Contemporary Words, Phrases, and Idioms

Every decade American society develops new language trends. Old words that have never been used much, suddenly become the new buzz word, or their meaning becomes something different. New sayings, expressions, and idioms are created and suddenly everyone is saying them AD NAUSEUM. Some mean different things to different people. Here is a list of aged words that have become the new jargon or buzz words and for the most part, my definitions. This is only a snippet. There are hundreds more, but these are the ones I notice most.

Appropriate - This is an age old word but only the last decade has it become vogue. Instead of telling your child that something is fine and dandy to do, you tell them, "Thank you for being appropriate." Pretty big word for a 4 year old, but my grandson knows it well.

Boundaries - It's about time we learned boundaries in relationships. In other words, setting limits.

Challenged - Disabled

Choices- "Son, you are making bad choices." "You need to make a better choice, young lady." Good word, but somehow, it doesn't pack the wallop I would hope it would. But it does help people see that they are indeed choosing to think, be, or do a certain thing, whether it is healthy or unhealthy.

Consequences - Good word, but over used as well. Telling a two year old there are consequences makes you wonder if he knows what that big word means. But it's a word thatolder kids and all we adults need to always be mindful of.

Diversity - The acceptance of unique people groups (ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious, sexual orientation, etc)

Fallacious - An unsound argument

Inappropriate - This word is used too loosely. President Clinton's indiscretion was indeed inappropriate, but a whole lot more.It is inappropriate when my grandson burps or passes gas in church.

Post Modern - Postmodern is a word used to describe major changes in the underlying ways people think—especially the way people view truth and reality (Steve Cornell)

Pragmatic - Realistic and practical

Pundit - A person who offers to mass media his or her opinion or commentary on a topic they are knowledgeable on. Often it is political analysis. Rush Limbaugh is a pundit. The sad thing is that anyone can be a pundit whether qualified or not.

Tolerance/intolerance - These really stick in my craw. It is "politically correct" to be tolerant. If you don't agree with someone about something, or choose not to live the way they live, you are intolerant. Gregory Koukl went to a Christian high school and wrote these two sentences on the board. The lesson was, "What is true tolerance and intolerance":

1. "All views have equal merit and no one should be considered better than another."
2. "Jesus is the Messiah and Judaism is wrong for rejecting that."

You can read the article yourselves to find out the result. I will just leave this with hopes you would give me some feedback on your thoughts.

Unpack - This no longer means what you do when you get to the hotel. It means to break down a thought, concept, belief, or issue and dig deeper into the meaning.

Worldview - Some people see this statement differently or in a more expanded way. But since this is my hub, I will give my understanding of the word. Here goes: A worldview is how we see the world in it's entirety through a certain lens. Entirety meaning not just the physical world, but more so ideology, philosophy, and religious/spiritual beliefs.

Buzz words - New, fashionable, or trendy words or phrases used in today's American culture.

Can't wrap my head around - Can't fully comprehend something

Come to Jesus meeting - A confrontation with an ultimatum

Drama Queen - A female who lives from crisis to crisis and seems to derive great pleasure in drawing attention to herself by behaving emotionally and dramatically. This behavior is an overreaction to the situation at hand.

Dog and pony show - A big fanfare about something, which in the end, doesn't prove, solve, or explain the real issue.

Dysfunctional family - Families that function and behave toward one another in unhealthy or negative ways.

Family dynamics - The way families interact with each other

Holding one's feet to the fire - making sure something gets done, even if you have to be forceful.

It's not rocket science - It's not too hard to figure out

Not the sharpest knife in the drawer - One who is not too bright

Preaching to the choir - trying to convince a person or group about something they are already in agreement with.

Politically incorrect - I use this one, but I dislike it because of what it means. If someone is Politically incorrect, they are not going with flow of popular belief. It is very offensive to be politically incorrect.

Politically correct- I use this one as well, and dislike it as well. To be politically correct means you agree with the common flow of popular belief. People do and say things they don't really want to or believe in just to be politically correct. So that everyone will like and accept them.

Push the envelope - To go beyond the traditional limits or boundaries

Put a spin on something - to make something look more positive than it is. Usually happens in political matters. (see Spin Doctor)

Reinventing the wheel - Trying to make something that has already been developed to be new or different.

Religious intolerance - When someone chooses a religion and believes it is the only way. All religions think that way. It doesn't mean they are religiously intolerant

Right sized - Being humble and having an accurate estimation of one's self. Without conceit or pride.

