Step 1

Lime bikes are not bicycles. They are mopeds.

Step 2

Leaving a large, heavy, ugly lump of plastic wherever you like is not ‘docking’, it’s fly-tipping.

Step 3

Lime bikes are the parakeets of the pavement.

Step 4

My government will proscribe LimeBike, Inc. as a terrorist group.

Step 5

When passing a Lime bike that is blocking the pavement you gotta give it that hawk tuah. Spit on that thang.

Step 6

Fuck you and the Lime you rode in on.

Step 7

If you want a picture of the future, imagine a Lime bike riding over a human face – forever.

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Upon the whole, though many other circumstances daily occur in the streets of the metropolis that might serve to distinguish the four parts of the day, yet these which Hogarth has selected appear to be the most striking, and evince him not only to be a proficient in his art, but also to possess a consummate knowledge of the town.
    — Thomas Clerk, The Works of William Hogarth (1810)

Below are photographic re-creations of The Four Times of the Day, taken between 2017 and 2025.

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How can I know what I think till I see what I say?
    — Graham Wallas, The Art of Thought

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A Question is the best beacon towards a little Speculation.
    — Keats, to Benjamin Bailey, 1 November 1817

Model for your student how to use discussion and writing to develop ideas.

In maths, you’re meant to ‘show your workings’. In an essay that a student has the opportunity to edit – coursework, for example – they don’t need to show all of their workings. Writing the essay is a way for them to figure out what they think, and they can then go back to put that thesis in the introduction and to trim any fat.

Two

Help your student to

• Speak about complex ideas,

• Read high-quality material, and

• Write essays on which they will receive detailed feedback.

These are three ways of thinking.

For obvious reasons, weight lessons towards speaking, and homework to reading and writing.

Three

In his preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde says that ‘Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril.’ This is an invitation as well as a warning.

Four

When reading a play with one student, you can’t dish out multiple parts. So, for every scene, know who the main speaker is, get your student to read that part, and fill in the others yourself. That way, your student can concentrate on the most important things being said.

For example, in the first scene of Othello, your student can read Iago, focussing on the way he describes Othello behind his back; and in the second scene, your student can read Othello, focussing on how he presents himself and comes across.

Five

If you’re teaching texts which you don’t know the whole of well, make a virtue of necessity and specify by comparing analogous passages. For example, the censure of Eve by Adam in Paradise Lost (X. 867–908) and the censure of the Duchess by her brothers in The Duchess of Malfi (II. v. 22–82).

Six

We value our annotations. Sometimes we value them as one would a life raft in a sea tempest. But a huge number of old annotations can actually make it harder to engage with and teach a text; to see the wood through the trees. Try re-reading a clean copy. What’s important today, for this student?

Seven

Do the texts in Michaelmas mode first time round, i.e. properly, in detail, on their own literary terms, because when you come back to them in the summer term you’ll be doing them from the exam’s point of view.

Eight

Most students’ essays take most of their details from the first half of the text. Your student’s can stand out by exploring the end – the second generation in Wuthering Heights, for example, or Othello’s final speech.

Nine

When comparing texts, pair analogous characters, almost in a Joseph Campbell-like way. For example, in A Streetcar Named Desire and The Handmaid’s Tale, Blanche and Offred both experience guilt, have illicit sex, try to stay sane, and end by being forcibly removed from where they have been living. The Doctor and Matron can be compared to the Eyes, Allan to Luke, Stanley to the Commander, Stella to Moira, etc.

Ten

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There may be even in flattery an honest kind of teaching, if princes, by being told that they are already endued with all virtues necessary for their functions, be thereby taught what those virtues are, and by a facile exhortation excited to endeavour to gain them.
    — Donne, Ignatius His Conclave

The best thing I learnt at the Institute of Education is to treat your student’s written work with the utmost seriousness. Read and comment on it as if it is a book that you’re editing. Even do this if they’ve dashed it off – it might shame them into greater effort next time.

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John Gray, New Statesman podcast, 17 October 2025:

[To save liberalism requires] a strong state, and a relatively unfettered state of the kind we had […] in the time of Margaret Thatcher we had unfettered parliamentary sovereignty. […] the virtue of that was that it allowed radical changes in the ruling settlement without violence […] whether we can get back to that, as I hope we still might, is another question[.]

• ALWAYS-on display: /ˈɔːlwɪz/, second syllable the same as whizz.

• Ann Summers LINGERIE: /ˈlãʒri/, in the French way. NOT /ˌlɑnƷəˈreɪ/.

• AQUAFRESH: /ˈeɪkwə-/. NOT /ˈakwə-/.

• ARCHETYPAL character: /ɑːˈkɛtɪp(ə)l/, accent on second syllable.

• ARTISAN sourdough: /ɑːtɪˈzan/, accent on last syllable.

• Attention DEFICIT: /ˈdifɪsɪt/, first syllable to rhyme with reef.

• BOURBON whisky: /ˈbʊəbɒ̃/, in the French way.

• BROMANCE: /brəʊˈmans/. NOT accent on first syllable, which is American.

• CASUAL sex: /ˈkaʒəl/, two syllables.

• CELEBUTANTE: /sɪˈlɛbjᵿtɒ̃/, in the French way.

• COLGATE: /ˈkɒlɡət/. NOT /ˈkɒlɡeɪt/.

• COMRADE Delta: /ˈkʌmrᵻd/, first syllable the same as come.

• CONVERSE high-tops: /kənˈvəːs/, accent on second syllable. NOT /ˈkɒnvəːs/.

• COST-of-living crisis: /kɔːst/, to rhyme with forced.

• COUPON codes: /ˈkuːpɔ̃/, in the French way. NOT /ˈkuːpɒn/.

• COVERT narcissist: /ˈkʌvət/, like cover. NOT /ˈkəʊvəːt/, like over.

