Earthing noun [U]
UK /ˈɜːθɪŋ/ US /ˈɝːθɪŋ/
a sport that combines running and swimming, in which the competitor dives off the end of the running track into the swimming pool

Earthing has combined the two most popular Olympic sports, sprinting and swimming, into one explosive race. Earthing is the pursuit of the quickest human on the planet; running on the surface, flying in the air, and paddling through the water.
[gobeyondsports.com, 21 November 2021]

drone soccer noun [U]
UK /ˈdrəʊn.ˌsɒk.əʳ/ US /ˈdroʊn.ˌsɑː.kɚ/
a team game played between two teams of up to five people, in which each team tries to win by flying a drone into the other team’s goal

Sanders is keen to build up drone soccer both for participants and as a spectator sport. He says that the barriers for entry are much lower than the more elite-focused drone racing. He sees drone soccer developing over the next few years from a high school sport to university level and then a professional league.
[forbes.com, 30 July 2021]

wallball noun [U]
UK /ˈwɔːl.bɔːl/ US /ˈwɑːl.bɑːl/
a sport similar to squash in which players hit a ball against a wall using their hands rather than a racket

Now, “wallball’s” time may have come in the UK with the opening of what organisers believe is the country’s first community single-wall facility. Its backers are hoping hundreds more will follow. The court, in the shadow of the Shard tower in Southwark, London, is a passion project of NHS doctor Daniel Grant, who is running UK Wallball.
[theguardian.com, 8 April 2021]

About new words

graternity leave noun [U]
UK /grəˈtɜː.nə.ti ˌliːv/ US /grəˈtɝː.nə.t̬iˌliːv/
a period in which someone is granted paid time off work in order to look after their newborn grandchild

But graternity leave is also acknowledgement of the generational ties that bind, that being a grandparent is an important role and that striking a life-work balance isn’t the sole preserve of the young. Newborns … are notoriously short-term in outlook. Which is why grandma needs time off straight away to bring calm to chaos and grandad can do his bit by taking over the nursery drop-offs for older siblings.
[www.telegraph.co.uk, 9 December 2021]

Dad Thriller noun [C]
UK /ˈdæd ˌθrɪl.əʳ/ US /ˈdæd ˌθrɪl.ɚ/
a genre of Hollywood film made in the 1990s that has an intelligent, exciting plot and is designed to appeal mostly to men in their 30s and 40s

The Dad Thriller draws on courtroom dramas, spy movies, the conspiracy thrillers of the 1970s, and the action blockbusters of the 1980s. The vibe is “action movie you might be able to convince your wife to see because it’s sort of about politics, science, and/or legal stuff.” … The Dad Thriller is adjacent to, but distinct from the blockbuster action, science-fiction, or disaster movie, specifically due to [its] veneer of political or moral sophistication.
[boingboing.net, 17 November 2021]

Zoomer noun [C]
UK /ˈzuːm.əʳ/ US /ˈzuːm.ɚ/
a way of referring to someone who is part of Generation Z, the group of people who were born between the years 1997 and 2015

Since Zoomers grew up during major crises like the financial crisis of 2007, and witnessed how their families struggled with financial hardships, they became aware of the importance of money security. That’s why this generation values savings, smart investment, and stable jobs … All generations always find something to be proud of but it seems that Generation Z is probably the best so far – even if I, as a Zoomer, say so.
[newafricanmagazine.com, 30 June 2021]

About new words

swicy adjective
/ˈswaɪ.si/
having a taste that is both sweet and spicy

Mash-ups like “swicy” reflect an even wider embrace of flavor fusions that marry savory spices and heat with sweetness. Nene, a South Korean-based fried chicken chain that is just starting to move into North America, has even named a sauce swicy. Its flavor profile mirrors what would happen if gochujang and ketchup had a baby.
[nytimes, 28 December 2021]

carnisplorer noun [C]
UK /ˈkɑː.nɪˌsplɔː.rəʳ/ US /ˈkɑːr.nɪˌsplɔːr.ɚ/
a person who is interested in tasting and cooking many different parts of an animal, especially those that are normally less popular with other people who eat meat

Are you a “carnisplorer”? I hadn’t heard this one before, but according to Oliver Chadwyck-Healey, the Waitrose meat buyer … the food chain is seeing more demand for nuggets such as lamb’s liver and oxtail as we become more creative cooks. “These adventurous carnisplorers are embracing nose-to-tail eating,” says Oliver, adding that it’s a more sustainable way of eating.
[telegraph.co.uk, 6 February 2022]

seaganism noun [U]
/ˈsiː.gən.ɪ.zəm/
the practice of eating only plant-based foods and seafood

