If you’re like me, trying to keep up with the vertiginous speed of change of the English language is quite the struggle.
Thankfully, the good people at the Oxford Dictionaries, the arm of the Oxford family that focuses on current English, are working to put it all in black and white for us.
So now, when you feel too exhausted to pronounce the “z” in Crazy and share with me that You had a “cray” day, I’ll know that your day was not in any way comparable to a day in the life of a poor crustacean, but that you’ve just gone through some seriously hectic 24 hours. And then I can proudly reply with a YOLO (and face the consequences, as us noobs always have to).
So, here is a selection of Oxford Dictionaries’ new entries:
acquihire (n.): buying out a company primarily for the skills and expertise of its staff.
adorbs (adj.): arousing great delight; cute or adorable.
air punch (n.): thrusting one’s clenched fist up into the air, typically as a gesture of triumph.
amazeballs (adj.): very impressive, enjoyable, or attractive.
anti-vax (adj.): opposed to vaccination.
binge-watch (v.): watch multiple episodes of a television program in rapid succession.
bro hug (n.): a friendly embrace between two men.
clickbait (n.): (on the Internet) content whose main purpose is to attract attention and draw visitors to a particular web page.
cray (adj.): crazy, but without that time-consuming extra syllable.
Deep Web (n.): the part of the World Wide Web that is not discoverable by means of standard search engines.
doncha (contraction): don’t you.
douchebaggery (n.): obnoxious or contemptible behaviour.
e-cig (n.): another term for electronic cigarette.
fandom (n.): the fans of a particular person, team, series, etc., regarded collectively as a community or subculture.
fast follower (n.): a company that quickly imitates the innovations of its competitors.
5:2 diet (n.): a diet that involves eating normally for five days out of a seven-day period and greatly restricting the amount of food eaten on the other two days.
FML (abbrev.): (vulgar slang) f— my life! (used to express dismay at a frustrating personal situation)
hate-watch (v.): watch (a television program usually) for the sake of the enjoyment derived from mocking or criticizing it.
hot mess (n.): a person or thing that is spectacularly unsuccessful or disordered.
hot mic (n.): a microphone that is turned on, in particular one that broadcasts a spoken remark that was intended to be private.
humblebrag (n. & v.): (make) an ostensibly modest or self-deprecating statement whose actual purpose is to draw attention to something of which one is proud.
hyperconnected (adj.): characterized by the widespread or habitual use of devices that have Internet connectivity.
ICYMI (abbrev.): in case you missed it.
listicle (n.): an Internet article presented in the form of a numbered or bullet-pointed list.
live-tweet (v.): post comments about (an event) on Twitter while the event is taking place.
mansplain (v.): (of a man) explain something to someone, typically a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing.
mud run (n.): an event in which participants negotiate a course consisting of obstacles filled or covered with mud.
neckbeard (n.): growth of hair on a man’s neck, especially when regarded as indicative of poor grooming.
Paleo diet (n.): a diet based on the type of foods presumed to have been eaten by early humans.
second screen (n.): a mobile device used while watching television, especially to access supplementary content or applications.
sentiment analysis (n.): the process of computationally identifying and categorizing opinions expressed in a piece of text.
side boob (n.): the side part of a woman’s breast, as exposed by a revealing item of clothing.
side-eye (n.): a sidelong glance expressing disapproval or contempt.
smartwatch (n.): a mobile device with a touchscreen display, worn on the wrist.
SMH (abbrev.): shaking (or shake) my head (used to express disapproval, exasperation, etc.).
spit take (n.): (especially as a comic technique) an act of suddenly spitting out liquid one is drinking in response to something funny or surprising.
subtweet (n.): (on Twitter) a post that refers to a particular user without directly mentioning them, typically as a form of furtive mockery or criticism.
tech-savvy (n.): well informed about or proficient in the use of modern technology.
time-poor (adj.): spending much of one’s time working or occupied.
throw shade (phr.): publicly criticize or express contempt for someone.
vape (v.): inhale and exhale the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device.
WDYT (abbrev.): what do you think?
YOLO (abbrev.): you only live once (expressing the view that one should make the most of the present moment).