2022 is coming to an end… Yes, we can’t believe it either, this year was a rollercoaster, but it flew by. As we wrap up what’s been a crazy year we look back 365 days full of chaotic newstories, a temperamental climate, severe political instability, and aesthetics galore.
We also reflect on the language we’ve used throughout that may have been jarring, triggering, terms that caused offence, or that we simply want to retire.
Let’s then collectively champion a more positive, inclusive and respectful environment for everyone by binning off the below.
We say this in jest, and we don’t make the rules, but here are the 22 terms to leave behind in ‘22 ranked:
22. Crypto bro
Dear crypto bros’, please don’t come for us. We are not trying to mock or stereotype your enthusiasm for this growing industry. However, the cryptocurrency and blockchain tech world is a little too volatile for us, and it’s riddled with scammers, so we need a new term to clean up its image. Every other day, we see people’s social media accounts being hacked by crypto scammers and it’s starting to feel a little bit too scary. For that reason alone, crypto bros need to go. It’s also a bit misogynistic, no?
21. Yummy mummy
We’re going to have to let this one go too. We understand that the term is supposed to be ‘empowering’ and complimentary to mums, however, it’s pretty objectifying and reducing to women. We’re essentially being complementary to a mum’s appearance as opposed to her qualities and accomplishments; it’s weird. Ultimately the term is quite annoying, and in the voice of Meghan Trainor, we “need to let it go.”
20. The ick
We must be tired of discussing icks that we have from people. Whether it’s them chewing too loud, laughing at their own jokes, or even silly things like standing with his feet pointed outwards, or running to pick up sweets from a piñata. It’s totally normal to have things that are distasteful and although not inherently harmful they put you off from pursuing things with a partner, but the word is slowly losing its meaning. Some icks are absolutely valid deal breakers, granted, but everything can’t be an ick, surely? Let’s get rid and start fresh. Maybe let’s try “I got the eurgh”… Okay, we’ll keep brainstorming…
19. Rizz
If you’ve never heard of this term, likely, you won’t ever need to, as we can’t see it becoming common vocabulary (watch us eat our own words now). Rizz is a word Gen-Zs are using to essentially describe one’s ability to seduce a potential (usually a woman) love interest. It’s basically being a master of flirting and pulling girls… The act itself is fine, it’s human nature, but the word… just a bit eurgh that’s all.
18. Cheugy
Raise your hand if you feel personally victimised by the term cheugy? If you’re a millennial and haven’t raised your hand let us be the first to tell you that cheugy is a term used to describe something or someone out of touch, that is unfashionable or uncool. Since Gen-Z is now Generation-cool, you’re probably being called cheugy behind your back as we speak. We personally see ourselves as being very cool, and very on-trend, but somehow, we still feel attacked. Call it projecting or ‘if the shoe fits’, but we want to bye-bye that word now.
17. Chirpse
Another day, another word we didn’t know existed, but its newfound existence is just quite annoying frankly. For those that don’t know, chirpse means to talk to someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them. Essentially, flirting. Did we need another word for flirting? Perhaps. Shall we start using this one? Hell no.
16. DM slides
We’re not against DM slides; please carry on, (many-a-marriage has come from them); we’re just against still pushing the term upon us. It just feels dated and bleurgh, kind of like Netflix and Chill. Let’s come up with another slogan pls. x
15. Talking stage
Talking stages should be criminalised… there, we said it! They’re that antsy period of time when two people are getting to know each other and exploring the possibility of a romantic relationship. They have no strict timeline; they can go on and on and on, and give people unclear expectations, emotional vulnerability and severe miscommunications. Ultimately, it’s hard to be open and honest with someone who you don’t know whether they’re here for a good time or a long time. The term has caused a lot of distress to a lot of single people out there and for that reason alone, it deserves to be thrown in the bin.
14. Fake News
The era of fake news is done and dusted. Made popular by a bonus entry term — Donald Trump — this term was originally used to call out the spread of misinformation but it has now become a term used to simply call out things that individuals disagree with or opinions that differ. It’s a term that causes confusion and uncertainty, and therefore it’s no longer deserving of a place in our vocabulary.
13. Yas Queen
Context is everything and being mindful of the connotations of words matters. “Yas queen” is a slang term coined by the Black LGBTQAI+ community to in a way to show support and enthusiasm to someone. We like the term, the issue is that often times it’s misused. Sometimes it’s said in a condescending and dismissive matter and, or, setting and that’s not what we want to endorse. So if we’re not using it correctly, then it’s probably best we don’t use it at all.
12. Liz Truss
What is there to say about this? Liz Truss’ 44 days tenure as prime minister was filled with a cabinet of chaos putting out little fires everywhere. She got her economic policy wrong, she was arrogant, she wasn’t very good at hiring with an equally arrogant chancellor and secretary of state. She didn’t really possess the skills to run this country, and we’re all still suffering because of it. Maybe if we forget about that moment in time, it will be like it never happened.