The last decade saw a rise in pescatarians and flexitarians. Now, at the start of the 2020s, a new trend is picking up steam: seaganism, where people follow a vegan diet but include sustainably sourced seafood for healthy extra protein and an occasional fleshy treat. Seagans not only add fish to mealtimes for variety but to benefit from high quality omega-3 fatty acids that can be hard to source on a traditional vegan diet.
[msc.org, 18 January 2021]

About new words

FORO noun [U]
UK /ˈfəʊrəʊ/ US /ˈfoʊroʊ/
abbreviation for “fear of running out”: a worried feeling that you may run out of a product or a supply of something

While consumers have been picking up extra tins of tuna and packs of rice, this behaviour repeated on toilet paper is very noticeable as there are just not as many units for sale on the shelf as the products themselves are so much larger. The larger product size and fewer units kept combined with FORO has caused the out of stocks. These out of stocks have fuelled FORO even more creating a vicious cycle of demand.
[internetretailing.com.au, 23 April 2020]

FONO noun [U]
UK /ˈfəʊnəʊ/ US /ˈfoʊnoʊ/
abbreviation for “fear of normal”: a worried feeling about going back to your normal life and activities after the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic

A recent Washington Post article talked about a new phenomenon some are starting to experience, as the end of COVID flashes on our collective horizon. It’s like FOMO (“fear of missing out”), for the post-pandemic world: FONO. FONO refers to the “fear of normal,” an unexpected reaction that many of us face, as lockdown and social distancing measures loosen and wind down.
[supportiv.com, 30 March 2021]

HOGO noun [U]
UK /ˈhəʊgəʊ/ US /ˈhoʊgoʊ/
abbreviation for “hassle of going out”: a feeling that leaving the house in order to socialise is too difficult or not worth the trouble

After months at a time spent indoors in comfortable clothes tucking into takeaways during various lockdowns, a phenomenon dubbed “HOGO” (the hassle of going out) appears to be taking hold. Pent up desire to get out and about when Covid-19 safety restrictions were finally lifted across the UK seems to have dissipated for many households. Now, instead of enjoying a meal out, a concert or sporting fixture many people have grown weary of socialising outside of their homes.
[inews.co.uk, 21 November 2021]

About new words

greenflation noun [U]
/ˌgriːn.ˈfleɪ.ʃᵊn/
an increase in prices resulting from the move to a green economy

Vaibhav Chaturvedi, a fellow at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), sees “greenflation”, or the costs associated with going green, as a concern, especially in the short-term. “Underlying commodity prices are rising everywhere in the world,” he said. Prices of metals such as tin, aluminium, copper, nickel-cobalt have risen by up to 91 per cent this year. These metals are used in technologies that are a part of the energy transition.
[euronews.com, 22 November 2021]

cyan shopper noun [C]
UK /ˌsaɪ.ᵊn ˈʃɒp.əʳ/ US /ˌsaɪ.ᵊn ˈʃɑː.p.ɚ/
someone who tries to buy only environmentally friendly products

From rubbish-filled oceans to depleted forests, consumers have never been more aware of the world’s eco challenges. And it’s this wide-ranging environmental concern of “cyan shoppers” (blue for the ocean and green for trees) that will increasingly drive their purchasing decisions.
[springwise.com, 26 November 2021]

smog tower noun [C]
UK /ˌsmɒg.ˈtaʊəʳ/ US /ˌsmɒg.ˈtaʊɚ/
a tall, narrow structure that uses fans and filters to clean the air in an area where there is a lot of air pollution

India’s capital New Delhi has opened its first “smog tower”, aimed at reducing the air pollution blamed for thousands of premature deaths every year, but experts are sceptical … The tower cost $2m and critics say erecting a sufficient number to clean the air substantially across the city would cost huge amounts of public money, and that efforts would be better directed at the sources of the smog.
[aljazeera.com, 23 August 2021]

About new words

clean inboxer noun [C]
UK /ˌkliːn ˈɪn.bɒk.səʳ/ US /ˌkliːn ˈɪn.bɑːk.sɚ/
someone who reads and takes action on every email they receive when they receive it, so that there are never any unread emails in their inbox

As a fellow clean inboxer, I’ll give you the same advice a former boss gave me after a 4-week medical leave: “Delete it. Delete it all. If it’s important, they’ll email again.”
[Leigh Morgan, twitter.com, 22 February 2020]

tattleware noun [U]
UK /ˈtæt.ᵊl.weəʳ/ US /ˈtæt̬.ᵊl.wer/
software that allows an employer to monitor the activity of someone who is working from home, in particular to make sure the employee is working when they are supposed to be

