How ‘goblin mode’ became Oxford’s word of the year
Have you gone “goblin mode” recently? While the term first appeared in 2009 the usage took off in 2022.
a slang term, often used in the expressions ‘in goblin mode’ or ‘to go goblin mode’ – is ‘a type of behaviour which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.’
Is it radical self care or an unhealthy reaction the world around us? Either way creators of the Oxford English Dictionary have dubbed it the word of 2022.
Unlike in previous years, 2022 was decided by a vote. Some other contenders were: metaverse and #IStandWith
The slang particularly struck a chord with people who felt disillusioned by the third year of the pandemic and the ongoing political upheavals around the world. In response, they are rejecting societal expectations and making their own rules of how to live. The trend is marked by a departure from respectability and aesthetic. Instead, it encourages people to lean into their uncurated, self-indulgent and sometimes mischievous ways.
“People are embracing their inner goblin,” said Casper Grathwohl, the president of Oxford Languages.
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