11. F*ck boy
The term is tired and overused. Although f*ck boy activity is still rife, so perhaps we just need a new name… any ideas?
10. Basic b*tch
It’s givin’ playground insults and we’re all better than that. Considering we use the term to describe someone that is a conformist, unoriginal and lacking in individually, then we should probably come up with a more original slang term too. This one has now lost its meaning. Plus, 2023 is the year we’re all going to use better, more effective and more mature language to hold others accountable for their shortcomings.
9. Cancelled
Being cancelled only works if you’re not privileged. Most people or brands that are cancelled are groups with their added privilege whether it’s through their fame, money, race or gender. Ultimately, the meaning of the world is null and void and we should restrain from using it outside its true meaning, which is usually never.
8. One size fits all
Brands telling us that one size fits all should always ring alarm bells. The same applies to “shades stretch” i.e. it’s suitable for most skin tones. We must always side-eye these statements as nine times out of ten, they don’t. Let’s stop making people feel bad and start accommodating the diversity of people. Tailoring to people’s needs matters, and diversity and inclusion is not an exchange for a brownie point; it’s there to improve the likelihood of all.
7. Snowflakes
People that call people snowflakes… eurgh. Having an opinion and being expressive of it doesn’t make us snowflakes. Freedom of speech and hate speech sit across a very fine line and the term snowflake is used to dismiss and discredit the feelings of people. The term is being used to describe people that are perceived as being overly sensitive, easily offended, lacking resilience or very PC (politically correct). The issue is that it contributes heavily to a culture of intolerance and disrespect and if people. If someone are wildly offended by something, they should have the right to say so without being addressed to in a derogatory way. So for those still using the term, please bore off…
6. Balenciaga
Balenciaga, what are you doing? We know we said earlier that the word cancelled is cancelled. The irony writes itself, however, all we’re saying is that we have to let Balenciaga go on time-out and reflect on their bondage-campaign-gate scandal. This goes without saying but kids are off-bounds.
5. Energy crisis
We don’t want to hear that we’re in an energy crisis any longer because in 2023 we are manifesting warmth, good health and fortune. We’re not bringing this cost of living crisis energy into the new year. Let’s hold hands and manifest together.
4. Illegal Aliens
What in the xenophobia is going on in here? Since when did we refer to people from another nationality as illegal aliens? This country was built on the backs of slaves and forceful immigration, due to the effects of colonisation. People had to leave their livelihoods and families behind to find refuge outside of their home nations for a better future. By default the western world has no right whatsoever to use such a dehumanising offensive term.
Calling another person illegal for not yet having the right documentation is abhorrent too. Let’s stick to undocumented immigrants please. While we’re at it, as a bonus entry, let’s also get rid of expat. It’s classist and with a hint of racial bias and we should be stepping into 2023 being more inclusive and welcoming to people from all backgrounds and heritages, that have and will continue to contribute to the growth of the economy in this country.
3. Prince Andrew
There isn’t much to say about this one, as it’s pretty self-explanatory. Prince Andrew’s severed history and association with Jeffrey Epstein is enough for us to want to throw away the whole term. As a senior member of the Royal, he had a duty of care which was exceptionally missed, he was accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenager who was being trafficked by the monstrous Jeffrey Epstein (who was a close friend to Prince Andrew), and he has since reached a settlement with the victim. We can only imagine the trauma and anxiety seeing his name floating around would bring to victims of abuse. So if we avoid speaking about him at all cost unless it’s for the purpose of accountability, then I think this nation would be eternally grateful.
2. BAME
BAME, which stands for ‘Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic’ is a term and acronym that we need to fully eradicate from the English vocabulary. It’s basically a short way of ‘othering’ people but that in itself is extremely problematic. It’s too broad of a term to accurately capture the diversity of the experiences and identities of the groups it claims to represent. It perpetuates the idea that ‘white people’ are the norm or the default which can reinforce the marginalisation and exclusion of people of colour. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. This monolithic term doesn’t represent the intricacies of all of the beautiful history, cultures and ethnicities this world has to offer. So for that reason, it’s going in the bin.
1. Unprecedented times
The past five years have been full of unprecedented times: be it the pandemic and lockdown; the BLM Movement revival; the Stop Asian Hate campaigns; and anti-seminitism discourse on social media, be it the start and growth of the Me Too Movement; be it the death of the longest serving British Monarch Queen Elizabeth II, and all the Royal Family scandals like Prince Andrew allegations and The Sussex’s giving away their royal duties to live a normal life, free of racism and bullying of the media. Right now we’re deep into the cost of living crisis, the economy is in tatters, we’ve had the most extreme weather conditions the last 12 months with one of the hottest of summers to the coldest of winters on record. A lot of unprecedented things have happened and we don’t want them anymore, so this had to make it top on our terms to leave behind list. Can we just return back to normal life? Whatever normal means…