• Cruella DE VIL: /dʊˈvil/, in the French way, like Déville. NOT /dəˈvɪl/.

• Disney’s RECESS: /rᵻˈsɛs/, accent on second syllable.

• Double DENIM: /dɪˈnɪm/, accent on second syllable. NOT /ˈdɛnɪm/.

• DUVET day: /duːˈveɪ/, accent on second syllable.

• EXECUTIVE toy: /ɛgˈzɛkətɪv/. NOT /ɛɡˈzɛkjʊtɪv/.

• The EYRIE in Game of Thrones: /ˈɛːri/, the same as airy.

• Fast-food RESTAURANT: /ˈrɛst(ə)rɒ̃/, French pronunciation, no final T.

• FLACCID penis: /ˈflaksɪd/. NOT /ˈflasɪd/.

• GARAGEBand: /ˈɡarɑːʒ/, to rhyme with barrage. NOT /ˈɡarɪdʒ/.

• GIGABYTE: /ˈdʒʌɪɡəbʌɪt/. Not /ˈɡɪɡəbʌɪt/.

• GLITTERATI: /ɡlɪtəˈreɪtʌɪ/ like hate I. NOT /ˌɡlɪtəˈrɑːti/ like arty.

• High-visibility WAISTCOAT: /ˈwɛskᵻt/, first syllable to rhyme with less, no T.

• HOLIDAY park: /ˈhɒlɪdi/, last syllable the same as dee.

• ILLUMINATI: /ɪljuːmɪˈneɪtʌɪ/. NOT /ɪˌluːmɪˈnɑːti/.

• INCOGNITO mode: /ɪnˈkɒgnɪtəʊ/. NOT /ˌɪnkɒɡˈniːtəʊ/.

• INHERENT Vice: /ɪnˈhɪərənt/, second syllable the same as hear.

• INNOVATIVE finance ISA: /ˈɪnəʊveɪtɪv/. NOT /ˈɪnəvətɪv/.

• Le PAIN Quotidien: /pã/, in the French way.

• Leigh HALFPENNY: /ˈheɪpni/, first syllable the same as hay. NOT as spelt.

• The MAMAS and the PAPAS: /məˈmɑːz/ and /pəˈpɑːz/, accents on the second syllable.

• MARLBORO Gold: /ˈmɔːlbrə/, first syllable the same as maul.

• Multipurpose COMPOST: /ˈkɒmpəst/. NOT /ˈkɒmpɒst/.

• NASA SOJOURNER: /ˈsʌdʒənə/. NOT /ˈsɒdʒənə/.

• NESCAFÉ: /nɛsˈkafeɪ/, accent on second syllable. NOT /ˈnɛskəfeɪ/, accent on first.

• NETIQUETTE: /nɛtᵻˈkɛt/, accent on last syllable.

• Oxford & CHERWELL Valley College: /ˈtʃɑːwəl/, first syllable to rhyme with car.

• PAPA John’s: /pəˈpɑː/, accent on second syllable. NOT /ˈpɑpə/.

• PAPA Smurf: /pəˈpɑː/, accent on second syllable. NOT /ˈpɑpə/.

• Paul GASCOIGNE: /gasˈkɔɪn/, accent on second syllable.

• PEJORATIVE term: /ˈpiːdʒərətɪv/, accent on first syllable.

• PINTEREST: /ˈpɪntrɪst/. NOT /ˈpɪntərɛst/.

• Pizza FUNGHI: /ˈfʌnʤʌɪ/, like lunge eye. NOT /ˈfʌŋɡiː/, like Bungay.

• Playboy MAGAZINE: /maɡəˈziːn/, accent on second syllable.

• POWYS: /ˈpəʊɪs/, first syllable to rhyme with go. NOT /ˈpaʊɪs/, first syllable rhyming with cow.

• PROJECTILE-vomit: /ˈprɒdʒɛktʌɪl/, accent on first syllable.

• QUASI-autonomous non-governmental organisation: /ˈkweɪzʌɪ/, first syllable to rhyme with pays. NOT /ˈkwɒzɪ/.

• Quorn ESCALOPE: /ˈɛskələʊp/, accent on first syllable, last to rhyme with pope.

• RALEIGH Chopper: /ˈrɔːli/, to rhyme with poorly. NOT /ˈrali/ like rally.

• REAL Madrid: /reɪˈɑːl/, to rhyme with grey marl. NOT /reɪl/.

• RENAULT Clio: /ˈklʌɪəʊ/, as in cryo-. NOT /ˈkliːəʊ/.

• RETAIL therapy: /rɪˈteɪl/, accent on second syllable.

• The REVENANT: /rəvəˈnɑ̃/, in the French way. NOT /ˈrɛvᵻnənt/.

• Ribbed CONDOM: /ˈkʌndəm/. NOT /ˈkɒndɒm/.

• SANS serif: /sɒ̃/, in the French way.

• Stinky Pete the PROSPECTOR: /prəʊˈspɛktə(r)/, accent on second syllable.

• Student FINANCE Wales: /fɪˈnans/, first syllable the same as fin, accent on second.

• Superhero GENRE: /ʒɑ̃r/, in the French way.

• Total RECALL: /rᵻˈkɔːl/, accent on second syllable.

• Trump derangement SYNDROME: /ˈsɪndrəmi/. NOT /ˈsɪndrəʊm/.

• TWITTERATI: /twɪtəˈreɪtʌɪ/. NOT /ˌtwɪtəˈrɑːti/. So in culturati, glamourati, etc.

• VACUUM-packed food: /ˈvakjʊəm/, three syllables.

• VALET parking: /ˈvalɪt/, to rhyme with mallet.

• Video SURVEILLANCE: /syrˈvɛjɑ̃s/, in the French way. NOT /səˈveɪləns/.

• Volkswagen GOLF: /ɡɒf/, to rhyme with scoff. NOT /ɡɒlf/.

