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Race to the bottom
Phrase: Race to the bottom A race to the bottom happens when companies, countries, or organizations try to win more business by lowering their standards, prices, or quality. They hope to attract more customers or investments, but this kind of competition usually ends up hurting everyone. This is what had been happening in Japan for…
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Self-made man
WotD: Self-made man A self-made man is someone who attains success through their own effort and determination, rather than by inheriting money or relying on family connections. This term describes people, not just men, who build their own success by learning, working hard, and staying persistent, even when things get tough. They are the epitome…
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Prim and proper
Phrase: Prim and proper You might hear the phrase prim and proper used to talk about how someone looks or acts. First, let’s break down what “prim” and “proper” mean individually and together as a phrase. When someone is described as “prim,” it means they are very neat, tidy, and careful in how they dress…
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Plutonomy
WotD: Plutonomy Here is a word you may have never heard, but it is itself an explanation for much of the chaos in the Western world today: plutonomy. Plutonomy is an economic term that describes a society where wealth is concentrated in the hands of a small and extremely wealthy group of individuals with substantial…
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Anocracy
WotD: Anocracy I’m going to share a word with you today that I just learned myself – anocracy. An anocracy is a form of government that is neither a full democracy nor a full dictatorship. In an anocracy, there are some democratic features, such as voting, but also some authoritarian features, including limited freedoms and…
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Tailwind
Word of the Day: Tailwind Tailwind is a term that originally comes from aviation. It means a wind that blows in the same direction as something is moving. When you are moving forward, a tailwind blows at you from behind, helping you move forward faster. In simple words, a tailwind helps you move faster and…
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Pomp and ceremony
Phrase: Pomp and ceremony The phrase pomp and ceremony describes grand, formal events that highlight tradition, importance, and celebration. If you notice fancy clothing, music, and serious rituals that may be hundreds of years old, you are seeing pomp and ceremony. People often use this phrase when talking about royal events, graduations, or other big,…
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Graveyard shift
WotD: Graveyard shift Today is November 1st, 2025, and Halloween has just ended. Last night, children filled the streets in costumes, while houses were decorated with jack-o’-lanterns and cobwebs. Now, as the festivities end, the real fright begins for some when the graveyard shift starts after midnight. The term graveyard shift means working during the…
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Ghoul
Word of the Day: Ghoul Halloween is a time to suspend your disbelief, have spooky fun, and tell scary stories. One word you might hear often during this season is ghoul. And now I’m going to explain exactly what a ghoul is. A ghoul is a mythical creature from old stories and legends. The word ghoul…
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Put a spell on you
Phrase: Put a spell on you To put a spell on you means to enchant or charm someone, often in a magical or mysterious way. In Halloween stories, witches are famous for putting a spell on you and turning you into a black cat or making you dance until you drop dead. But in everyday…
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