It might surprise you to learn that the noun ‘teeth’ features in a number of current English idioms. This post is a round-up of the most frequent and useful. Continue reading “Gritting and cutting your teeth (Idioms and phrases with ‘teeth’)”
quantum apocalypse noun [S]
UK /ˌkwɒn.təm əˈpɒk.ə.lɪps/ US /ˌkwɑːn.t̬əm əˈpɑː.kə.lɪps/
the situation where extremely powerful computers can access all encrypted data very quickly and easily, making all hidden information public
Current computers would take years, decades and even centuries to crack the encryption codes created by today’s machines, but the fact that a quantum computer could theoretically do this in “just seconds” poses an enormous cybersecurity risk. The notion of all the world’s most encrypted files – from WhatsApp messages to online banking to government data – suddenly being broken into thanks to the advent of quantum computing is known as the “quantum apocalypse”.
[theweek.co.uk, 1 February 2022]
splinternet noun [S]
UK /ˈsplɪn.tə.net/ US /ˈsplɪn.t̬ɚ.net/
the idea that there is, or could be, different versions of the internet rather than one global version, usually because the governments of some countries have blocked or restricted parts of its content
Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is accelerating a technological isolation in Russia that doesn’t inflict the immediate pain of frozen bank accounts or skyrocketing prices, but could fundamentally change the way that Russians get their information and connect — or fail to connect — with the rest of the world. It’s bringing Putin’s Russia many steps closer to a so-called splinternet in which the West and Russia operate in different online spheres.
[politico.com, 4 March 2022]
TikTot noun [C]
UK /ˈtɪk.tɒt/ US /ˈtɪk.tɑːt/
a young child who uses the social media platform TikTok
A third of children aged between five and seven have a social media profile despite being under the minimum age requirement, a new study suggests. Analysis from Ofcom shows that TikTok is the most popular platform among the youngest users, who have been nicknamed TikTots. Britain’s communications watchdog found 16% of children in the UK aged three and four are already using the platform.
[uk.news.yahoo.com, 30 March 2022]
by Liz Walter
This is the final post in a short series about words for people we don’t like. This post will concentrate on describing people who are bad-tempered, rude, or cruel. Continue reading “Prickly, abrasive and churlish: talking about people you don’t like (3)”
rebirding noun [U]
UK /ˌriːˈbɜːd.ɪŋ/ US /ˌriːˈbɝːd.ɪŋ/
the process of helping to return an environment to its natural state by bringing back birds that used to live there
Swift numbers have declined by 58 per cent since 1995, while house martin populations have similarly suffered … In order to halt the decline, a new call to arms is launching this week urging homeowners across the country to encourage the birds back before it is too late … Forget rewilding, this is hoped to be the beginning of a vital rebirding of the nation’s back gardens.
[telegraph.co.uk, 19 March 2022]
climate doomism noun [U]
UK /ˌklaɪ.mət ˈduːmɪ.zəm/ US /ˌklaɪ.mət ˈduːmɪ.zəm/
the belief that climate change is now irreversible and that there is no point making any effort to stop it getting any worse
[Alaina Wood] is also part of a growing cadre of people, many of them young, who are fighting climate doomism, the notion that it’s too late to turn things around. They believe that focusing solely on terrible climate news can sow dread and paralysis, foster inaction, and become a self-fulfilling prophecy. In the summer of 2021, Ms. Wood … began creating TikTok videos debunking extreme examples of climate doomism — among them that all of humanity will perish within decades.
[nytimes.com, 22 March 2022]
water neutrality noun [U]
UK /ˌwɔː.tə njuːˈtræl.ə.ti/ US /ˌwɑː.t̬ɚ nuːˈtræl.ə.t̬i/
the principle that the total amount of water used in an area after new houses, shops, etc. have been built must not be more than the amount used in the same area previously
The definition of water neutrality is that for every new development, total water use in the region after the development must be equal to or less than the total water use in the region. There are three steps to achieving water neutrality: (1) reducing water use by making the new build as water efficient as possible (2) installing water reuse systems, such as rainwater harvesting or grey water recycling and (3) offsetting any remaining demand in the existing local region.
[www.linkedin.com/pulse, 16 February 2022]
It’s reckoned that around 55% of the world’s population now lives in towns and cities. With this in mind, I thought we’d take a look at the sort of words we use to describe urban and suburban areas. I hope you find it useful. Continue reading “A vast, sprawling metropolis (Words for describing cities)”
glacier blood noun [U]
UK /ˈglæs.i.ə.blʌd/ US /ˈɡleɪ.ʃɚ.blʌd/, /ˈɡleɪ.si.ɚ.blʌd/
the phenomenon where algae in the soil under snow grow quickly and make the snow appear pink or red
In late spring, when the snowfall thaws, the mountain’s snow changes from a colorless hue to alarming shades of deep, rusty red. Dubbed “glacier blood,” the phenomenon occurs when algae rapidly overgrow, and researchers suspect it can reveal how climate change affects high elevation environments like the Alps.
