Friday, 18 January 2008

A new language emerges....

As if the world doesn't have enough words AUSTRALIA appears to be continuing to invent words and phrases to reflect modern society and is holding a competition to see which should succeed. Here are a selection of some of the entries - with a few additional nominations.

Perhaps these will become part of our everyday language at some point in the future...albeit for some in many, many years time.

  1. SMIRTING - developed as a consequence of the smoking ban... "Smirting" meaning chatting up a fellow smoker while having a sneaky puff outside: "Smoking + Flirting = SMIRTING".
  2. BOSSTALGIA - nostalgia for the old boss when you've forgotten what a nightmare they were: see Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair et al.
  3. CARBON PAW PRINT - this is what is left by owners taking their dogs - in cars - to the park for a walk.
  4. MONKEY BATH - a bath so hot, that when lowering yourself in, you go: "Oo! Oo! Ho! Aa!Aa!Aa!".
  5. MOUSE POTATO - the on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.
  6. WIINJURY - injury sustained whilst playing on a Nintento wii.
  7. GADGETRICIAN - one who embraces new technology and the host of new gadgets it brings.
  8. SPROGINATOR - derived from terminator - child with tendency to destroy best laid plans.
  9. PLEATHER - e.g. cheap leather 'look' handbags that are made of plastic.
  10. PICNIC - Problem In Chair Not In Computer. Often seen on IT help-desk reports.
  11. GLOBESITY - the problem of rising obesity around the globe.
  12. FLOORDROBE - the use of the floor as a substitute wardrobe.
  13. PASSWORD FATIGUE - Frustration caused by having too many passwords and failing to remember them.
  14. TANOREXIA - An obsessive desire to have tanned skin.
  15. CHINDIA - refers to China and India as a collective unit, in terms of economic power and strategic importance.
  16. KIPPERS - adult children who fail to leave home - a contraction of Kids In Parents' Pockets Eroding Retirement Savings.

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