infla-dating noun [U]
UK /ˈɪn.fləˌdeɪ.tɪŋ/ US /ˈɪn.fləˌdeɪ.t̬ɪŋ/
going out with someone you have a romantic relationship with to do things that are not very expensive

As you can guess by its name, infla-dating is a trend where people are going on cheaper dates. This trend works for people who are in a long-term relationship as well as singles on a first date. Because with everything as expensive as it is right now, it’s not financially practical to have a date at fancy restaurants anymore.
[yourtango.com, 16 April 2023]

wokefishing noun [U]
UK /ˈwəʊk.fɪʃ.ɪŋ/ US /ˈwoʊk.fɪʃ.ɪŋ/
pretending to care more than you actually do about social problems such as racism and inequality in order to attract someone you want to have a romantic relationship with

So, what’s “wokefishing?” Don’t fall prey to this sneaky dating trend. Wokefishing is like the love child of being “woke” and “catfishing,” and it’s as deceptive as it sounds. Wokefishing is all about pretending to be socially conscious to attract potential partners. These modern-day chameleons will say anything to make you think they’re as progressive as can be.
[distractify.com, 17 May 2023]

untyping noun [U]
/ˈʌn.taɪ.pɪŋ/
choosing to start a romantic relationship with someone who isn’t the type of person you normally find attractive

To hell with consistency: “untyping” has hit the dating scene to shake things up, perhaps for the better. Rather than succumb to dating burnout, singles are thinking outside the box and parting ways with the norms in a partner they once considered to be dealbreakers.
[myimperfectlife.com, 27 May 2023]

About new words

four-hands dinner noun [C]
UK /ˌfɔː.hændz ˈdɪn.ər/ US /ˌfɔːr.hændz ˈdɪn.ɚ/
a special dinner cooked in an expensive, often famous restaurant by two senior chefs

Modern German restaurant Heimat’s head chef Peter Find and Towngas’ CulinArt 1862 head chef Stanley Wong are coming together for a special four-hands dinner happening in March and April. Celebrating their 30 years of friendship as well as their shared German heritage, the two chefs have prepared unique eight-course menus complete with sake and German wine pairings.
[timeout.com, 28 February 2023]

alpha-footing noun [U]
/ˈæl.fəˌfʊtɪŋ/
the activity of choosing not to wear shoes in certain situations, such as in business meetings, said to be a sign of wealth and power

Goodbye loafers, beefed-up boaters and clunky cowboy boots – the new summer shoe for men is … nothing. Yup, the ultimate power move right now is alpha-footing, aka taking off your shoes completely. The naked foot look was dramatically brought to the screen by Lukas (Alexander Skarsgard) in Succession.
[thetimes.co.uk, 23 May 2023]

pandemic brain noun [S]
/pænˈdem.ɪk ˌbreɪn/
a series of symptoms including forgetting things and not being able to think clearly that people are said to experience as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, even if they have not had Covid

From early on in the pandemic, college students reported strange symptoms even if they didn’t have COVID-19 — like forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, and an inability to think clearly. News outlets and social media users labeled the phenomenon “pandemic brain.” New research published in the Journal of American College Health suggests that college students may have been experiencing pandemic brain at the start of the 2020–2021 school year through spring 2022.
[bestcolleges.com, 24 April 2023]

About new words

supercloud noun [S]
UK /ˈsuː.pə.klaʊd/ US /ˈsuː.pɚ.klaʊd/
a single computing system where services such as storage, apps etc. from different providers can be easily accessed by the user

The answer proposed by the supercloud concept is to create another abstraction layer above this that operates agnostically of whatever cloud platform or platforms are running below it. This is the supercloud, where applications can be run in containers or virtual machines, interfacing with any cloud platforms underneath.
[forbes.com, 4 April 2023]

exascale adjective
/ˈek.sə.skeɪl/
An exascale computer is very powerful, able to carry out one quintillion (10¹⁸) mathematical operations per second