Shakers and movers - Innovative, energetic people who are motivated to make change in the business world or other kinds of endeavours.

Spin Doctor - A designated press agent who attempts to put a bad political move or issue in a more positive light.

Surfing the net or web - The same thing as flipping through TV channels with the remote. It means to peruse or skim through websites on the internet looking for information.

Tea Party - Protests by the conservative/libertarian movement (also called Tea Party). They endorse reduced government spending and lower taxation among many other things.

Think outside the box - This means "lets think about this issue outside preconceived, traditional notions. Let's expand our understanding of a thing."

What part of "no" don't you understand? - A demeaning way to say you're stupid and when I say no I mean it.

Altar Call - This is not a new term, however, it has become a hot issue as of late. It is a method whereby the preacher invites people to come to the altar if they want to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. Some clergy are critical of this method seeing it as being outdated.

Brokenness -This is a very "appropriate" way to describe the condition of fallen man.

Conversation - As Christendom deteriorates, some who have departed from the mainline Christian faith are trying to turn the gospel into "let's have a conversation." In my estimation, it's a nice sounding term and a cover letter for "Let's re-evaluate Christianity and so we can tweak it. It needs to be more open minded and less offensive."

Culturally relevant - Preaching and teaching presented in context to the scriptures, and yet, applicable in our modern culture. Again, it is unfortunate that some would take this to mean lets act like the culture so we will draw in new people that might not otherwise come.

Evangelicals - This is my definition, not the world's. Born again, Bible believing Christians who believe in salvation through faith by His grace and who believe in the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hate the sin, love the sinner - The concept that Christians should love all unsaved people, but hate their sin. It sounds good, but the premise is that they (the unsaved) are the only sinners in the picture. We are all sinners, thus we should see and love everyone that way. And likewise, we should despise all sin by all (Christian's included) people.

Judgmental- Judge not lest you be judged is the most quoted scripture by non-believers. If people do something really horrible, they accuse you of being judgmental when you express concern or rebuke them for hurting others. On the other end, being judgmental has been a scourge from the beginning of time. In context to the opening passage surrounding it, it means don't condemn people. There is another kind of judging that is simply evaluating or discerning that something is not right, usually in reference to immorality. We can discern or evaluate that something bad is happening and it's hurting others. There is nothing wrong biblically of evaluating immorality and going to the offender and tell them that what they are doing is wrong (see Matthew 18).

Organized religion: This is meant sometimes in a derogatory way. People who say they don't like organized religion also say church never worked for them. They object to going to church and living a life of obedience to God. They want a "do it my way religion." Perhaps, too, they are uncomfortable with fellowshiping with sincere Christians.

Seeker friendly/sensitive - Seeker friendly churches present services, teaching, preaching, and activities that might attract people who are looking for God in an unoffensive way. Sadly, many times such churches water down the Gospel and tickle itching ears. Gimmicks are often used as well. Seekers need the uncompromising word of God and the good news of Jesus Christ, not Starbucks in the narthex and touchy feeley messages that lack substance and truth.

Them (or those) born-agains - A derogatory term meaning Christians

Words that mean good:

Amazing

Awesome

Classic

Epic

Cool

Cool Beans

Killer

Stellar

Sweet

Words that mean bad:

Crap/Crappy

Lame

Sick

Sucks

AFAIK - As far as I know

BTW - By the way

IDK - I don't know

FYI - For yor information

K - Okay

LMAO - Laughing my ass off

LOL - Lots of love or laugh out loud

RTFM - Read the freaken manual

TTYL - Talk to you later

See the Pro's and Con's of Communication Technology for terminology of the electronic world. The first section will certainly remind you of how the words of old have become new and different terms relating to technology.

As if - An example would be "as if you think I'd hang out with (or like) you."

How's that working for you? - This could be a legitimate question or it can be a demeaning statement to say that what one is doing is stupid.

What, are you new? - Another inference that the hearer is stupid.

Whatever - Usually two people are butting heads. One will say "whatever" to dismiss the other and let them know they are too much like pond scum to discuss it with.

Ya think? - Usually this is said tongue in cheek and in fun. I say it to myself to say"no kidding." But it can be used rudely to infer someone is stupid.

© LORI COLBO

I deliberately didn't get into politics too much. Mostly because I don't follow them much and don't understand all the terms, but I did mention a few. These lists are obviously not exhaustive. Just ones that catch my thoughts.

I would love to hear your additions and feedback, negative or positive, on my definitions. Peace!