Listen to the author reading this blog post:
My last blog post looked at adjectives used to describe things that are unusual or in some way different. In today’s post, I focus on idioms and phrases in this area. Continue reading “Out of the ordinary: ways of saying that something is unusual (2)”
virovore noun [C]
UK /ˈvaɪə.rə.vɔːʳ/ US /ˈvaɪ.rə.vɔːr/
an organism that eats viruses
What if science could harness an organism that had the power to eat viruses? … According to a study published in late 2022 on PNAS, a previously unknown microbe called a “virovore” does just that. Newly defined, virovores sustain themselves by consuming viruses, just like all other living creatures survive by converting energy from other animals and plants.
[grunge.com, 25 February 2023]
Novid noun [C]
UK /ˈnəʊ.vɪd/ US /ˈnoʊ.vɪd/
someone who has never had the Covid-19 virus
If you consider yourself a “Novid,” in other words, someone who has never had COVID, are you mistaken, special, or just plain lucky? Researchers are trying to answer that question.
[cbsnews.com, 4 August 2022]
superdodger noun [C]
UK /ˈsuː.pə.dɒdʒ.əʳ/ US / ˈsuː.pɚ.dɑː.dʒɚ/
someone who is resistant to a particular virus
Over the course of human history, scientists have identified only two instances of true virus superdodgers. That is, where a specific mutation in their genes makes people completely resistant to a virus. So that it slides off their cells, “like water sliding off a glass window,” as Casanova puts it.
[npr.org, 7 September 2022]
Listen to the author reading this blog post:
by Liz Walter
I have recently written two posts on the topic of importance, so this one looks at the opposite: how to say that something isn’t important. Continue reading “There’s bigger fish to fry: talking about things that are not important”
dopamine decor noun [C]
UK /ˌdəʊ.pə.miːn ˈdek.ɔːʳ/ US /ˌdoʊ.pəˌmiːn ˈdeɪˈkɔːr/
the trend of using bright colours and patterns when decorating and furnishing your home to make you happier and improve your mental health
Dopamine decor has been inspired by a catwalk trend where people choose to dress in colourful clothes to enhance their mood. The serotonin soaked concept is now emerging in the interiors world too with home owners choosing bright colours and patterns rich in shape and design to express joy and excitement within the home.
[www.avalanadesign.co.uk, 6 July 2022]
chorebot noun [C]
UK /ˈtʃɔː.bɒt/ US /ˈtʃɔːr.bɑːt/
a robot that is designed to do housework and tasks such as laundry, shopping, etc.
I’ve just read a frankly horrifying report concerning the imminent arrival of so-called “chorebots” designed to automate fully 17 domestic tasks. When I say “imminent”, we’re looking at within a decade, which is soon enough. And when I say domestic tasks, I’m talking about the bot stacking the dishwasher, getting a load in the wash, hanging it on the airer afterwards, doing bits and bobs of grocery shopping, that kind of caper.
[thetimes.co.uk, 4 March 2023]
hipstoric adjective
UK /hɪpˈstɒr.ɪk/ US /hɪpˈstɔːr.ɪk/
a way of decorating your home where old furniture, ornaments etc. are combined with a modern style
A fusion of the words “hip” and “historic,” the newly coined “hipstoric” home decor trend is set to dominate in 2023, according to interior designers … Consumers are casting mass-produced pieces aside in favor of reimagined antiques and vintage finds. Combining old with new, this popular eclectic aesthetic is an easy way to add a unique and personal touch to the home and infuse it with a sense of nostalgia.
[bhg.com, 7 February 2023]
Listen to the author reading this blog post:
Today, I’m looking at the various words that we use to describe things that are unusual or in some way different. As usual, I’ll be looking at the subtle differences in meaning between this group of near-synonyms. Continue reading “Quirky and novel: ways of saying that something is unusual (1)”
frauxmage noun [U, C]
UK /ˈfrəʊ.mæʒ/ US /ˈfroʊ.mɑːʒ/
cheese made without using any products from animals
The Mauxarella is a soft and moist frauxmage offering a mild but fulfilling taste. This frauxmage may be grated and melts beautifully in the oven to create delectable dishes like pizza and nachos.
[vegancheese.co, accessed 1 March 2023]
chaos cooking noun [U]
UK /ˈkeɪ.ɒs ˌkʊk.ɪŋ/ US /ˈkeɪ.ɑːs ˌkʊk.ɪŋ/
a style of cooking that uses different types of food that are not normally eaten together to create a dish
In a nutshell, chaos cooking is combining ingredients that typically don’t go together into a cohesive dish. It’s the latest social media trend on TikTok, the hashtag #chaoscooking has over 151 million views. For some, chaos cooking is a more “aggressive” take on fusion cuisine.