A growing cottage industry of what some managers call “tattleware” now caters to company leaders wanting some way to peer over workers’ shoulders and confirm their productivity. Several time-tracking and employee-monitoring companies … told The Washington Post they have seen their customer base and revenue soar since the pandemic pushed many companies remote.
[washingtonpost.com, 30 April 2020]

DAO noun [C]
UK /ˌdiː.eɪˈəʊ/ US /ˌdiː.eɪˈoʊ/
abbreviation for decentralized autonomous organization: an organisation or company that exists online and is managed according to a set of rules that exist in the form of computer code, with financial transactions being carried out by members using cryptocurrency

DAOs can come in all shapes and structures, but simply put, “a DAO is an internet community with a shared bank account,” Cooper Turley, an investor and builder of several popular DAOs, tells CNBC Make It. “Basically, a small group of people come together to form a chat group, and then they decide to pull capital together, [typically] using an Ethereum wallet,” Turley says. From there, they decide how to fund their DAO’s mission collectively, he says.
[cnbc.com, 25 October 2021]

About new words

dial artist noun [C]
UK /ˈdaɪ.əl ˌɑː.tɪst/ US /ˈdaɪ.əl ˌɑːr.t̬ɪst/
someone who is paid to alter a watch by painting it, engraving it etc. in a unique design

It’s hard to escape the current trend for personalisation … And now watches have got in on the act. When it comes to watch customisation there are two distinct routes: either go official and buy from a brand that is already offering the service, or go rogue and purchase from dealers and “dial artists” who can reinvent your Rolex and pimp your Patek so it’s truly a one-off.
[thetimes.co.uk, 21 November 2021]

neck mess noun [C]
/ˈnek ˌmes/
an arrangement of necklaces of different lengths and styles all worn at the same time in a way that is deliberately untidy

If you’re looking for an easy put-together layered look this Christmas, then the neck mess is for you. But what exactly is a neck mess? The latest take on necklace layering, it is a perfectly imperfect assemble of your favourite necklaces. An artful arrangement of pendants, chains, and chokers, styled with a thrown together attitude. A trend with its own hashtag – #neckmess, this new, popular take on jewellery styling already has a devoted following.
[blog.scarletocean.com, 18 October 2021]

demi-fine adjective
/ˌdemiˈfaɪn/
Demi-fine jewellery is made from precious metals like gold and silver but is not as expensive as fine jewellery

In the world of Zoom, Teams and Google Meet, a wave of young consumers are investing in demi-fine pendants, earrings and chains to elevate their everyday wear on screen — without the fine jewellery price tag … While the jewellery market declined 18 per cent from 2019-2020 according to Euromonitor, demi-fine brands like Missoma, Catbird, Monica Vinader and Maria Black have seen double-digit growth.
[voguebusiness.com, 20 January 2021]

About new words

carbon pawprint noun [C]
UK /ˌkɑː.bᵊn ˈpɔː.prɪnt/ US /ˌkɑːr.bᵊn ˈpɑː.prɪnt/
a measurement of the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere produced through activities relating to owning a pet

Our dogs’ carbon pawprints are largely related to their diets, with carbon-intensive ingredients such as meat being the main contributing factor … It has been estimated that the carbon pawprint associated with owning a medium sized dog is roughly twice that of running a typical SUV car, and the dogs in the USA are responsible for emissions equivalent to 13 million cars, or 64 million tonnes of CO₂ per year.
[vetchef.com, 9 March 2021]

planetarian noun [C]
UK /ˌplæn.əˈteə.ri.ən/ US /ˌplæn.əˈter.i.ən/
someone who buys, prepares and eats food in a way designed to have the smallest possible impact on the planet

Eating less meat and dairy is one of the ways we can have a positive impact on the future of the planet, as multiple studies on climate change have demonstrated … If you’ve ever tried Meatless Monday, vegan before 6, or any other not-vegan-all-the-time method in an effort to reduce your meat consumption, you’re probably on your way to becoming a planetarian.
[cnn.com, 6 December 2021]

pollution lockdown noun [C]
UK /pəˌluː.ʃᵊn ˈlɒk.daʊn/ US /pəˌluː.ʃᵊn ˈlɑːk.daʊn/
a period of time in which people are not allowed to leave their homes or travel freely, because of the high levels of pollution in the atmosphere

Delhi has been engulfed in a shroud of smog for the past few weeks. The air pollution has become so severe in India’s capital city that schools have been closed indefinitely, and work-from-home guidelines were implemented in the nation’s first pollution lockdown.
[newframe.com, 7 December 2021]

About new words