Today we continue with the examples of new slang unearthed by the lexicographers at the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. As I said yesterday, slang is the fastest changing and most ephemeral part of the English language—so these terms are likely to be hot for a few months, and then slowly fade away to nothing. But while they’re here, we an amuse ourselves by looking at what the young and the hip are saying. Here is part of the list:
Blue-pilled—the full slang term is ‘having taken the blue-pill’ means you are mindlessly accepting an illusion and ignoring reality. This was coined as the opposite of ‘red-pill’, so we need to start with that. The term ‘red-pill’ comes from the 1999 movie The Matrix where everyone lives in an illusion, but if you take the ‘red-pill’ you can see reality. Well, ‘blue-pill’ is the opposite—if you take the blue-pill you turn your back on reality and embrace the illusion. Hugh Marks, the Managing Director of the ABC, seems to have ‘taken the blue-pill’ since he joined the organization, as he now cannot see bias or lack of impartiality even when it’s staring him in the face!
Borg—according to the experts this means a gallon jug of water where some of the water has been replaced by vodka with a dash of fruit flavouring added. (Sounds perfectly revolting to me!) This supposed comes from American college campuses from undergraduate drinking games. ‘Borg’ is said to be an acronym from ‘black out rage gallon.’ But ‘borg’ (short for ‘cyborg’) has an earlier meaning—as the robotic villains in many Star Trek episodes. They were famous for their cry of ‘Resistance is futile!’ Perhaps when urged to take part in these college drinking games resistance was futile?
Bougee—also spelled bougie, is a way of describing something or someone as fancy, luxurious, or high class. Apparently it can either be a compliment or can be used disparagingly—depending on the context. It is a corruption of ‘bourgeois.’
Braggadocious—meaning a boastful, swaggering braggart (the type none of us like). Probably a combination of ‘braggard’ and ‘atrocious.’ Supposedly made famous by a 2003 hit song ‘Milkshake.’ (Having never heard the song, I’ll take their word for that.)
Brain rot—meaning the rubbish that people keep staring at mindlessly on their little screens. The construction of the expression is obvious, and it is said to have become popular around 2023-24.
Bruzz—is the latest spelling (and the latest pronunciation) of ‘brothers.’ As you know that word is abbreviated as ‘bros’ and now that abbreviation has been turned into this pronunciation (and new spelling as used in texts and emails).
But if we keep looking at weird new slang we are sure to lose our minds, so tomorrow back to real words!
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BY THE WAY...
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.