[thedailymeal.com, 2 February 2023]
butter candle noun [C]
UK /ˈbʌt.ə ˌkæn.dᵊl/ US /ˈbʌt̬.ɚ ˌkæn.dᵊl/
a candle made from butter which is lit so that the butter softens or melts
Late last year, we saw the first spark of interest for butter candles, but as we’ve moved into the holiday season, interest has heated back up again. Why not try one for your holiday table? A butter candle is literally a candle sculpted out of butter instead of wax. Just set it out with a big hunk of crusty bread and light the edible wick.
[tasteofhome.com, 18 January 2023]
Listen to the author reading this blog post:
by Liz Walter
This is the second of two posts on importance and covers some more aspects of the topic.
I will start with things that are important because of their effect on someone or something else. Someone or something that has the power to affect things can be described as influential. Something that has a great effect on future events is momentous, or – even more emphatically – seismic: Continue reading “Making a song and dance about it: talking about importance (2)”
thrift flipping noun [U]
/ˈθrɪft ˌflɪp.ɪŋ/
the activity of buying second-hand clothes, turning them into new, more attractive items and sometimes selling them for a higher price
Thrift flipping, or upcycling thrifted clothing to wear or sell, is a trend that has increased in popularity over the past year. From cutting a shirt to sewing patches onto pants, thrift flipping is a way to rework clothing purchased from a local second-hand shop.
[digmaglb.com, 13 December 2022]
de-influencing noun [U]
/ˌdiːˈɪn.flu.əns.ɪŋ/
the activity of describing certain products on social media and saying why you would not recommend buying them
In recent weeks, a new trend called de-influencing has taken over TikTok … The initial de-influencing videos that began circulating in January featured social media users talking about the viral products they wouldn’t recommend to discourage overconsumption. Now that the term de-influencing has become more popular, there are videos under the hashtag for nearly every niche.
[blog.hubspot.com, 16 February 2023]
anti-haul noun [C]
UK /ˈæn.tiˌhɔːl/ US /ˈæn.t̬iˌhɑːl/
a type of social media content where someone describes a number of products that they do not think their followers should buy
The anti-haul is a simple concept; it’s a form of content where instead of recommending a product, one shows their audience products they didn’t like and what didn’t work for them. This originally started from a reddit post, where fellow beauty redditors discussed products that they personally didn’t enjoy. Beauty TikTokers such as Beauty By Tellie shared her thoughts and created an anti-haul of her own.
[nylonmanila.com, 18 November 2022]
Listen to the author reading this blog post:
Earlier this month, we published a blog post on idioms used to describe people arguing. Today’s post follows on from that and focuses instead on the nicer area of becoming friends again after an argument. Again, we’re looking at idioms and phrases with this meaning. Continue reading “Keeping the peace and olive branches (Idioms for becoming friends again after an argument)”
dirty wellness noun [U]
UK /ˌdɜː.ti ˈwel.nəs/ US /ˌdɝː.t̬i ˈwel.nəs/
activities that involve being outside in nature and getting dirty, thought to be good for people’s physical and mental health
When I first heard about “dirty wellness,” a philosophy that espouses leaving our sanitized, hermetically sealed existence behind and reconnecting with good old-fashioned bacteria-laden dirt, I wanted to try it without really knowing what it entailed. It sounded fanciful and fun.
[arlingtonmagazine.com, 6 October 2022]
sensehacking noun [U]
/ˈsens.hæk.ɪŋ/
the activity of stimulating all five senses in order to become happier and healthier
Sensehacking — a big wellbeing trend for 2023 — highlights the crucial role that senses play in our everyday lives. Our senses can change how we feel almost instantly, so this trend is all about becoming happier and more productive by “hacking” our senses … Simply put, sensehacking means using the power of our senses to improve our mood.
[redonline.co.uk, 15 December 2022]
disease X noun [C usually singular]
/dɪˌziːz ˈeks/
a currently unknown virus or bacterium that has the potential to cause a serious epidemic
Disease X. It’s an ominous concept. A mysterious and dangerous pathogen that we don’t know, but we do know is out there – waiting to make a deadly jump from an animal or bird into an unsuspecting person, and take off on a viral killing spree.
[telegraph.co.uk, 25 January 2023]