• Weston-super-MARE: /ˈmɑːri/, to rhyme with sari.

• WHATEVS: /hwɒtˈɛvz/, wh aspirated.

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• Of a cartoon depicting Marie Curie as being less intellectual and important than her husband, Pierre: ‘Well, it sums up the Vanity Fair, yeah, but we needn’t take that all that seriously, need we?’ (‘The Curies’, 26.3.2015)

• Someone says that Simone de Beauvoir was thought to be letting down the communist side by telling the truth. Melvyn [aside]: ‘that’s always been a problem.’ (‘Simone de Beauvoir’, 22.10.2015)

• ‘I think novels aren’t just fictional constructs. They’re the life of people we believe in. And our imagination goes out to them, and they become as real as you three. Tess was as real as any of you here.’ (‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’, 5.5.2016)

• ‘A lot of those ideas must have seemed radical and revolutionary at the time. They’re quite commonplace today, aren’t they? And they’re quite good ideas.’ (‘The American Populists’, 15.6.2017)

• ‘[S]omebody who stood up and knew what his policies were […] would be handy.’ (‘Constantine the Great’, 5.10.2017)

• ‘Can we just swing a few statistics round the studio? Everybody else is doing it – we’ll do it quickly and get it over with.’ (‘Li Shizhen’, 28.11.2019)

• ‘They [coffee houses] got too lively and they were spreading ideas – heaven forbid, in this country.’ (‘Coffee’, 12.12.2019)

• Correcting his own use of the historical present: ‘He goes to Durham. He went to Durham.’ (‘Saint Cuthbert’, 28.1.2021)

• ‘So swindling with money or employing people on huge estates for next to nothing, they escape any sort of censure at all.’ (‘Booth’s Life and Labour Survey’, 10.6.2021)

• Steve Jones says that Karl Marx used coral as a metaphor for us: great when combined, contemptible as individuals. Melvyn: ‘I don’t like being lumped as puny, weak, and whatever else he said.’ (‘Corals’, 28.10.2021)

• Dickens thought that he was better than the other people in the blacking factory. Melvyn: ‘Well, he’s allowed to feel that.’ (‘A Christmas Carol’, 16.12.2021)

• ‘You read plenty of speeches – well, I do anyway – and you think, “Well, bit dead”.’ (‘Demosthenes’ Philippics’, 17.11.2022)

• ‘[A]re you sure that the blunt turning down of this, again and again, was not because […] the elite who’d had it so good for a long time in Parliament, thought that they didn’t want their tablecloth to be soiled by these working people?’ (‘Chartism’, 9.2.2023)

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absolutely, adv. and int.

Pronunciation: /ˈabsəluːtli/
Etymology: < absolute adj. + -ly suffix

1. adv. To the fullest extent; in the highest degree; entirely, wholly, utterly. With exact fidelity to detail; accurately, precisely. Conclusively, decisively; categorically; completely. Unreservedly, wholeheartedly, unconditionally.
2. int. (in a somewhat weakened sense) Yes.

absolutism, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈabsəljuːtɪz(ə)m/
Etymology: < absolute adj. + -ism suffix

1. The practice of absolute government; absolute authority, despotism.
2. The belief among interviewees on the Today programme that saying ‘absolutely’ is a superior way of saying ‘yes’.

advertising, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈadvətʌɪzɪŋ/
Etymology: < advertise v. + -ing suffix

The attempt to convince the advertisee that, contra John Trusler, father of the English thesaurus, need and want are not merely ‘words esteemed synonymous’, between which a distinction can in fact be ‘pointed out, and the proper choice of them determined’, but rather actual synonyms.

A-leveller, n.

Pronunciation: /ə ˈlɛvlə/, /ˈeɪ ˌlɛvlə/
Etymology: < A adj. or n. + leveller n.

One who would level all differences of position or rank among men; spec. (in reduplicated form A-leveller leveller) by means of grade inflation.

all-good, adj.

Pronunciation: /ˈɔːlˌɡʊd/
Etymology: < all adv. + good adj.

1. Esp. of God: entirely or infinitely good; omnibenevolent.
2. (Usu. informal. In a somewhat weakened sense) Fine, OK, all right, sorted, etc.

Amazon, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈaməz(ə)n/
Etymology: < Latin Amazon < Greek Ἀμαζών

A race of female warriors alleged by Herodotus, etc. to exist in Scythia, an ancient tax haven.

arranged gay marriage, n.

Pronunciation: /əˈreɪn(d)ʒd ˈmarɪdʒ/
Etymology: < arranged, adj. + gay adj. + marriage n., merging arranged marriage n. + gay marriage n.

A gay marriage the partners to which are chosen by others, usu. their parents.

autopsychephilia, n.

Pronunciation: /ˌɔːtəʊˌsʌɪkəˈfɪliə
Etymology: < + auto- comb. form + psyche n. + -philia comb. form

A paraphilia characterised by sexual arousal caused by thinking about your own mind.

B

beer and sandwiches, n.

Pronunciation: /bɪə ənd ˈsan(d)wɪtʃəz/
Etymology: beer n. + and conj. + sandwiches n.

1. Informal negotiations. The phrase became associated with last-ditch talks between trade unionists and politicians at 10 Downing Street when a strike or stoppage was in the offing, as frequently happened in the 1960s and 1970s. The named fare is regarded as typical of the negotiators.
2. A square meal.

big whoop, int. and n.

Pronunciation: /ˌbɪɡ ˈwʊp/
Etymology: < big adj. + whoop n.

1. int. Expressing dismissiveness: ‘So what?’ ‘Who cares?’
2. n. A big utterance of ‘whoo(p)’, contronymous to sense 1, expressing approval in place of applause: ‘Oh my God! I agree!’

Black Friday, n.

Pronunciation: /blak ˈfrʌɪdeɪ/
Etymology: < black adj. + Friday n.

Orig. but no longer solely U.S.

