauty but also risks reinforcing exclusive and unrealistic ideals … Emphasizing authenticity and diversity can help counteract the negative effects of the “meta face” trend.
[insighttrendsworld.com, 3 February 2025]
butter skin noun [U]
UK /ˈbʌt.ə skɪn/ US /ˈbʌt̬.ɚ skɪn/
a beauty trend where skincare and makeup products are used to create a very soft, smooth and glowing complexion
If you’re on social media, you’ll be familiar with the term “butter skin”. For the uninitiated, the trend, which depicts a smooth, butter-like skin finish, has been making waves online, with TikTokers showing how to recreate the soft-focus look via certain make-up techniques, smooth application and skincare steps.
[elle.com, 9 April 2025]
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by Liz Walter
My last post looked at ways of describing how important someone is in an organization, for example at work or in the armed forces. This post covers some more general ways of talking about how important someone is in a society, or how important other people make them feel.
Continue reading “Anyone who’s anyone: talking about how important people are (2)”
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]
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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.
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]