There are many words and expressions around nowadays, that if we had heard 20 years ago would have left us very confused! This article explores 10 expressions that were not in common use in 2005. There is also an English reading comprehension exercise at the end of the article to test your understanding of the words and expressions.
10 Words in English That Didn't Exist in 2005 (Test Your Reading Comprehension!) The other day I was giving some instructions to a group of business students. The instructions went something like this:
“If you go to the LMS, week 5, you will see a template document , download it and fill it in with your group’s chosen company. Once that is done, upload it by dragging and dropping it into the shared OneDrive folder. You can find the link to the folder at the top of the Moodle page. I also recommend that you create a Whatsapp group as an informal communication channel.”
After the students (well, most of them) started on the task, it occurred to me that if I had heard myself giving these instructions 20 years ago, it would have sounded like complete gobbledegook ! It got me thinking about all the new words and expressions that have come into daily use over the last 20 years. The list is long, but I have chosen some of the most frequently used ones that would have left most of us baffled 20 years ago!
Read on to find the top ten frequently used words and expressions. Do they exist in your language, or does your language ‘borrow’ the terms from English?
Tips and resources
The Rise of Quiet Quitting: English Reading Comprehension Exercise
El término "quiet quitting" se ha vuelto popular en los últimos años. Pero, ¿qué es exactamente? Descúbrelo mientras practicas tus habilidades de comprensión lectora en inglés.
Meaning: Suddenly cutting off all communication without explanation, especially in dating or friendship. If you have been ghosted, you will know how frustrating it feels. Someone simply stops answering your texts and ‘disappears’. Recent research has shown that being ghosted can have a negative effect on self-esteem and psychological safety. It is the lack of explanation for the sudden ending of an online relationship that can be particularly confusing.
Example: "We went on three dates, had a great time... then he just ghosted me."
Mainstreamed: Around 2015, especially with the rise of dating apps like Tinder.
2. The Gig Economy Meaning: A labour market based on short-term contracts or freelance work rather than permanent jobs. The word ‘gig’ has existed in English for centuries and was used to refer to musicians or comedians who would do short performances to small groups of people for money. The internet has made gig working much more popular, whether you think it’s a good thing or a bad thing, it is likely to stick around.
Example: "She's working two gigs on the side — driving Uber and freelancing graphic design."
Mainstreamed: Around 2014–2016, with the explosion of platforms like Uber, Fiverr, and TaskRabbit.
3. Hangry Meaning: Irritable or angry because you're hungry. I first heard this word when I was walking around a garden centre with my friend and her husband. It was nearing lunchtime and my friend’s husband was starting to get irritable. “We’d better get lunch; Cristian is getting hangry” my friend said and steered us towards the restaurant. Since then, this term has been backed up by science and in 2014 a study was conducted that revealed that a drop in blood glucose levels can negatively affect our moods.
Example: "Don't talk to me until I eat — I'm super hangry right now."
Mainstreamed: Around 2015, added to Oxford Dictionaries that year.
4. Mansplaining Meaning: When a man explains something to a woman in a condescending or patronizing way, often assuming she knows less than she does. This term was actually coined by an anonymous response to an essay published by the writer and activist Rebecca Solnit in 2008. The essay was titled: Men Explain Things to Me. By 2010 it was chosen as the New York Times word of the year and by 2014 it was officially added to the English Oxford Dictionary.
Example: "He tried to explain Photoshop to her — she’s literally a professional designer. Classic mansplaining."
Mainstreamed: Around 2008, popularized by Rebecca Solnit’s essay, and started entering dictionaries from 2013 onwards.
5. Emojis Meaning: Small digital images or icons used to express emotions, objects, or ideas in messaging. Emojis sometimes make communication much easier, but sometimes can be misinterpreted, so we need to be careful how we use them!
Example: "She texted 'I'm fine 😒' — so clearly she's not fine."
Mainstreamed: Global usage took off after Apple added the emoji keyboard in 2011.
6. Crowdsourcing Meaning: This comes from combining the word ‘crowd’ and ‘source’. It means getting input, ideas, services, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group, usually online. This became popularised once the internet was used by many people. The website Investopedia defines crowdsourcing as follows: “Crowdsourcing involves gathering work, information, or opinions from a large group of people who submit their data via the Internet, social media and smartphone apps.”
Example: "We crowdsourced the company name through a Reddit poll."
Mainstreamed: Coined in 2006, grew with the rise of platforms like Kickstarter and Wikipedia.
7. Photobombing Meaning: When someone unexpectedly appears in someone else's photo, often as a joke. My dog is particularly good at photobombing most of our family photos!
Example: "That guy in the background totally photobombed our engagement pic."
Mainstreamed: Around 2009–2010, as photo sharing on social media exploded.
8. Selfie Meaning: A self-taken photo, usually with a smartphone camera. Most of us have taken a selfie at some time or another. If you don’t have long arms, you might even use a selfie stick – although they are not always popular. For example, selfie sticks have been banned by some stadiums and museums and Disney has banned their use in all their parks worldwide!
Example: "She posted a beach selfie with #NoFilter."
Mainstreamed: Word of the Year in 2013 by Oxford Dictionaries; popularity surged with smartphones and Instagram.
9. Woke Meaning: Being aware of and alert to social injustice, especially racism and inequality. However, in recent times in the USA this expression has been used as barbed insult, so its use is still evolving.
Example: "He's really woke about environmental issues and human rights."
Mainstreamed: Modern usage re-emerged in 2014, especially with Black Lives Matter activism.
10. Cancel culture Meaning: It’s when people try to hold someone accountable—often publicly—by calling for consequences like losing their job, being de-platformed, or socially rejected, especially on social media. One famous example is when ahead of the 2022 Australian Open, world number one Novak Djokovic arrived in Australia unvaccinated against COVID-19, despite strict entry rules. His visa was revoked, and he was detained and deported, sparking global headlines. Djokovic missed the Australian Open that year.
Example: "Some people argue that cancel culture has gone too far, silencing voices instead of encouraging growth and accountability."
Mainstreamed: It originated around 2010, but really gained usage in 2017 and 2018 with the MeToo movement.
These expressions are relatively new additions to the English language, and I am sure that as years go by there will be even more, so keep an eye out!
You can test your understanding of the expressions with this multiple-choice exercise:
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What does the term "ghosting" mean?
A) Moving away to a different country
2. When did the term "the gig economy" become mainstream?
A) 1990–2000
3. What is the meaning of "hangry"?
A) Feeling tired after a long day
4. What is "mansplaining"?
A) When a man explains something to a woman in a patronizing way
5. What is an "emoji"?
A) A form of online dating
6. What does "crowdsourcing" mean?
A) Asking a small group for advice
7. What does "photobombing" mean?
A) Taking a photo with a special filter
8. What is a "selfie"?
A) A photo taken by someone else of you
9. What does "woke" mean?
A) Being aware of social injustice and inequality
10. What is "cancel culture"?
A) A type of punishment for breaking the law
Answer Key:
1. B; 2. C; 3. B; 4. A; 5. B; 6. B; 7. B; 8. B; 9. A; 10. B