1. (A name given to) Friday, 24 September 1869, a day of financial panic on Wall Street, precipitated by the introduction into the financial market of a large quantity of government gold, with the aim of making it more difficult to corner the gold market.
2. (A name given to) the day after Thanksgiving, a day of retail panic on Oxford Street, precipitated by the introduction into shops of a large quantity of cut-price tat, with the aim of making it more difficult not to fall off the pavement.

C

chilli sans carne, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈtʃɪli sɔ̃ ˈkɑːneɪ/
Etymology: < literally ‘chilli pepper without meat’, after chilli con carne.

A stew of Mexican origin not containing minced beef flavoured with chillies. Also known as chilli con Quorne.

class warrior, n.

Pronunciation: /klɑːs ˈwɒrɪə/
Etymology: < class adj. + warrior n.

A fighting man ranking in the top class; a person, whose occupation is warfare, showing impressive stylishness in appearance, performance, or behaviour.

click through, v.

Pronunciation: /klɪk θruː/
Etymology: < click v. + through adv.

1. Theoret. To access an advertiser’s website by clicking on an advertisement on another web page.
2. Pract. To access an advertiser’s website by (accidentally) clicking on an advertisement on another web page.

conservative | Conservative, n.

Pronunciation: /kənˈsəːvətɪv/
Etymology: < Middle French conservatif characterised by a tendency to preserve or conserve.

1. With small ‘c’: A person who conserves or preserves something; an adherent of traditional values, ideas, and institutions; an opponent of (social and political) change, a conservative person.
2. With big ‘C’: Contronymous to sense 1, a person who does not conserves or preserves something; an adherent of non-traditional values, ideas, and institutions; a proponent of (social and political) change, a non-conservative person.

coupled cords, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈkʌp(ə)ld kɔːdz/
Etymology: < coupled adj. + cords n., after double denim.

colloq. (chiefly Brit. and Austral.) A style of dress in which a corduroy jacket or shirt is worn with a pair of cords or a corduroy skirt, often regarded as a breach of fashion etiquette.

courage, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈkʌrɪdʒ/
Etymology: < Old French corage, a common Romanic word, answering to Latin corāticum < cor heart.

That quality of mind which shows itself in choosing a ‘weak’ password without fear or shrinking.

critical thinking, n.

Pronunciation: /ˌkrɪtɪkl ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
Etymology: < critical adj. + thinking n.

1. The objective, systematic, and rational analysis and evaluation of factual evidence in order to form a judgement on a subject, issue, etc.
2. = thinking n.

cultural imperialism, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈkʌltʃ(ə)rəl ɪmˈpɪərɪəlɪz(ə)m/
Etymology: < cultural adj. + imperialism n.

The extension of the influence or dominance of one nation’s culture over others, now usually through the exportation of cultural commodities; spec. ‘English (United States)’ as the doggedly self-restoring dictionary default on Microsoft Word.

curiologic, adj.

Pronunciation: /ˌkjʊərɪəˈlɒdʒɪk/
Etymology: < A bad adaptation of Greek κῡριολογικός ‘speaking literally’.

1. Of or pertaining to that form of hieroglyphic writing in which objects are represented by pictures.
2. Of or pertaining to that form of text message in which facial expressions are represented by emoji or emoticons.

customer, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈkʌstəmə(r)/
Etymology: < custom n. + er suffix.

Deployed on the principle of Newspeak that ‘reduction of vocabulary [is] regarded as an end in itself’, for the purpose of replacing and thereby ‘eliminating undesirable words’ such as student, voter, passenger, patient, film-goer, pub-goer, diner, etc.

D

degree, n.

Pronunciation: /dɪˈɡriː/
Etymology: < late popular Latin degradus < de- prefix down + gradus step

1. An academical rank or distinction conferred by a university or college as a mark of proficiency in scholarship.
2. Contronymous to sense 1, a mortgage taken out on a certificate of economic viability.

DJ, v.

Pronunciation: /ˈdiːdʒeɪ/
Etymology: Initialism

1. To work or perform as a disc jockey.
2. To take January as a month in which one refrains from drinking any alcohol as a personal challenge.

Durham, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈdʌrəm/
Etymology: name of a town and a county in the north of England.

1. The poor man’s Oxbridge.
2. Subseq. to ‘access’, contronymous to sense 1, the rich man’s Oxbridge.

E

e-bike, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈiːbʌɪk/
Etymology: < e- comb. form + bike n.

A large, heavy, ugly lump of plastic used to obstruct pavements; an impediment; a piece of detritus.

Ecce Homo, int. (and n.)

Pronunciation: /ˈɛkeɪ ˈhəʊməʊ/
Etymology: Latin, < ecce ooh, look + homo a man (John 19:5).

Used parenthetically to indicate that a statement, action, etc., which could be understood as homoerotic, is. Opposite of ‘no homo’.

enshittification, n.

Pronunciation: /enˌʃɪtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
Etymology: < en- prefix + shit adj. + -ification comb. form

The process of a product or service, especially one connected with the internet, social media, or technology, becoming or being made worse, more unpleasant, less useful, etc.; spec. the experience of signing into Oxford University Press websites with a library card number.

e-pistle, n.

Pronunciation: / iːˈpɪs(ə)l/
Etymology: < epistle n., punningly after e-mail n.

An electronic communication made to an absent person in writing; an e-mail. Chiefly applied to e-mails which rank as literary productions, or to those of a public character, or addressed to a body of persons. In application to ordinary e-mails used only rhetorically or with playful or sarcastic implication.

ex post, adj.

Pronunciation: /ɛks pəʊst/
Etymology: Perhaps shortened < ex postfacto adv. lit. ‘from what is done afterwards’.

1. Based on or determined by actual results, rather than expectations; calculated retrospectively.
2. (Hence also, by extension) ex-post n. a misjudged, deleted tweet.

executive producer, n.