[smithsonianmag.com, 14 June 2021]
rain bomb noun [C]
UK /ˈreɪn.bɒm/ US /ˈreɪn.bɑːm/
a sudden, severe gust of wind that blows straight down from the sky during a thunderstorm, bringing with it a very large quantity of rain
It was a wall of water. A record-breaking and relentless deluge that lasted days and flooded towns and cities along Queensland’s south-east coast, submerging thousands of homes and leaving at least nine people dead. As the water spreads to northern New South Wales, how did the so-called “rain bomb” develop? And why has Queensland’s capital flooded again just 11 years after the devastation of 2011?
[theguardian.com, 1 March 2022]
megaberg noun [C]
UK /ˈme.gə.bɜːg/ US /ˈme.gə.bɝːg/
an extremely large iceberg
Scientists have been keeping a close eye on the “megaberg” designated as A68a since it split off from Antarctica back in July 2017 – and new research highlights just how much freshwater it’s released into the ocean during its late melting process.
[sciencealert.com, 22 January 2022]
by Liz Walter
My last post contained general insulting words and phrases. You can find words and phrases for people who are stupid, untrustworthy, boring or stubborn in previous posts by me and my colleague Kate Woodford, so today’s post looks at ways of describing some other character flaws. Continue reading “Lily-livered or hard as nails: talking about people you don’t like (2)”
invasivorism noun [U]
UK /ɪnˈveɪ.sɪv.ə.rɪ.zᵊm/ US /ɪnˈveɪ.sɪv.ɚ.ɪ.zᵊm/
the practice of eating plants and animals that exist in large numbers and usually have a harmful effect on the environment
Invasivorism, eating invasive plants and animals, seeks to fill plates with unwanted species. The movement, which has been picking up popularity in the US for a decade, is attracting British foragers and chefs keen to experiment with knotweed, grey squirrels and other pests.
[thetimes.co.uk, 5 March 2022]
greenhushing noun [U]
/ˈgriːn.hʌʃ.ɪŋ/
Greenhushing is when a company does not mention how sustainable or environmentally friendly its products or services are in case doing so leaves it open to criticism.
Little wonder there is a growing fear of “greenhushing”, where retailers whose products are genuinely eco-friendly avoid drawing attention to this fact in case they are caught out on a legal technicality. Some regulators have responded by producing detailed guidelines to help firms lawfully advertise the environmental advantages of their products.
[legalcheek.com, 19 March 2021]
planet placement noun [U]
/ˌplæn.ɪt ˈpleɪs.mənt/
showing environmentally friendly products or including conversations about environmental issues in films and TV programmes in order to raise the audience’s awareness of climate change
In The Tourist, a BBC drama starring Jamie Dornan, an Australian taxi driver slurps a drink through a metal — and therefore sustainable — straw before it is used to kill him. Albert, a Bafta-led sustainability initiative, describes this phenomenon as “planet placement”, meaning green themes being weaved into the fabric of some of the nation’s favourite programmes in the hope that they help to influence audience behaviour.
[thetimes.co.uk, 5 March 2022]
This is the last of a three-part post on words that we use to describe sounds that we hear in our daily life. In previous posts, I’ve covered sounds heard in the city and those heard in the country. This week, I’m staying indoors and thinking about sounds that we hear inside our homes and other buildings. Continue reading “Clatter and thud (Sounds, Part 3)”
porch piracy noun [U]
UK /ˌpɔːtʃ ˈpaɪ.rə.si/ US /ˌpɔːrtʃ ˈpaɪr.ə.si/
the act of stealing a package that has been delivered and left outside someone’s house
Porch piracy is a huge issue in the US, and getting refunds is difficult. Only 54% of porch pirate victims were refunded when reporting a package as stolen. The survey showed that an average of 29% of Americans reported having had a package stolen from their porch, front door or mailbox.
[zdnet.com, 11 August 2021]
cosy crime noun [U]
UK /ˌkəʊ.zi ˈkraɪm/ US /ˌkoʊ.zi ˈkraɪm/
a type of crime fiction that is light-hearted and often humorous, is set in a small community and does not feature explicit violence
“There is a huge trend at the moment for cosy crime and, to a large extent, Osman is responsible but there was always cosy crime before. He didn’t start it… in a way it harks back all the way to Agatha Christie,” said RCW agent Sam Copeland. “I don’t think cosy crime has overtaken psychological thrillers but has certainly taken a bite out of that market.”
[thebookseller.com, 9 November 2021]
petfishing noun [U]
/ˈpet.fɪʃ.ɪŋ/
a crime that involves attempting to sell someone a pet, usually a puppy or kitten, that has been bred and kept in bad conditions and is often unhealthy or ill
Petfishing is when rogue breeders or scammers attempt to sell people pets that have been reared in poor conditions. For example, they may use fake online adverts featuring stock images to dupe the buyer into thinking the puppy or kitten they want to buy is a certain breed or is being reared in a better environment than it actually is.
[nationalworld.com, 19 November 2021]