Listen to the author reading this blog post.
by Liz Walter
Today’s post looks at phrases for talking about what the future holds. In particular, it will cover vocabulary relating to how much – if at all – we can control what happens to us.
Continue reading “It’s written in the stars: talking about things that might happen in the future”
pleasanteeism noun [U]
/ple.zənˈtiː.ɪzm/
the feeling that you always need to appear cheerful and friendly when at work, even if you are stressed or anxious, so that people, especially those senior to you, have a good opinion of you
Pleasanteeism happens when employees feel the need to project a positive image or “put on a happy face,” regardless of what they’re actually feeling. Picture a colleague who is under immense pressure but feels compelled to stay upbeat, worried that anything less might be perceived as lacking commitment or positivity. They might be quietly struggling with stress or burnout but push those feelings down, hoping no one notices. While pleasanteeism may sound harmless – after all, who doesn’t appreciate a positive attitude? – it can be deeply damaging over time.
[mohs.co.uk, 8 November 2024]
See also presenteeism
unbossing noun [U]
UK /ʌn.ˈbɒsɪŋ/ US /ʌn.ˈbɑːsɪŋ/
the act of having fewer managers in a company, especially those who work in middle management roles
A new workplace trend is becoming all the rage, and it isn’t just more summer Fridays or all-inclusive work resorts. Thinning out middle management layers, also known as “unbossing,” is the latest restructuring option of choice for major U.S. companies, including Bayer, Salesforce, Citigroup and Meta. That’s because, although middle management can improve a company’s organization, cutting down on unnecessary management layers has several benefits.
[forbes.com, 6 August 2024]
HiPPO noun [C]
UK /ˈhɪp.əʊ/ US /ˈhɪp.oʊ/
abbreviation for “highest paid person’s opinion”: a situation in the workplace where the opinion of the person who has the highest salary is taken more seriously than everyone else’s, even if this is not justified
The term HiPPO refers to a situation where the opinion of the most senior or highest-paid person in the room carries the most weight, regardless of whether it is the most informed or well-supported viewpoint. Grant has emphasized that relying on the HiPPO can lead to poor decision-making because it often discourages input from others who may have valuable insights or data.
[leadershiphq.com.au, 8 August 2024]
Listen to the author reading this blog post.
Today’s post deals with the language around a feeling that we all experience from time to time, embarrassment – that is, the feeling of being ashamed or shy in the company of others.
Continue reading “Cringeworthy and toe-curling (The language of embarrassment)”
greenager noun [C]
UK /ˈgriːnˌeɪ.dʒəʳ/ US /ˈgriːnˌeɪ.dʒɚ/
a teenager who is interested in green issues and takes part in activities that aim to help the environment
A new survey has revealed it’s no longer the parents calling the shots when it comes to saving energy – it’s their eco-conscious kids. Dubbed “greenagers”, this new generation is driving energy-saving attitudes at home. According to research by Smart Energy GB, 41 per cent of parents admit their teenagers encourage them to be more energy efficient in the home.
[metro.co.uk, 26 September 2024]
real zero noun [S]
UK /ˌrɪəl ˈzɪə.rəʊ/ US /ˌriː.əl ˈzɪr.oʊ/
the point at which a country, industry, company, etc. has completely stopped producing greenhouse gas emissions
Chairman Andrew Forrest has made it clear that Fortescue’s ultimate goal is to achieve “real zero” by eliminating all Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from its iron ore mining operations by 2030. This is distinct from “net zero,” where companies can rely on carbon offsets to balance out hard-to-abate or unavoidable emissions.
[carboncredits.com, 11 October 2024]
cloud milking noun [U]
/ˈklaʊd ˌmɪlk.ɪŋ/
a way of extracting the water from mist and fog to use it in areas where more water is needed for drinking, growing crops etc.
They call it cloud milking, a zero-energy technique to extract water from fog that is revolutionising the recovery of forests devastated by fire and drought. The idea began as a pilot project in the Canary Islands. The plan was to exploit the moisture-laden “sea of clouds” that hangs over the region in order to aid reforestation, and has since been extended to several other countries to produce drinking water, and to irrigate crops.
[theguardian.com, 31 October 2024]
Listen to the author reading this blog post.
by Liz Walter
The covid pandemic and the continued rise of social media have both caused fundamental changes in the way we communicate and spend time with one another. Because of this, we often need to specify whether we are talking about being in the same physical place as someone or whether we are interacting online, for example to take part in work meetings, family chats or even romantic relationships. Today’s post looks at some words and phrases we use to make that distinction.
Continue reading “In real life or the virtual world: ways of being present”
agesplaining noun [U]
/ˈeɪdʒ.spleɪn.ɪŋ/
the act of explaining something to someone in a way that suggests that they are stupid; used when a young person explains something to an older person that they already understand
You may have heard of mansplaining, when a man explains something to a woman in a way that’s regarded as condescending or patronising. But how about “agesplaining”? Forty-four per cent of the men and women who said they had experienced agesplaining said it left them “feeling older than they are”. Seventeen per cent said it rocked their confidence, while the same percentage said it had “contributed to a loss of self-identity”.