Pronunciation: /ɪɡˈzɛkjʊtɪv prəˈdjuːsə/
Etymology: executive adj. + producer n.

1. A person who is in charge of a TV series and has control over creative and management decisions that relate to it.
2. A person with an agent who was vaguely involved.

F

Fargo, v.

Pronunciation: /ˈfɑː(r)ɡəʊ/
Etymology: < title of a 1996 film by the Coen Brothers, since adapted at length for television.

To make one’s material go far.

ffſ, phr.

Pronunciation: /fə ˌfʌk(s) ˈſeɪk/
Etymology: initialism < for prep. + fuck n. + ſake n.

Expressing exasperation, annoyance, or urgency medievally.

First World problem | First-World problem, n.

Pronunciation: /fəːst wəːld ˈprɒbləm/
Etymology: < First World n. and adj. + problem n.

A problem affecting the First World and its inhabitants; spec. a cause of frustration or dissatisfaction regarded as trivial, and arising only as a result of the economic and social privilege, access to technology, etc., associated with the First World, e.g. the question of whether or not to hyphenate a two-word proper noun when using it attributively.

G

gentrification, n.

Pronunciation: /ˌdʒɛntrᵻfᵻˈkeɪʃn/
Etymology: < gentrify v. + ‑ification suffix

The process whereby the character of a poor urban area is changed by wealthier people improving housing and attracting new businesses. Used almost exclusively by people who are doing it.

get, v.

Pronunciation: /ɡɛt/
Etymology: < Old Norse geta

trans. (orig. but no longer chiefly U.S.). To have.

Glams | GLAMS, n.

Pronunciation: /ɡlamz/
Etymology: Acronym < the initial letters of gay, lesbian, and minority sexual, after BAME; sometimes also pronounced as an initialism.

Gay, lesbian, and minority sexual: designating (members of) gay, lesbian, and sexual minority communities in the United Kingdom.

gluten-free, adj.

Pronunciation: /ˌɡluːt(ɪ)nˈfriː/
Etymology: < gluten n. + free adj.

1. Designating a diet in which gluten is avoided for health reasons (esp. by sufferers from coeliac disease).
2. Designating a diet in which gluten is avoided for religious reasons (esp. by people leaving Egypt in haste).

go travelling, v.

Pronunciation: /ɡəʊ (ə)ˈtravəlɪŋ/
Etymology: < go v. (+ a prep.) + travelling n. action of travel v.

To travel.

H

hab, n.

Pronunciation: /hæb/
Etymology: Acronym < the initial letters of husbands and boyfriends, with the acronym treated as a singular noun.

orig. German
In pl.: (collectively) the husbands and boyfriends of a group of professional football players, typically characterised as having a high media profile and a glamorous or extravagant lifestyle.

hawk tuah, int.

Pronunciation: /hɔːk ˈtuːə/
Etymology: < onomatopoeic

The sound made when passing a Lime bike that is blocking the pavement.

hip, adj.

Pronunciation: /hɪp/
Etymology: early twentieth century, origin unknown.

1. In hippie, of an idealistic person who wears unbuttoned shirts, flared trousers and a long beard.
2. In hipster, of a cynical person who wears buttoned-up shirts, skinny jeans and a trimmed beard.

I

in medias res, adj.

Pronunciation: /ɪn ˈmiːdɪas reɪz/
Etymology: < Latin ‘in the middle of things’.

1. Of a (usu. young) job hunter: eager to gain paid work in new media.
2. Of a (usu. old) job holder: eager to keep paid work in old media.

inappropriate, adj.

Pronunciation: /ɪnəˈprəʊprɪət/
Etymology: < in prefix + appropriate adj.

1. Unsuitable to the particular case or circumstances. Const. to, for.
2. In later use: in a vague sense offensive, hurtful, etc., app. in every case and all circumstances. Usu. unconst.

indigenous science, n.

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəs ˈsʌɪəns/
Etymology: < indigenous adj. + science n.

= Injuneering

iOS, n.

Pronunciation: /jɒs/
Etymology: Welsh

Mobile operating system.

irrationale, n.

Pronunciation: /ɪˌraʃəˈnɑːl/
Etymology: < a blend of irrational adj. + rationale n.

The fundamental underlying reason for doing something stupid.

ivory tower, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈaɪvərɪ ˈtaʊə(r)/
Etymology: < French tour d’ivoire

A condition of seclusion or separation from the world in which blue-sky research can be undertaken; contr. with Research Excellence Framework ivory-effect demonstrable economic impact tower n.

K

killer ap, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈkɪlə ap/
Etymology: < killer adj. + ap n.

Welsh archer.

L

leaf blower, n.

Pronunciation: /liːf ˈbləʊə/
Etymology: leaf n. + blower n.

A machine used to create harmful or annoying noise in the environment while blowing fallen leaves and other waste matter around.

Lieutenant of the Tower, n.

Pronunciation: /lɛfˈtɛnənt əv ðə ˈtaʊə(r)/
Etymology: < lieutenant n. + of prep. + the adj. + tower n.

1. Hist. An officer who, in the 16th and 17th cents., exacted guard duty and had a right to muster a militia from a large area of East London known as the Tower Hamlets.
2. In later use: Lutfur Rahman.
3. Additional sense (2026): Xi Jinping.

LinkedIn, n.

Pronunciation: /lɪŋkt ɪn/
Etymology: < linked adj. + in adv.

1. = curriculum vitae n. a brief account of one’s professional life.
2. = curriculum mortis n. a brief account of one’s spiritual death.

listicle, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈlɪstɪk(ə)l/
Etymology: < list n. + testicle n.

1. In interjectory form listicles! balls, bollocks; nonsense, rubbish.
2. An article on the Internet presented in the form of a numbered or bullet-pointed list; i.e. balls, bollocks; nonsense, rubbish.

lit, adj. and n.

