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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Top New Phrases of 2008

Schott compiles list of 2008's most memorable neologisms

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(Newser) – 2008 will be remembered not only for a historic election and financial gyrations, but for the words and phrases that came into use this year. Ben Schott, author of Schott's Almanac, lists some of 2008's most interesting neologisms in the London Times.

  • Terrorist fist jab: A blunt Fox News-ism to describe Barack and Michelle Obama's famous fist bump.
  • Plain vanilla: Banker-speak for the simplest forms of financial investment.

  • The Carla effect: The surge in support for Nicolas Sarkozy after the French president married model-pop star Carla Bruni.
  • Angel flights: Military jargon for planes that return dead soldiers to America.
  • Mompreneurs: Mothers who balance child-rearing with home businesses.
  • Password fatigue: The modern malaise of memorizing too many secret words.
  • ZIRP: Zero interest rate policy, or Ben Bernanke's stimulus plan.
For the full list, click the link below.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, right, and first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy attend an event at the Modern Art Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Dec. 22, 2008.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, right, and first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy attend an event at the Modern Art Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Dec. 22, 2008.   (AP Photo/Andre Mourao)
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks in this Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, file photo, at the Federal Reserve in Washington.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks in this Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, file photo, at the Federal Reserve in Washington.   (AP Photo)
In this June 3, 2008, file photo, Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., gets a thumbs up from his wife Michelle in St. Paul, Minn.
In this June 3, 2008, file photo, Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., gets a thumbs up from his wife Michelle in St. Paul, Minn.   (AP Photo)
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Shannonals
Dec 27, 08 2:04 PM CST
I don't recall hearing any of these so called Phrases Reply
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