Merriam-Webster Adds “WTF” and Other Slang
4 minutes
The language of the people is alive and kicking!
The people’s imagination is boundless!
When an older relative asks what “WTF” means, you no longer have to squirm. Just point them to the dictionary. The latest online edition of Merriam-Webster added about 1,700 entries, including quite a few trendy terms. Let’s take a look at some of them.
WTF abbrev. — “what the fuck”; an expression of shock, anger, confusion, or general bewilderment.
NSFW abbrev. — “not safe for work”; used for websites, email attachments, and other content unsuitable for viewing at work. Some things may not be appropriate at home either. You know what I mean.
jeggings noun — tight jeans or denim leggings.
A blend of jeans and leggings. Jeggings may have fake pockets, so be careful if you usually keep your phone in your pocket!
photobomb verb — to jump into someone else’s photograph as a joke or prank.
eggcorn noun — a misheard word or phrase that sounds like another and still seems to make sense in context.
For example, hearing Elton John’s lyric “Hold me closer, tiny dancer” as “Hold me closer, Tony Danza,” after the American actor. (That is Elton John popping in; pause here and listen to the song.)
(Elton John makes a surprise appearance—pause here and listen to a song.)
meme noun — an idea, behavior, or habit that spreads rapidly among people in a culture or community, such as a baffling overnight sensation.
clickbait noun — an image, headline, or other element designed to make readers click a link, especially when the destination has little value or may be risky. Think sensational headlines or WeChat articles with a suggestive cover image…
colossal squid noun — a giant squid that lives deep in the Southern Ocean and is the largest known invertebrate. We just want to know whether it tastes good.
net neutrality noun — the principle that internet service providers should treat data equally, regardless of its type, source, or destination. Well, all we can do is sigh.
emoji noun — small pictures, symbols, or icons used in online communication, including text messages, to convey feelings, share information, or communicate in a playful, nonverbal way.
sharing economy noun — economic activity in which individuals buy, sell, or share underused goods and services through online companies or organizations. Uber and Airbnb are good examples.
upcycle verb — to recycle a material in a way that gives it greater value or usefulness.
sriracha noun — a hot sauce made from chili peppers, garlic, sugar, salt, and vinegar.
Sriracha is a small city in Thailand’s Chonburi Province. The original Thai sauce was served with seafood at local restaurants. The most common brand in the United States is made by Huy Fong Foods, founded by David Tran, a Vietnamese-American whose family came from Chaozhou, China. (That is what Wikipedia says; this is not an advertisement.)
twerk verb — to dance by rapidly and repeatedly shaking the hips, usually in a crouch and with strongly sexual overtones. If you do a lot of squats, you might pick it up quickly.
(All images found online.)