Pronunciation: /lɪt/
Etymology: Of multiple origins

1. colloquial (originally U.S.). Amazing, impressive; fun, exciting.
2. Literature. 🤓

literally, adv.

Pronunciation: /ˈlɪt(ə)rəli/
Etymology: < literal adj. + -ly suffix

1. In a literal, exact, or actual sense; not figuratively, allegorically, etc.
2. Contronymous to sense 1, in a non-literal, inexact, or non-actual sense; figuratively, allegorically, etc.

lived experience, n.

Pronunciation: /ˌlɪvd ɪkˈspɪəriəns/
Etymology: lived adj. + experience n.

The things that someone has experienced themselves, especially when these give the person a knowledge or understanding that people who have only heard about such experiences do not have; i.e. experience.

London weighting, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈlʌndən ˈweɪtɪŋ/
Etymology: < London n. + weighting n.

1. An amount added to a salary to compensate for the higher cost of living in the London area.
2. What remainers wished their votes had.

lowest common denominator, phr.

Pronunciation: /ˈləʊᵻst ˈkɒmən dɪˈnɒmɪneɪtə(r)/
Etymology: < lowest adj. + common adj. + denominator n.

1. Mathematics. What one must find to add up numerous vulgar fractions.
2. Audience research. What one must find to add up numerous vulgar viewers.

M

magic money tree, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈmadʒɪk ˈmʌni triː/
Etymology: < magic adj. + money n. + tree n.

1. A source of money, esp. one considered to be easily obtained, inexhaustible, or particularly profitable.
2. According to Norman Tebbit. Work

the Man, n.

Pronunciation: /ðə man/
Etymology: < the adj. + man n.

A group or person in a position of authority over others, such as a corporate employer or the police. Not to be confused with da man in phr. you da man!

millennial, n.

Pronunciation: /mɪˈlɛnɪəl/
Etymology: < post-classical Latin millennium n. + -al suffix.

1. orig. U.S. A person reaching young adulthood around the year 2000.
2. Also in extended use: a youngish fool.

mineral water, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈmɪn(ə)rəl ˈwɔːtə/
Etymology: < mineral adj. + water n.

Esp. as bottled commercially: water containing dissolved minerals, i.e. water.

mumblecore, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈmʌmb(ə)lkɔː/
Etymology: < mumble v. + -core comb. form on the model of hardcore adj. and n.

1. A style of low-budget film, typically characterised by the use of non-professional actors and naturalistic or improvised performances.
2. A style of high-budget BBC One drama, typically characterised by the use of professional actors, scripted performances, and mumbling.

my, adj.

Pronunciation: /mʌɪ/
Etymology: Variant of mine adj.

1. Of or belonging to me; of or relating to myself; which I have, hold, or possess.
2. Marketing. In phrases My Sky, My O2, My Virgin Media etc., contronymous to sense 1, of or belonging to someone else; of or relating to someone else; which someone else has, holds, or possesses.

N

netromancy, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈnɛtrəmansi/
Etymology: after necromancy n. < net n. + -mancy comb. form forming nouns with the sense ‘divination by’.

A form of divination by which someone’s biography, personality, destiny etc. is inferred from their Internet history or social media profiles.

O

offender, n.

Pronunciation: /əˈfɛndə/
Etymology: < offend v. + -er suffix

1. Law. A person who breaks the law.
2. (Increasingly merging with sense 1) A person who gives offence.

old cove, n.

Pronunciation: /əʊld kəʊv/
Etymology: perhaps from Romani kova, ‘thing or person’.

1. A fellow, chap, old boy; often as a term of familiar address.
2. Covid-19.

on, prep.

Pronunciation: /ɒn/
Etymology: Cognate with Old Saxon an < the same Indo-European base as ancient Greek ἀνά on.

colloq. (orig. but no longer chiefly U.S.)

1. Addicted to or under the influence of (a drug or drugs). In phr. on drugs: taking drugs regularly or habitually, esp. for their stimulant or narcotic effects.
2. Hence, by extension, addicted to or under the influence of (Instagram, TikTok, etc.). In phrs. on Instagram, on TikTok, etc.: using those social media regularly or habitually, esp. for their procrastinative or idleful effects.

on a case-by-case basis, phr.

Pronunciation: /ɒn ə keɪs bʌɪ keɪs ˈbeɪsɪs/
Etymology: < case by case adv.

Case by case.

one-hit pony, n.

Pronunciation: /wʌn hɪt ˈpəʊni/
Etymology: < one-hit adj. + pony n.

A small horse not over 14.2 hands in height, which gains only one popular success before returning to relative anonymity.

Osballs, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈɒzbɔːlz/
Etymology: Blend of the names of George Gideon Oliver Osborne, Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer (2010–) and Edward Michael Balls, Labour Shadow Chancellor (2011–). Perh. influenced by balls v. and balls int.

Polit. The economic policy of Balls, regarded as largely undifferentiable from that of Osborne; advocacy of this policy.

overshareware, n.

Pronunciation: /əʊvəˈʃɛːwɛː/
Etymology: < blend of overshare v. + shareware n.

Software which is available free of charge for evaluation and allows one to reveal an inappropriate amount, esp. via webcam.

P

pathetic fallacy, n.

Pronunciation: /pəˈθɛtɪk ˈfaləsi/
Etymology: < pathetic adj. + fallacy n.

1. The attribution of human emotion or responses to animals or inanimate things, esp. in art and literature.
2. Hence sloppily: Any description of anything.

PayPal, int.

Pronunciation: /peɪ pal/
Etymology: pay v. + pal n.

Demand of a terse Scottish debt collector.

peak beard, n.

Pronunciation: /piːk bɪəd/
Etymology: < peak n. and adj. + beard n.

A style of beard with a pointed tip in the shape of a peak, which has never regained the height of popularity it enjoyed in the late sixteenth century (‘peak peak beard’).

