Learning English

Do you know the word of the year?

'Goblin mode' is Oxford's word of the year, 2022. 

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The story  

What word describes lazy, greedy, shameless behaviour?

It's 'goblin mode' – and it's the word of the year according to one UK publisher. But where does it come from? 

Since the pandemic, some people have realised they don't want to go back to the lifestyle they had before. They want to stay in goblin mode.

Oxford University Press chooses a word each year that reflects the mood of the last twelve months.

Key words and phrases

speaks to
reflects

• Climate change speaks to a failure of governments for decades.
• Obama said "Brexit speaks to challenges raised by globalisation".

over
bored of something that has been happening for a long time

• I'm so over the World Cup. I wish everyone would stop talking about it!
• I'm really over this year. It's been one bad thing after another.

unveils
shows for the first time

• The prime minister has unveiled her plan for the next financial year.
• The monument will be unveiled in a public ceremony on Saturday.

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