Exascale supercomputers are the next frontier in computing. They can quickly analyze massive volumes of data and realistically simulate many of the extremely complex processes and relationships behind the fundamental forces of the universe—in a way that’s never been done before. Many industries and systems could be affected, including precision medicine, climate science, and nuclear physics.
[mckinsey.com, 22 November 2022]

sky computing noun [U]
UK /ˌskaɪ kəmˈpjuː.tɪŋ/ US /ˌskaɪ kəmˈpjuː.t̬ɪŋ/
a way of accessing services, apps etc. on different systems on the internet through a top level to which all the systems belong

Sky computing has been described as “the layer above the clouds.” The term refers to a newer model of cloud computing known as multi-cloud, where organizations may pick and choose different cloud services from different operators according to their specific requirements.
[techbehemoths.com, 20 July 2022]

About new words

RTO abbreviation
UK /ˌɑː.tiːˈəʊ/ US /ˌɑːr.tiːˈoʊ/
abbreviation for “return to office”: going back to the workplace after working from home during and after the Covid pandemic

The very existence of the RTO debate — with its emphasis on the physical location of employees — is really a failure to prioritize the needs of a business. There’s no single RTO answer that works across the board. What does work, no matter the company or the department, is a focus on clients and shareholders.
[forbes.com, 19 April 2023]

rust-out noun [U]
/ˈrʌst.aʊt/
a feeling of extreme boredom and lack of enthusiasm, caused by not having enough to do at work or working on unfulfilling tasks for too long

The vast majority of us are familiar with the concept of burnout, especially those who work in fast-paced or high-pressure industries. But, according to experts, a lesser-known workplace phenomenon has now emerged: rust-out, burnout’s bored, disengaged cousin. Rust-out is commonly caused by “moving too slow” or being “still for too long”.
[harpersbazaar.com, 11 May 2023]

climate quitting noun [U]
UK /ˈklaɪ.mət ˌkwɪt.ɪŋ/ US /ˈklaɪ.mət ˌkwɪt̬.ɪŋ/
the act of leaving your job because the organization where you work is not doing enough to fight climate change

New research released by KPMG today shows that Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors are influencing employment decisions for almost half of UK office workers, with millennials and younger workers driving the growing trend of ‘climate quitting’ – seeking out a more environmentally friendly job.
[kpmg.com, 24 January 2023]

About new words

password child noun [C]
UK /ˈpɑːs.wɜːd tʃaɪld/ US /ˈpæs.wɝːd tʃaɪld/
a humorous way of referring to a parent’s favourite child, supposedly because the parent will often use the name of that child as a computer password

It’s common knowledge that older parents are notoriously bad at remembering passwords, which is probably why they use the same thing repeatedly. And that usually involves using one of their kids’ names, so they have less of a chance of forgetting it. Hence, the creation of the password child. While every family has their own, they all tend to have one thing in common: They are mom or dad’s undeniable “favorite.”
[intheknow.com, 24 March 2023]

lucky girl syndrome noun [U]
UK /ˌlʌk.i ˈgɜːl ˌsɪn.drəʊm/ US /ˌlʌk.i ˈgɝːl ˌsɪn.droʊm/
the idea that you can make good things happen simply by imagining them happening and believing you are lucky

“Lucky girl syndrome” is the latest trend doing the rounds online, with the concept being that if you repeatedly tell the universe how fortunate you are, that you will be rewarded with that promotion, proposal or pay rise, depending on what you’re wishing for.
[harpersbazaar.com, 23 January 2023]

Generation Beta noun [S]
UK /dʒen.əˌreɪ.ʃən ˈbiː.tə/ US /dʒen.əˌreɪ.ʃən ˈbeɪ.t̬ə/
a way of referring to the group of people who will be born between 2025 and 2039

Before we know it, Generation Beta will be here. Gen Beta will be born between 2025 and 2039. These new kids, just like the other younger generations, are projected to have different values, behaviors, and preferences than older generations. The technological advances they will live through will make today’s children look like amateurs.
[studentcenteredworld.com, 5 July 2022]