Pornosec, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈpɔːnəʊ sɛk/
Etymology: < porno- comb. form + sec- (in section n.)

1. A name given by George Orwell to a department of the Ministry of Truth: ‘Pornosec, the sub-section of the Fiction Department which turned out cheap pornography for distribution among the proles.’
2. Subseq. euphem. the Internet.

prorogue, v. and adj.

Pronunciation: /prə(ʊ)ˈrəʊɡ/
Etymology: < classical Latin prōrogāre to prolong, extend.

1. v. To discontinue the meetings of (a legislative or other assembly) for a period of time or until the next session, without dissolving it.
2. adj. In favour of rogue options or ‘going rogue’.

psycho psycho psychoanalyst, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈsʌɪkəʊ ˈsʌɪkəʊ ˌsʌɪkəʊˈanəlɪst/
Etymology: < psycho n. + psycho n. + psychoanalyst n.

A person who psychoanalyses psychos, as well as, incidentally, being a psycho.

public convenience, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈpʌblɪk kənˈviːnɪəns/
Etymology: < public adj. + convenience n.

1. A lavatory for the convenience of the public.
2. Contronymous to sense 1, in the case of pay toilets, a lavatory for the inconvenience of the public.

R

-r, suffix

Pronunciation: /r/
Etymology: < truncation of -er suffix

A website which has to do with (the thing denoted by the primary n. or v.).

Radio 1, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈreɪdɪəʊ wʌn/
Etymology: < radio n. + one n. (Arabic numeral 1)

It was loud, and vain, and endlessly repeated; and it had little harmony, but rather a clamorous unison as of many trumpets braying upon a few notes. And it essayed to drown the other music by the violence of its voice.

ratioed, adj.

Pronunciation: /ˈreɪʃɪəʊd/
Etymology: < ratio n. + -ed suffix

1. (of a tweet) to have many more replies than likes or retweets.
2. (of a book page) to have more footnotes than body text.

remaster, v.

Pronunciation: /riːˈmɑːstə/
Etymology: < re- prefix + master v.

1. To make a new master of (a record, etc.), typically in order to improve the quality.
2. Fig. and in extended use, to turn up the volume and rerelease as part of an expensive box set.

right now, adv.

Pronunciation: /rʌɪt naʊ/
Etymology: right adv. + now adv.

1. Immediately, without delay, at this very moment.
2. Commercial television. Contronymous to sense 1, mediately, after a delay, in a moment.

S

Screwfix | screwfix, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈskruːˌfɪks/
Etymology: screw n. + fix v.

1. A retailer of trade tools, accessories, and hardware products.
2. An abortion.

search me, v.

Pronunciation: /sɜːtʃ miː/
Etymology: < search v. + me pron.

1. Used (chiefly imp. in response to a question) to imply that the speaker has no knowledge of some fact or no idea what course to take.
2. Used (chiefly imp.) to signal that the listener must search for the speaker online.

selective attention, n.

Pronunciation: /sɪˈlɛktɪv əˈtɛnʃən/
Etymology: selective adj. + attention n.

1. Psychol. Applied to the capacity for, or process of, selection manifested by the mind or senses in reacting to certain stimuli and not to others.
2. Pol. The ability to ignore sentences that begin, ‘Downing Street has responded by saying…’

short-sighted, adj.

Pronunciation: /ʃɔːt ˈsaɪtɪd/
Etymology: < short adj. + sighted adj.

1. Having short sight; having the focus of the eyes at less than the normal distance; unable to distinguish objects clearly at a distance; myopic.
2. Never looking up from one’s smartphone.

six degrees of separation, phr.

Pronunciation: /sɪks dɪˈɡriːz əv sɛpəˈreɪʃən/
Etymology: < John Guare’s 1990 play of that name < Stanley Milgram’s 1967 ‘small world phenomenon’ < Frigyes Karinthy’s 1929 short story ‘Láncszemek’.

1. The theory that if someone is one ‘step’ away from each person they know, and two steps from each person known by them, then everyone is on average six steps away from every other person on earth.
2. What an over-qualified divorce lawyer has.

small talk, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈsmɔːltɔːk/
Etymology: < small adj. + talk n.

Boasting.

Speaker’s Corner, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈspiːkəz ˈkɔːnə/
Etymology: < speaker n. + corner n.

The north-east corner of the House of Commons, noted as a place where a soap-box orator airs his views. Now hist.

spelling pronunciation, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈspɛlɪŋ prəˌnʌnsɪˈeɪʃn/
Etymology: < spelling n. + pronunciation n.

A foolish opinion, advanced of late years, that we ought to speak exactly as we spell.

spin room, n.

Pronunciation: /spɪn rʊm/
Etymology: < spin n. partly as a back-formation from spinning n. + room n.

A designated area where, after a debate or other political event, politicians participate in an intense form of line-toeing exercise involving ‘riding a stationary bicycle’ at a constantly varying pace set by journalists.

spinning, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈspɪnɪŋ/
Etymology: < spin v. + -ing suffix.

1. The action of putting a bias or slant on something, intending to create a favourable impression. Freq. in phr. to put a positive spin on ——.
2. Sense 1, as applied to using an exercise bike.

square-eyed, adj.

Pronunciation: /skwɛər ʌɪd/
Etymology: < square adj. + eyed adj.

Affected by or given to excessive watching of screens. Chiefly hist., now that everyone is.

success, n.

Pronunciation: /səkˈsɛs/
Etymology: < Latin successus < succēdĕre to succeed.

When it’s quicker to search for your work on Google than your own hard drive.

T

tabloid, adj.

Pronunciation: /ˈtablɔɪd/
Etymology: < tabl- (in tablet n.) + -oid suffix.

1. Compressed; concentrated, esp. in order to be easily assimilated; sensationalistic, populist, or reductive; of or resembling tabloid journalism.
2. In later use also: of or pertaining to text read on a tablet computer.

tax, n.

