I have been a bit quiet in here lately, so to show I am not completely asleep at my desk, a new thread.
Amusing New Words.
I am usually not thrilled by the redefinition of words in or by popular culture. The use of words such as “wicked” to mean “great” or “very good”, seems totally unnecessary, the language already having plenty of scope to deal with such a description.
However some new words I welcome, especially those with a hint of humour in their birth. One of the earliest I remember was “ghettoblaster”. Excellent, in that it so perfectly described the object in question. I suppose though, that if the word were newly coined today, no doubt the PC police would pounce with claws fully extended.
I only recently heard of “mcjob”, and am amused by the efforts of McDonald’s to try and modify its dictionary meaning…and yes, it has now qualified for entry into the dictionary, meaning “a poor job, with little or no prospects”.
I heard another one I rather like yesterday. “Wingman”.
Not heard this one before, and I had the word’s meaning explained to me quite brilliantly by a teenage lad last night. So I wondered how many others might have used, or heard used, the word “wingman” in a new context, a context somewhat different from the usual “Top Gun” usage.
So: anyone else know and have a definition of what “wingman” means? If not I will explain later.
I’m a wingman myself. You know how some men are breastmen, others are legmen or arsemen, well I like wings. In an attempt to encourage human evolution towards specific goals I plan on finding a woman with the signs of wing development and breeding.
It’s a pretty long-term project, and I doubt that I’ll see it’s fruition, but I can die knowing I did my bit to take mankind to the next step.
Wingbaby:
From Gary Larson cartoon. Baby doll attached to the wing of a passenger aircraft in order to illustrate to children what happens if you misbehave during filght.
If you need definitions for ‘new’ words check out urbandictionary.com
WARNING: depending on the content (most of the words), the definitions can get a bit graphic.
I am winging it here without the use of Google, but I first heard the term “wingman” a couple of years ago in, I believe, a Budweiser ad, saluting the wingman for his self-sacrifice. I subsequently learned, or so I thought I’d learned, that it is a term used in hockey.
Now that I’ve posted, I’ll go check out the sources.
I don’t know if the term “curling kids” is in use in English. If not, it should be.
It’s an overprotected child that doesn’t know how to deal with problems on its own.
Metaphorically the parents run in front of the child, franticly at work trying to make it glide through life as effortlessly as possible.
I think i will use this term, especially for the kids who don’t only have the parents “sweeping” for them but also need someone to hold the broom at the end of the rink to tell them where to aim.
It’s fairly common and it’s in the dictionary. If you’re talking to someone who doesn’t have, or work with children, it’s best to add an explanation, just to be on the safe side.
I’m pretty sure I heard that from somewhere, but I forget where exactly. I did however find it under a dictionary widget on my mac, and I think you can find it on many dictionaries online.