'Milkshaking' of politicians makes Brexit-themed dictionary list
Milkshaking - the act of dousing public figures in the cold, milky drink - has been recognised on a list of 10 Brexit-themed words added to the Collins Dictonary.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was a high-profile victim of milkshaking during the European election campaign in May.
English Defence League founder Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, and Ukip candidate Carl Benjamin have also been involved in “milkshaking” incidents.
Other words such as Brexiteer, Project Fear and flextension all feature in the newly assembled list.
What words made the 'Brexicon' list?
Brexiteer, described as “a supporter or architect of the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union”, featured on the Brexit lexicon list.
It comes after Collins Dictionary named Brexit its word of the year for 2016.
Brexiety, which is “a state of heightened anxiety triggered by concerns about the imminent withdrawal of Britain from the European Union”, also features on the list.
The term cakeism – trying to have your cake and eat it – is also recognised, having been used by Remainers and Brexiteers to describe their rivals.
It is defined as “a wish to enjoy two desirable but incompatible alternatives”.
Remoaner also features in the Brexicon, described as a “derogatory term” and “a person who continues to argue that Britain should remain in the European Union despite the result of the referendum of 2016”.
Other words that feature on the list include:
Flextension – noun – An informal agreement to extend the time allowed for payment of a debt or completion of a contract, setting a new date that can be altered depending on future events
Project Fear – noun – a name given to any political campaign that seeks to arouse public alarm about proposed changes to the status quo
Stockpiling – noun – the activity of acquiring and storing large quantities of goods
Project Fear – noun – a name given to any political campaign that seeks to arouse public alarm about proposed changes to the status quo
Prorogue – verb – to discontinue the meetings of (a legislative body) without dissolving it
Collins language consultant Helen Newstead said: “The dictionary has no opinion on Brexit, other than to say it has been quite generous in its gifts to the English language, as well as I am sure inspiring the use of many old-fashioned expletives.
“The Brexicon could be even longer, but we feel our selection sums up many of the key themes since Collins named Brexit word of the year in 2016.
“As the process continues through this latest flextension, no doubt more words will emerge until we come to a Brexend.”
Climate Strike was named the Word of the Year for 2019, described as “a form of protest that took off just over one year ago with the actions of Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg and which has grown to become a worldwide movement”.
Collins said the term was used on average 100 times more in 2019 than the previous year.