[The Times, 28 September 2024]
See also mansplaining
ageotype noun [C]
UK /ˈeɪdʒ.əʊ.taɪp/ US /ˈeɪdʒ.oʊ.taɪp/
a category of changes that occur in a particular person’s body as they age, which is distinct from the way people in other categories age
Now, studies have revealed that we tend to age down one of four different pathways. This is your “ageotype” – the principal way in which you, personally, are ageing. The bad news is that the oldest part of your body may be dragging the rest of it down. The good news is that by working out your ageotype, you might be able to target it to live healthier for longer.
[newscientist.com, 9 August 2023]
agetech noun [U]
/ˈeɪdʒ.tek/
the business of using technology to offer services that help old people
The market for agetech could grow to $2 trillion, according to an estimate by 4Gen Ventures, a VC agetech fund. Technologies for older generations include smart appliances, in-home connected devices, wearable robotics and digital care companions. The few corporates that have invested in agetech include Japanese electronics maker Edion, which launched a $63m CVC fund in June this year to invest in age-related technologies that address the shifting demographics of its consumer base.
[globalventuring.com, 23 October 2024]
Listen to the author reading this blog post.
This week’s post looks at the language that we use to talk about risk – that is, the possibility of something bad happening. I look at phrases that include the word ‘risk’ itself and then consider a range of useful idioms on this theme.
Slowvember noun [C, usually S]
UK /sləʊˈvem.bər/ US /sloʊˈvem.bər/
a movement that encourages people not to spend money excessively during the Christmas season, especially in a way that is harmful to the environment
Originally a creative challenge, compelling artists to spend the whole month slowly crafting something beautiful, the concept of Slowvember has more recently been adopted by green-thinking retailers. Thus the aim of Slowvember is to stop before you shop and support sustainable fashion, specifically in the face of Black Friday and the manufactured hype of over-consumerism.
[lerinslondon.com, 4 November 2022]
See also Black Friday
Christmas creep noun [U]
/ˈkrɪs.məs ˌkriːp/
the trend where Christmas-related goods, music, advertising etc. appear earlier every year
A Guardian analysis shows that the Grinch-like grumble that “Christmas is getting earlier every year” is actually justified. Figures from major supermarkets, local news bulletins and the UK Top 40 charts confirm what members of the public have long suspected: that the slow and steady takeover of the calendar by Christmas-themed items, songs and adverts – a phenomenon known as “Christmas creep” – is in fact real.
[theguardian.com, 28 October 2024]
Thanksmas noun [C]
/ˈθæŋks.məs/
a celebration that takes place on a date between Thanksgiving and Christmas
Thanksmas is a great occasion to bring family together. With a big family, expanded by in-laws, you may have many Thanksgiving or Christmas day invitations vying for your RSVP. Having a Thanksmas party is a great way to see those you won’t be able to see on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
[dailymom.com, no date]
Listen to the author, Jessica Rundell, reading this blog post.
Towards the end of each year, the Cambridge Dictionary team gets together to pore over search data and decide which word deserves the title of Word of the Year, and 2024 is no different. This year, that word is manifest!
Continue reading “Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2024”
dadcast noun [C]
UK /ˈdæd.kɑːst/ US /ˈdæd.kæst/
a podcast created by a father that discusses topics thought to be of interest to other fathers, such as parenting and family life
Welcome to the age of the “dadcast”: ubiquitous, lucrative – and a bit boring … The entrepreneurial spirit that sparked the dadcast revolution is not objectionable in itself. But there is something deadening about the way it reveals the podcast market to be going.
[theguardian.com, 30 January 2024]
Zalpha noun [C]
/ˈzæl.fə/
someone who was born during a time period between the end of Generation Z and the beginning of Generation Alpha
You may have heard of Generation Z and Generation Alpha, but have you heard of a Zalpha? A Zalpha is a term used to describe those born on the cusp of these two generations. They embody a blend of characteristics and experiences from both Generation Z, who grew up during the digital age and witnessed the rise of social media, and Generation Alpha, who are considered true digital natives, having been born into a world with even more advanced technology.
[mccrindle.com.au, 20 November 2023]
club sandwich generation noun [S]
UK /ˌklʌb ˈsæn.wɪdʒ dʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /ˌklʌb ˈsæn.wɪtʃ dʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃᵊn/
a way of referring to the group of people who have parents, children and also grandparents or grandchildren to take care of
The term “sandwich generation” was coined in 1981 by social workers. What I also see in my clinic is what Carol Abaya, an elder care expert, calls the “club sandwich generation”. This refers to adults who are supporting their ageing parents, their adult children and young grandchildren. This also includes a section of young people, who are supporting their parents, their grandparents and their own children.
[lifestyle.livemint.com, 12 April 2024]
See also club sandwich, sandwich generation