Topic Reading-Vol.3902-12/17/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Oxford word of the year 2022 revealed as 'goblin mode'
Oxford University Press, which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary and many other dictionaries, announces an Oxford Word of the Year each year. Asked to sum up 2022 in a word, the public has overwhelmingly chosen the phrase “goblin mode” as the word of the year. You may remember the ugly little creatures with long fingers and feet that coexisted with the wizarding world in the Harry Potter series. But the phrase “goblin mode” is a slang term that means a way of behaving that intentionally and shamelessly gives in to and indulges in base habits and activities without regard for adhering to social norms or expectations. In short, very lazy. Goblin mode became viral on platforms like TikTok as a response to other trends like self-improvement. Though it is not really a new phrase, the term seems to have become more popular when people feel reluctant to go back to the way of life as the pandemic eases. Indeed, there are severe labor shortages in some businesses such as hospitality, restaurants, and transportation. Are you in goblin mode? Do you want to go goblin mode now?
The previous words of the year were vax, climate emergency, toxic, youthquake, emoji, vape, and selfie. Do you recall what those past years were like with these words?
Enjoy reading the article and learning about what people agree to represent 2022.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63857329