Pronunciation: /taks/
Etymology: < Old French taxer < Latin taxare to censure, charge, compute.

1. Doms. A compulsory contribution to the support of government.
2. Non-doms. Contronymous to sense 1: A discretionary contribution to the support of government.

tax avoidance, n.

Pronunciation: /tæks əˈvɔɪdəns/
Etymology: < tax n. + avoidance n.

1. The arrangement of financial affairs so as to reduce tax liability within the law.
2. (hence also, by extension) Not earning any money in the first place.

textspeak, n.

Pronunciation: /tɛkst spiːk/
Etymology: < text n. + -speak suffix

A foolish opinion, advanced of late years, that we ought to spell exactly as we speak.

tickety-boo, adj.

Pronunciation: /ˌtɪkətɪˈbuː/
Etymology: Obscure, perhaps < Hindi ṭhīk hai all right.

What you hope things will be if you keep agreeing to websites’ terms and conditions.

totes cray, n.

Pronunciation: /təʊts kreɪ/
Etymology: < tote n. + cray adj.

Large, crazy handbags or shoulder bags.

tumbleweed | Tumbleweed, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈtʌmb(ə)lwiːd/
Etymology: < tumble v. + weed n.

1. Name in U.S. for various plants which form a globular bush which in late summer is broken off and rolled about by the wind; a rolling weed.
2. A post on Tumblr that no one sees.

trending, adj.

Pronunciation: /ˈtrɛndɪŋ/
Etymology: < trend v. + -ing suffix, action of trend v.

Topics currently popular or the cause of much discussion on a news or social media website; also transf. useful words and phrases with which to tag a (sometimes entirely unrelated) post that might otherwise be ignored.

twet, v.

Pronunciation: /twɛt/
Etymology: back-formation < tweet v.

Pseudo-arch. and -dial.
1. trans. To post (a message, item of information, etc.) on the social networking service Twitter.
2. intr. To make a posting on Twitter. Also: to use Twitter regularly or habitually.

U

un-GC, adj.

Pronunciation: /ˌʌndʒiːˈsiː/
Etymology: un- prefix + GC n.

Grammatically incorrect; not conforming to the rules of grammar.

unperson, v.

Pronunciation: /ʌnˈpəːsn/
Etymology: after unperson n., George Orwell’s phrase for a person who is deemed not to have existed. In extended use, a person of no political or social importance.

trans. to make into an unperson; spec. to unfriend on Facebook, unfollow on Twitter, or otherwise excommunicate via social media (usu. in pa. pple.).

user experience, n.

Pronunciation: /ˈjuːzə ɪkˈspɪərɪəns/
Etymology: < user n. + experience n.

The overall experience of a person using highly toxic and addictive drugs, especially heroin or crack cocaine, spec. in terms of how easy or pleasing they are to use.

V

voice up, v.

Pronunciation: /vɔɪs ʌp/
Etymology: < voice v. + up adv.

1. To speak highly of (a person or thing); to praise. Usu. in pass. Obs.
2. Radio production. To read out (a statement, letter, etc.).

W

the wildcard delusion, n.

Pronunciation: /ðə ˈwʌɪldˌkɑːd dɪˈluːʒ(ə)n/
Etymology: < the adj. + wildcard n. + delusion n., after The God Delusion (2006) by Richard Dawkins.

The fixed false opinion or belief, esp. as a form of mental derangement, that the world needs another book called The —— Delusion.

win–win | Win Win, adj. and n.

Pronunciation: /ˌwɪnˈwɪn/
Etymology: win v. + win v.

1. Designating circumstances in which each party involved can benefit, or in which all possible outcomes are favourable.
2. Played hooker for Llanelli Scarlets (1971–78)

woke, adj.

Pronunciation: /wəʊk/
Etymology: < woke, past participle of wake v.

1. Originally: well-informed
2. Now chiefly: Contronymous to sense 1, doctrinaire, self-righteous, or pernicious.

Y

you know, int.

Pronunciation: /juː nəʊ/
Etymology: < you pron. + know v.

I know.

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London on BFI Player.

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Essex

Becontree Hundred: Cabin Hill

• 308 feet

• London Borough of Redbridge

• 51.623565, 0.136432

Havering-atte-Bower (royal liberty): Orange Tree Hill

• 344 feet

• London Borough of Havering

• 51.615974, 0.183370

Waltham Hundred: Pole Hill

• 299 feet

• London Borough of Waltham Forest

• 51.636424, 0.001443

Kent (Lathe of Sutton-at-Hone)

Blackheath Hundred: Shooter’s Hill

• 433 feet

• Royal Borough of Greenwich

• 51.470304, 0.069778

Bromley and Beckenham Hundred: Elmstead Wood

• 279 feet

• London Borough of Bromley

• 51.419924, 0.039179

Little and Lesnes Hundred: Bostall Hill

• 240 feet

• London Borough of Bexley

• 51.481399, 0.128868

Ruxley Hundred: Westerham Heights

• 804 feet

• London Borough of Bromley

• 51.289525, 0.058405

Middlesex

Elthorne Hundred: Haste Hill

• 308 feet

• London Borough of Hillingdon

• 51.597368, -0.418897

Gore Hundred: Stanmore Hill

• 499 feet

• London Borough of Harrow

• 51.631125, -0.336231

Isleworth Hundred: The Vale (Heston)

• 115 feet

• London Borough of Hounslow

• 51.486315, -0.384312

Ossulstone Hundred: Hampstead Heath

• 446 feet

• London Borough of Camden

• 51.561254, -0.180605

Surrey

Brixton Hundred: Westow Hill

• 361 feet

• London Borough of Lambeth

• 51.419975, -0.078604

Kingston Hundred: King Henry’s Mound

• 184 feet

• London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames

• 51.444981, -0.294024

Corrections welcomed.

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