The word for today is… grift (noun) – 1. Money made dishonestly, as in a swindle. 2. A swindle or confidence game. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : 1906 as a noun; 1915 as a verb, U.S. underworld slang, perhaps a corruption of graft. If you enjoyed this BFD word of
Matthew Jordan Penn State Since the start of the pandemic, the film industry has been in free fall. As deaths have continued to climb, so have studio losses, with crowded theaters – once a source of collective entertainment and escapism – now seen as petri dishes for the virus. Familiar blockbuster franchises
The word for today is… ubiquitous (adj) – Being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time; omnipresent. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Ubiquitous comes to us from the noun ubiquity, meaning “presence everywhere or in many places simultaneously.” Both words are ultimately derived from the Latin word for “everywhere,
Martyn Bennett Nottingham Trent University The prospect of a Christmas without large-scale celebrations is preying on minds. After the widespread cancellation of pantomimes, festive light “switch-ons” and other community activities, it seems likely that 2020’s festivities will be much more intimate affairs, potentially with households banned from mixing indoors.
The word for today is… translucent (adj) – Transmitting light but causing sufficient diffusion to prevent perception of distinct images. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Look closely and you will see the same group of three letters in translucent and elucidate, letting the family relationship between the two words shine through.
Freya Higgins-Desbiolles University of South Australia Holidays are a time of high stress. Despite the delight of not having to work for several days or even weeks, holidays come with pressures. These can include catching up with family, giving gifts, consuming to keep the economy buoyant, and having enough fun
Alasdair Macintyre Australian Catholic University Review: The Motorcycle — Art, Design, Desire at Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art Motorcycles are such a guy thing, right? Think Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, Arthur Fonzarelli in television’s Happy Days and Daniel Craig’s James Bond. All blokes, exuding controlled coolness,
Nicholas Joyce University of South Florida Every holiday season, families and friends convene to share affection, kindness and experience. In the ideal holiday atmosphere, one often depicted in commercials and media, such get-togethers are places of warmth, appreciation and general happiness. If you find yourself in such a family, count
Rachel Croson Michigan State University I’m having an amazing holiday season. Each year it seems our travel gets more and more out of control. Between the multiple holidays, family we need to visit distributed all around the country and the rounds of parties for work and with friends, it’
Chris Bryant University of Bath Cultured meat made from animal cells without animal slaughter has been approved for sale for the first time. The approval, granted by the Singapore Food Agency to US food company Eat Just for their cultured “chicken bites”, is a watershed moment for the future of
The word for today is… sinuous (adj) – 1. Characterised by many curves or turns. 2. Characterised by supple and lithe movements. 3. Sinuate: a sinuous leaf. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Although it probably makes you think more of snakes than head colds, sinuous is etymologically more like sinus than
Amanda Laugesen Australian National University Women have had a fraught historical relationship to swearing. Long regarded as guardians of morality and respectability, their use of swear words has been policed and punished in various ways. Yet women have a rich history of using such language as a means of challenging
Andre Spicer City University of London Carl Cederström Stockholm University Religious aspects aside, for many people Christmas has been that unique time of the year when the demands of work finally disappear, if only for a brief period. We get a well-deserved break, time to indulge in fatty food, drink
The word for today is… shill (verb) – 1. To act as a shill for (a deceitful enterprise). 2. To lure (a person) into a swindle. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Someone who shills today may very well be employed to simply extol the wonders of legitimate products. But in the
Ian Hamilton University of York Alex Aldridge Royal Holloway On their own, sex and drugs are cultural taboos. Combining them only adds to our reluctance to talk about them. But understanding how sex and drugs are connected isn’t something we should shy away from or perceive as deviant. Humans
Aaron Jarden University of Melbourne Christmas can be a stressful time of year. You will blow your budget, your relatives will annoy you, and you’ll receive gifts that go straight to Vinnies, all in 40 degree Celsius heat. Meanwhile, your friends post pictures on social media of their idyllic