About new words

rich mom energy noun [U]
UK /ˌrɪtʃ mɒm ˈen.ə.dʒi/ US /ˌrɪtʃ mɑːm ˈen.ɚ.dʒi/
the confident attitude and simple, elegant way of dressing that suggests a woman has a lot of money

Rich mom energy was similarly inspired by the lifestyle (and fashion) choices of the superrich. An extension of the quiet luxury trend, it also denotes ostensibly low-key garments—neutral shades, simple cuts, no logos—that are nonetheless ultraluxurious and wildly expensive.
[glamour.com, 17 April 2023]

blandstanding noun [U]
/ˈblænd.stæn.dɪŋ/
wearing clothes that are simple and practical, although very expensive

The quiet, understated rise of blandstanding: standing out amid the sea of gimmicky TikTok trends is an altogether more subtle look. It’s time for blandstanding. Which is? A self-assured appreciation of the familiar, the quotidian, the (maybe just a little bit) boring.
[standard.co.uk, 20 February 2023]

quiet luxury noun [U]
UK /ˌkwaɪ.ət ˈlʌk.ʃər.i/ US /ˌkwaɪ.ət ˈlʌk.ʃər.i/
a fashion trend where clothing is of very high quality, well-cut and in neutral colours

Meanwhile, on TikTok, fashion fans are deeply invested in “quiet luxury,” trading Y2K-inspired trends for minimalist styles and muted colour palettes, and becoming a phenomenon in the process. Thanks to the latter, the search term “quiet luxury” has surpassed 35 billion views on TikTok … Quiet luxury is nothing new. Tech billionaires like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have worn three-figure t-shirts to work for decades.
[refinery29.com, 9 May 2023]

About new words

jugging noun [U]
/ˈdʒʌg.ɪŋ/
a crime in which a robber waits at a cashpoint or bank for someone to withdraw money, before following them and stealing the money from them

Heart-stopping video captured on a home surveillance camera shows a Richardson man run for his life as a stranger darts after him. Richardson police tell NBC 5 it could be an attempted jugging. Juggings involve criminals staking out banks looking for customers leaving with cash. The crooks then follow their potential victim to their next stop and either rob them or break into the victim’s car to take the money.
[nbcdfw.com, 17 March 2023]

rom-con noun [C]
UK /ˈrɒmˌkɒn/ US /ˈrɑːmˌkɑːn/
a situation where a criminal tricks someone into a fake romantic relationship and exploits their trust to get money or personal information out of them

This is romance fraud or, rather snappily, “rom-con”, a crime that’s rising due to the cost-of-living crisis … ITV reported that Santander has launched a specialist division to combat rom-cons: the Break the Spell team works to “interrupt” customers who have been identified as being at high risk, stepping in when the person could be about to send large amounts of cash.
[theguardian.com, 7 May 2023]

infostealer noun [C]
UK /ˈɪn.fəʊ.stiː.ləʳ/ US /ˈɪn.foʊ.stiː.lɚ/
a type of computer software that has been deliberately designed to steal information such as passwords, bank account details etc.

There’s a wide range of data that cybercriminals aim to access through the use of infostealers. Most notably, payment card details and login credentials are highly valuable. A criminal could either directly use this data to their advantage or sell it on a dark web marketplace to other malicious actors.
[makeuseof.com, 30 October 2022]

About new words

doomerism noun [U]
/ˈduːmər.ɪz.ᵊm/
a feeling of worry and fear that a situation will not get better, especially with regard to climate change

Doomerism, or extreme pessimism, is an increasingly common attitude regarding the disheartening trends of climate change. It’s not uncommon to hear “We’re screwed, and nobody is going to help us.” While this attitude is understandable, it can distract from the fight against climate change.
[future.green, 15 August 2022]

danger season noun [S]
UK /ˈdeɪn.dʒə ˌsiː.zən/ US /ˈdeɪn.dʒɚ ˌsiː.zən/
a new way of referring to summer because of the increased likelihood of droughts, wildfires and extreme heat caused by climate change

