Tag: WORD OF THE MONTH
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Word of the Month—February: green nomad
green nomad noun: a person whose travels within Australia are motivated by a concern for the environment. In the Bournda Environmental Education Centre’s 42nd World Environment Day Dinner, held in Tathra, New South Wales, a suggestion was made to the key speaker: … a re-branding of grey nomads to ‘green nomads’, [thereby] encouraging older travellers…
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Oxford Word of the Month – July: Anzac Day rule
Anzac Day rule noun a tradition that heaters should not be used in Canberra before Anzac Day. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH An Australian Government website on energy use has a page headed: ‘Your energy bill and the ANZAC Day rule’, and provides the following advice: Unknown to ACT outsiders, an ancient practice…
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Oxford Word of the Month – June: picfac
picfac noun a photo opportunity, especially as used by politicians. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH In the lead-up to the 2010 election, a journalist expressed frustration with prime minister Kevin Rudd’s preference for a particular kind of media opportunity: I don’t know why he is there, who he thinks he is, or what…
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Oxford Word of the Month: December – John Farnham
noun: used allusively of a comeback or reappearance, especially after a final performance or retirement. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH John Farnham (‘Johnny’ in his early days) is a hugely successful Australian contemporary pop singer. His professional career spans fifty years from the 1960s until the present, and his 1986 album Whispering…
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Oxford Word of the Month: November – platypup
noun: a baby platypus. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH There is some discussion on the Internet about the correct name for a baby platypus. Some commentators note that a baby platypus may be called a puggle, while others say that puggle refers only to a baby echidna. The following writer has an…
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Oxford Word of the Month: October – lady tradie
noun: a part of a family home organised or designed so that adult children can have privacy from their parents. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH High rents in urban areas and the housing affordability crisis in Australia have given rise to a now familiar problem for parents: when will the kids leave…
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Oxford Word of the Month: September – cubby house
noun: a part of a family home organised or designed so that adult children can have privacy from their parents. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH High rents in urban areas and the housing affordability crisis in Australia have given rise to a now familiar problem for parents: when will the kids leave…
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Oxford Word of the Month: August – honey joy
noun: a honey-flavoured biscuit containing cornflakes. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH In 1938 a simple recipe for a crisp honey-flavoured biscuit appeared in a Victorian newspaper: Honey Joys … Five cups cornflakes, 3 dessert-spoons butter, 2 table-spoons castor sugar, 1 table-spoon honey. Melt butter, sugar, and honey; mix in the cornflakes, put into…