From cronuts to mankles: the words that the Collins dictionary excluded

http://www.theguardian.com/books/shortcuts/2014/oct/28/cronuts-mankles-collins-dictionary-neologisms

Version 0 of 1.

The new Collins English Dictionary is out, and as ever, its release is as much about the words that didn’t get in as the words that did. The word of the year may have been deemed to be – sigh – “photobomb”, but there was no place for, among others, the once hotly tipped “Cleggmania” (n): the peculiar national affection towards Nick Clegg that peaked at the start of the decade and has slowly waned ever since; “fauxminist” (n): any person of either gender who claims to be a feminist in public while voicing and harbouring anti-women opinions and thoughts elsewhere); or “smirt” (vb): a combination of smoking and flirting, beloved of those people who are specifically attracted to beige teeth and kisses that taste of old bus seats. We now ponder some other new words that we’re hoping disappear as soon as possible.

Cronut (n): An evil and unholy confectionary item that is half croissant, half doughnut, and all delicious. Sample boxes to the usual Guardian address, please. PLEASE.

Sharknado (n): An entirely plausible meteorological phenomenon in which killer sharks are drawn into tornados and subsequently deposited, alive, on rural American towns. It happens!

Mansplain (v): To explain something in an overwhelmingly condescending way, one’s sense of superiority informed purely by the fact that you are a man. See: Russell Brand on any TV appearance from the last year.

Usie (n): A self-taken group photograph designed to impress upon the world that you are well-liked, well-connected and have many friends. Rhymes with “shameless hussy.”

Yolo (vb, acr): The belief that one only has one life and so should live it with abandon, and the subsequent care-free behaviour. Short for “You only live once”, which is ironic, as everybody who says it deserves to be killed immediately.

Doge (vb): To shame or heap scorn on somebody using the image of a dog that has somehow developed the ability to type. As such, humiliating beyond words.

Staycation (n): A period of time spent enjoying leisure activities and dining out while remaining at one’s own home, made popular by Ebola, global terrorism and the continued rudeness of the French.

Slacktivism (n): The very bare minimum effort expended on supporting a specific cause, yet resulting in the maximum possible air of moral superiority. See: Movember.Mankles (n): Visible, unsocked male ankles displayed via the deployment of trousers with uncommonly short leg length. A combination of the words “massive twat” and “ankle”.

Mankles (n): Visible, unsocked male ankles displayed via the deployment of trousers with uncommonly short leg length. A combination of the words “massive twat” and “ankle”.