I just read this article on language trends for 2005. Yeah, think “cruncked-up” and “bigged-out” because, according to a book called Fanboys and Overdogs: The Language Report, by Susie Dent, those are two of the hottest new words in the English language.
The word “crunk” is just stupid, not to mention unimaginative – it’s a combination of crazy and drunk – and it’s not hard to guess what country it originated in (hint: its president thinks that “nucular” is a word). The sad news is, it’s supposedly catching on in Britain, too.
A “fanboy” is a guy who is absorbed by a passion for comic books or computer games. I like that one. Don’t know what an “overdog” is, except maybe the opposite of an “underdog?” Please enlighten if you know.
In the meantime, let's reminisce on some of the language trends of old. No, not your near-old phraseology – the “rad,” “ex,” or even “bodacious” days that send a combined shiver down the backs of anyone who grew up in the 1980s. Think a little further back, to “hep cat,” “groovy,” “far out” or (my favourite) “hot dog!” Why don’t people say “hot dog!” anymore? What, it’s not edgy enough??
Going even further back, I really like the word the “rapscallion.” And “cockamamy.” And lest we forget the classic “egad!” There are so many!
I recently learned of another great word, “bloviate,” on CBC Radio. Apparently, an interviewer used it in reference to someone (someone discoursing at length in an arrogant or boastful manner I assume, in keeping with the meaning) and all these people started calling in complaining because they didn’t know what bloviate meant because it’s so old it’s fallen out of use. All the more reason to use it, I say, to bring it back into mainstream use: “bloviate” and “hot dog!”
Who wants to help me start a movement? The Friends of PAWP, we’ll call ourselves – Preservation of Antiquated Words and Phrases. We won’t try and stop our language from evolving, just keep alive the words and phrases that were once not only “stylin’” but down right “jolly good.”
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Crikey, I'm IN!
Me too! and as a friend of PAWP and ex-”fanboy”, and for the purposes of dating this term you mentioned, I have to point out that “fanboy” is at least a decade old already since it grew beyond comic book circles and was introduced to the world through film, compliments of Kevin Smith - a “fanboy” in his own right (see Mallrats, Chasing Amy) - who devoted a good portion of the storyline, settings and dialog to the comic book genre in both films. “Mallrat” itself is a another example from that decade... I hope Ms. Dent got this right after using the term within the title of her book.
As far as “overdog” is concerned... dictionary.com defines it as: One that has a significant advantage: “a champion of the overdog who provides tax breaks for the rich while cutting social services for the poor” (Leon Daniel).
No clue when it became popular however.
An outdated favorite of mine I like to use is “streamlined”, which my design prof back at uni used to always say as well (he was old school). It stems from airplane designs of the day, but also the Art Deco movement in the thirties when the style became popular in America - that which was “streamlined” in art and design was clean, linear, round, smooth, and overall aesthetically pleasing.
Of course we can never forget the classics such as “Doh!”
This is a capital idea. If you include the word rapscallion than Liam's tutour should also be in. That seems to have become her pet name for Liam.
Kelly
Become effortlessly Shakespearean by adding 'my lord' to any utterance.
As in:
'Shall we to yon Starbucks, my lord?'
'I fain would have hazlenut syrup in my coffee, my lady.'
Nominate "phat" "sic" and "diss" to be summarily banned from use. Along with all things 80s, from which decade things should only be remembered so that they are not repeated. ~ d
Oh, just heard another fab one today, whilst interviewing this WWII vet (may blog about that closer to Remembrance Day): "Great Scott!" Say it once to yourself ;)
Question: Does the phrase 'Mercy Buckets' have its origin in an eon or an icon? YOU remember, don't you?
And also, by the way, I can't remember whether we're compiling a list of terms to use or not to use, but whichever it is, how about the word NOT, as it is coined in the film Wayne's World and by quite a large portion of people I meet, who are very likely to have seen the film. Not.
Eh?? To my understanding of the words eon and icon, 'mercy buckets' doesn't have its origin in either. Or are there alternative meanings to at least one of these words that I'm not privvy to? 'mercy buckets' is, of course, the English basterdization of "merci beaucoup." But then I suppose I'm stating the obvious in a (transparent?) attempt to avoid the actual issue, which I know nothing about. But now I'm curious . . .
It was an Alicia-ism. How could you forget?
And btw, TB, are you EVER going to update this blog? Having a life is no excuse. After all, you started all this blogging business.
Just heard one today that had to be added to this ongoing commentary: noggin. Say it once to yourself. As in, "At least SOMEbody's using their noggin today!" (Actual quotation as spoken by an ancient fourth grade teacher to a couple of his charges.)
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