tang ping noun [S]
/ˌtæŋ ˈpɪŋ/
a Chinese term meaning “lie flat” that describes a trend where people reject the pressure to work long hours in a stressful job, and instead adopt a more relaxed lifestyle

Young people in China exhausted by a culture of hard work with seemingly little reward are highlighting the need for a lifestyle change by “lying flat”. The new trend, known as “tang ping”, is described as an antidote to society’s pressures to find jobs and perform well while working long shifts … The idea behind “tang ping” – not overworking, being content with more attainable achievements and allowing time to unwind – has been praised by many.
[bbc.co.uk/news, 3 June 2021]

WFC noun [U]
abbreviation for “working from cafés”: the activity of working remotely from a café rather than travelling to an office or working from home

Working from cafés (WFC) is probably also set to become a more prominent part of what we do … WFC is popular in places that have agile workforces and for freelance workers without a permanent office. But any office workers with a laptop have found it useful too. The flexibility of working unmonitored in a pleasant space often gives people the sense of freedom from standard workplace norms, and a connection to the world in which we live.
[www.sydney.edu.au/business/news-and-events, 7 September 2020]

jobfishing noun [U]
UK /ˈdʒɒb.fɪʃ.ɪŋ/ US /ˈdʒɑːb.fɪʃ.ɪŋ/
the illegal practice of recruiting people to work for a company that does not exist in order to trick them into sending their personal information and working without being paid

In jobfishing scams skilled, experienced professionals are taken in by fake companies and asked to pay money or share personal details before starting work. However, the impacts go beyond the financial. “The repercussions are terrible because not only can you lose money, you can have your identity stolen or completely derail your career,” McLean continues … “Jobfishing can take so much of your key information away from you, which can then be used in identity fraud or sold on.”
[www.stylist.co.uk, 30 March 2022]

About new words

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]

About new words

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]

About new words

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]

About new words

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