#metoo, “no deal”, and KRACK: October’s Words in the News

1st Nov 2017

To someone of my generation, red sun sounds like the sequel to a terrible 80s film about an unlikely Soviet occupation of the Midwestern United States. In fact, it refers to a bit of weather we had here in the UK in mid-October. There have been several hurricanes of note… Read More

The totally rad guide to Stranger Things slang

27th Oct 2017

With Stranger Things 2 now streaming on Netflix, we’re here to help you get up to speed with your ‘80s terminology. We’ve selected some of our favourite words from the show, from the eerie Upside Down to Eleven’s favoured insult, mouthbreather. Upside Down ‘Upside down.’ – Eleven Let’s start… Read More

Ghosts gather here! The etymological history of Halloween

24th Oct 2017

As leaves start to fall and the world develops a sepia tint, so begins autumn – a mystical time of year, with Halloween historically believed to mark the turning point of summer into colder months. This spooky season we’ve compiled a list of traditional Halloween words and phrases to examine… Read More

Hot cod! Are you feeling apptimistic or indulging in aquafaba? Lucy Mangan explains.

9th Oct 2017

I came across a new (to me) word myself this week, as I was reading avidly about New York in a bid to stop myself from become wholly consumed with envy of my husband who had managed to need to go there for a week for work. The word is… Read More

Snailing, plandid shots & snark: Exploring the latest word submissions

20th Sep 2017

It’s been a fortnight since we last gathered round this digital fireplace, which means there must be a new political and Instagram term to share – and so there be. In the former slot we have “Moggmentum”, submitted – with enthusiasm, despair, or the simple diligence of… Read More

10 lost words from the Collins English Dictionary to build into everyday conversation

20th Sep 2017

With the recent research unveiled by the University of York discovering lost words in historic texts, we decided to root around in the Collins English Dictionary to uncover a selection of unusual linguistic gems that can be used in everyday conversation. 1. Whiffler – ‘a person… Read More

Expand ye vocab on #TalkLikeAPirateDay with 12 swashbuckling words & phrases

18th Sep 2017

Ahoy there! So ye want to talk like a pirate? Ye’ve come to the right place matey! In celebration of #TalkLikeAPirateDay we’ve put together a collection of classic pirate words and phrases to spice up your vocab. Arr! 1. All hands on deck Got an urgent task… Read More

80 years of The Hobbit: The unique language of J.R.R. Tolkien

8th Sep 2017

In honour of The Hobbit’s 80th anniversary, we explore the origins of some of the legendary words and phrases J.R.R. Tolkien coined, within his own novels and during his time as a dictionary editor. Hobbit Perhaps his most famous linguistic invention, the word became well-known in 1937 after… Read More

GIF, enchroma glasses, and taking a knee: September’s Words in the News

2nd Sep 2017

Few people nowadays could imagine the internet without GIFs, but even fewer would guess that the format is now 30 years old. Yes, Steve Wilhite, a computer engineer at CompuServe, invented the format in 1987, and Atari was one of its target platforms. (And you’ll need to dust off your… Read More