Oxford's editors have welcomed a new batch of words to their
database, validating young people and making life less confusing for old people
Oxford Dictionaries,
the arm of the Oxford family that focuses on current English, announced on
Wednesday that they’ve added the latest batch of words to their ranks.
For all those who are ready to set their quills to parchment
and declare the end of the English language, now that such frivolous terms are
getting respect from Oxford, please keep in mind that this is not the Oxford
English Dictionary. That arm of the family is more like the serious and
intellectual grandfather who constantly withholds his approval from younger
generations. In other words, the OED editors require words to have much more
historical, significant impact before adding them to that reference.
Caveats made, here is a selection of Oxford Dictionaries’
noobs:
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).
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