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Today’s post is the latest in my ‘Idioms and phrases in newspapers’ series, which provides you with a regular supply of common, contemporary English idioms and expressions. The phrases in this post are taken from a range of national newspapers published on the same day.
pretty privilege noun [U]
UK /ˈprɪt.i ˌprɪv.əl.ɪdʒ/ US /ˈprɪt̬.i ˌprɪv.əl.ɪdʒ/
the advantages or benefits that people who are physically attractive are thought to receive
The social advantages of pretty privilege are many: good-looking people come off as smart, capable, trustworthy, and generally morally virtuous. People will buy you drinks at bars, randomly do nice things for you, give you gifts, and generally go out of their way for you. Economic advantages abound, too: attractive people are more likely to receive raises, promotions, and be heard in the workplace.
[time.com, 28 June 2024]
yassification noun [U]
UK /ˌjɑːs.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/ US /ˌjæs.ə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃᵊn/
the process of adding filters or other edits to a photo of someone to make them look more beautiful or glamorous but with a result that is unrealistic
If you’ve spent any time online recently, you’ll be familiar with “yassification”: the disconcerting social media trend, which takes “glow-ups” to the next extreme. And Margot Robbie is the latest celebrity to fall victim to it. That’s right, someone looked at a photo of Margot – with her slim frame, blonde hair, blue eyes etc. (features which are already held as Eurocentric beauty ideals) and thought she needed FaceTune. It’s fair to say that people in the comments were unimpressed.
[glamourmagazine.co.uk, 20 July 2023]
See also yass
neurocosmetics noun [plural]
UK /ˌnjʊə.rəʊ.kɒzˈmet.ɪks/ US /ˌnʊr.oʊ.kɒzˈmet.ɪks/
skincare and beauty products containing ingredients that have an effect on the nervous system and brain through the skin
Neurocosmetics, a concept rooted in the idea that the brain and skin are intrinsically linked, are products formulated to play off that connection. The brands creating neurocosmetics claim that certain ingredients can commune with neuroreceptors (also called neurotransmitters) in the skin, like a text message thread between the brain and the skin.
[allure.com, 30 May 2024]
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by Liz Walter
We all have times when we need to reassure someone, perhaps because they have done something they regret, because they are worried about something they have to do in the future or because they are experiencing something that is causing them anxiety.
Continue reading “Nobody blames you: phrases for offering reassurance”
gastrodiplomacy noun [U]
UK /ˌgæs.trəʊ.dɪˈpləʊ.mə.si/ US /ˌgæs.troʊ.dɪˈploʊ.mə.si/
the use of a country’s traditional food as a way of creating and maintaining good relationships with other countries
Certainly, gastrodiplomacy has the potential to boost tourism. According to the World Food Travel Association, about 53 per cent of people who travel choose to visit a destination specifically for its food. Peru launched a successful gastrodiplomacy campaign in the 2010s; since then, the country of 34 million has been touted as a top culinary destination by publications including The Economist and The Wall Street Journal.
[theparliamentmagazine.eu, 24 January 2024]
fridgescaping noun [U]
/ˈfrɪdʒ.skeɪ.pɪŋ/
the activity of arranging items inside a refrigerator in an attractive and decorative way
Fridgescaping — making the inside of your refrigerator worthy of a star spot on your Instagram or TikTok feed — has been all over social media lately. Yes, it includes the obligatory color-coordinated items stored in clear containers, and condiments and beverages lined up in neat rows. But some people are taking it a step further. Think vases of flowers, fresh fruit in decorative bowls and framed photos perched on shelves.
[washingtonpost.com, 23 September 2024]
Fanum tax noun [U]
/ˈfæn.əm ˌtæks/
the act of taking food from a friend’s plate, usually without asking, named after an online content creator who made jokes about this behaviour
So to summarize, Fanum tax means a friendly sharing of food between friends. In other words, if you’re faced with a Joey Tribbiani—the popular Friends character who notoriously refused to share food—you might invoke Fanum tax to remind your food-possessive friend that sharing is caring.
[parents.com, 22 July 2024]
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Today’s post has a very positive feel to it as I’m looking at the language around responding to opportunities.
Starting with a useful collocation, we say that we take an opportunity, meaning that we use a chance to do something.
Continue reading “Making the most of it (How we talk about using opportunities)”
paycation noun [C]
/peɪ.ˈkeɪ.ʃən/
a job that allows someone to work remotely while visiting other cities and countries
In the wake of the pandemic, a seismic shift occurred in the realm of work and travel. Companies were forced into flexible work policies allowing employees to work from anywhere with an internet connection. Now, in 2024, they’re calling it a paycation, a trend that allows seekers to blend their professional (or entrepreneurial) responsibilities with a desire to explore the world.