But summer isn’t what it used to be. The season is getting so hot that it might be time for a new name: “danger season.” … “Climate change has pushed a lot of these types of events into a new realm that is much more dangerous,” said Kristy Dahl, a climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. “So as we were thinking about this season, and how we’re going to respond to it, the phrase ‘danger season’ seemed appropriate.”
[wired.com, 18 June 2022]

flash drought noun [C]
/ˌflæʃ ˈdraʊt/
a sudden period of little or no rain

Fast-forming droughts are occurring more often and with greater speed in many parts of the world due to climate change, a new study finds. These “flash droughts” are replacing more typical, slower ones and are harder to predict and prepare for, which could make their management more difficult.
[sciencenews.org, 13 April 2023]

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Bare Minimum Mondays noun [plural]
UK /ˌbeə ˌmɪn.ɪ.məm ˈmʌn.deɪz/ US /ˌber ˌmɪn.ə.məm ˈmʌn.deɪz/
the trend of doing as little as possible at work on Mondays in order to reduce stress during the rest of the week

There’s a new day of the week that’s gaining popularity among Gen Z workers — “Bare Minimum Mondays.” Bare Minimum Mondays give employees the opportunity to focus only on the most essential tasks on Mondays, freeing up the rest of the week for more creative and fulfilling work.
[realresearcher.com, 27 March 2023]

the Great Regret noun [S]
/ðə ˌgreɪt rɪˈgret/
a trend in the employment market that has seen many people who left their jobs during the Great Resignation regret their decision

The “Great Resignation” is now the “Great Regret”: 80% of job hoppers wish they hadn’t quit their old roles, with Gen Z the most regretful … It seemed like such a good idea at the time. And yet for those who handed in their notice during the so-called “Great Resignation” of 2021, many have seen little benefit for the upheaval.
[fortune.com, 9 February 2023]

proximity bias noun [U]
UK /prɒkˈsɪm.ə.ti ˌbaɪ.əs/ US /prɑːkˈsɪm.ə.t̬i ˌbaɪ.əs/
the way in which people, usually managers, are more likely to treat an employee better if the employee is physically present in the workplace rather than working remotely

The recent shift to remote and hybrid work has created a “visibility” concern for many employees. Proximity bias describes how people in positions of power tend to treat workers who are physically closer to them more favorably, and stems from the antiquated assumption that those who work remotely are less productive than those who work from the office.
[https://hbr.org/, 4 October 2022]

About new words

frolleague noun [C]
UK /ˈfrɒl.iːg/ US /ˈfrɑː.liːg/
a colleague who becomes a friend

By having frolleagues you feel a little bit less at work and more with folks that you have a personal connection with. In interactions with frolleagues your work feels less transactional. I’ve found that I can find trusted frolleagues in different parts of the company, not just in my own area, which is great for collaborating and getting other perspectives.
[linkedin.com, 8 November 2022]

friendshoring noun [U]
/ˈfrend.ʃɔː.rɪŋ/
the practice of operating a business or part of a business in a country that is an ally

Essentially friendshoring refers to the rerouting of supply chains to countries perceived as politically and economically safe or low-risk, to avoid disruption to the flow of business. Tech giant Apple is one American company to have recently made friendshoring moves, relocating some of its iPhone production to India from China.
[weforum.org, 17 February 2023]

friendship recession noun [C]
/ˈfrend.ʃɪp rɪˌseʃ.ən/
a period when many people have few or no friends

American men appear to be stuck in a “friendship recession” — a trend that predates the Covid-19 pandemic but that seems to have accelerated over the past several years as loneliness levels have crept up worldwide. In a 2021 survey of more than 2,000 adults in the United States, less than half of the men said they were truly satisfied with how many friends they had, while 15 percent said they had no close friends at all.
[nytimes.com, 28 November 2022]

About new words