[ytravelblog.com, 28 April 2024]
Quit-Tok noun [U]
UK /ˈkwɪt.tɒk/ US /ˈkwɪt.tɑːk/
a trend on TikTok where people post videos about quitting their job, often commenting on the lack of job satisfaction or work–life balance that was the reason for their resignation
Quit-Tok refers to the trend of employees, primarily Generation Z, sharing videos of their resignation or layoff stories publicly … on TikTok. These videos often capture the raw emotion of the moment, from the tense build-up to the liberating feeling of finally quitting a job. Quit-Tok videos vary in format, from filming live Zoom resignations to documenting the moment a resignation letter is handed in.
[peoplemattersglobal.com, 10 August 2024]
hushed hybrid noun [U]
/ˌhʌʃt ˈhaɪ.brɪd/
a way of working that involves someone dividing their time between working in the office and working remotely, without formal agreement from their employer
In order to keep their best employees, some companies are opting for stealth tactics. Enter the rise of “hushed hybrid”, where bosses allow some employees to carry on working from home – even if company policy states otherwise. The downside of hushed hybrid is that it can introduce an unfair bias where some teams or workers appear to be favoured and get special treatment over others.
[metro.co.uk, 26 September 2024]
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Books play a hugely significant role in all our lives, so it’s probably no surprise that there are a lot of English idioms that include the word ‘book’. In this post, I’ve selected what I consider to be the most useful and current ones and look at how they are used.
Continue reading “Cooking or hitting the books? (Idioms with ‘book’)”
BIN attack noun [C]
/ˈbɪn əˌtæk/
abbreviation for “bank identification number attack”: a type of fraud where the first six digits of a credit card are used to generate a large number of possible credit card numbers, with any valid numbers being used to pay for goods illegally
Unlike card cracking, where a stolen list of valid credit cards is used, BIN attacks use automated bots and scripts to generate countless payment card numbers randomly, iterating through valid BINs and trying random account digits. These bots also attempt to bypass security controls, such as verification of payment card number checks.
[fingerprint.com, 14 February 2024]
TOAD attack noun [C]
UK /ˈtəʊd əˌtæk/ US /ˈtoʊd əˌtæk/
abbreviation for “telephone-oriented attack delivery attack”: a type of fraud where a criminal contacts someone by phone, text or email and tricks them into giving information such as passwords, bank account details etc.
Although the phrase “TOAD attack” may sound bizarre, it’s a descriptor for a dangerous new attack type plaguing businesses. TOAD stands for telephone-oriented attack delivery, a form of multi-layered phishing attack that combines elements like text or instant message, voice, or email with social engineering to trick users into disclosing proprietary, personal, or financial data.
[itpro.com, 13 May 2024]
MITM attack noun [C]
/ˌem.aɪ.tiːˈem əˌtæk/
abbreviation for “man-in-the-middle attack”: a type of fraud where a criminal accesses communication between two other people without either of the other people knowing, then steals information such as bank account details
Another common source of MITM attacks is public wifi hotspots. Public wifi routers have fewer security protocols than home or workplace wifi routers. This makes it easier for nearby users to connect with the network. But it also makes it easier for hackers to compromise the router so they can eavesdrop on internet traffic and collect user data.
[ibm.com, 11 June 2024]
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by Liz Walter
Today’s post is about ways of talking about someone’s intelligence. Interestingly, there are some subtle differences in the way British and American speakers use what are probably the two most common synonyms for intelligent: clever and smart.
Continue reading “Wise, brainy, or astute: words for describing intelligent people”
rucking noun [U]
/ˈrʌk.ɪŋ/
a type of exercise that involves walking while wearing a very heavy rucksack or backpack
Taking things to the next level, rucking involves walking or hiking with a weighted backpack for a low impact workout aimed at improving strength and cardiovascular fitness. This slow-burning workout is by no means new, resurging from military training as a trusted method to improve fitness.
[until.co.uk, 19 January 2024]
runglasses noun [plural]
UK /ˈrʌnˌglɑː.sɪz/ US /ˈrʌnˌglæs.ɪz/
a style of sunglasses that people sometimes wear when they are running
You were glued to the women’s 100m final last night and are eagerly awaiting the heptathlon — is it time to hit the track yourself? Maybe not, but why not steal your favourite athlete’s look instead? “Runglasses”, those visor-style shades that the world’s speediest can’t get enough of, are turning out to be the summer accessory and are already a hit on the festival scene.
[thetimes.com, 4 August 2024]
VILPA noun [U]
/ˈvɪl.pə/
abbreviation for: vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity: a way of keeping fit that involves short periods of very energetic exercise as part of your everyday life, such as climbing stairs or walking instead of taking a bus
Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, carrying groceries, vacuuming and washing floors, or playing with the kids are just some of the activities that could be considered VILPA. Just put a little more oomph into your activity to raise your heart rate for a minute or so and those chores turn into VILPA gold.
[until.co.uk, 19 January 2024]