‘Skibidi’ added to the Cambridge Dictionary

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The word “skibidi” has officially been added to the Cambridge Dictionary.

The slang term, which became popular on social media, is one of about 6,000 new words added to the online dictionary over the past year. Experts at Cambridge say only words with “staying power” are chosen.

Skibidi began as a nonsense word used in viral videos online. Today, the dictionary defines it as a flexible word that can mean things like “cool” or “bad,” or even be used just for fun without a clear meaning. The word first spread through a YouTube animated video series and later became one of the most-liked slang words for children, ranking just behind “slay” and “sigma” in an Oxford Dictionary survey.

Other new words have also been added, including shortened terms such as delulu. This comes from the word delusional and describes someone who believes things that are not true, often because they want them to be real.

Colin McIntosh, who manages word choices for the Cambridge Dictionary, explained that internet culture is rapidly changing how English is used. He said the dictionary aims to capture words that will last, not just disappear after a short trend.

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SMART Prep | Quick Question 210637

The school library had been unusually busy all week. A sign on the counter read: ‘Please return all borrowed books by Friday afternoon.’ By Thursday morning, the basket for returned books was already overflowing. Ms Patel kept checking the clock and glancing towards the door whenever students walked in carrying books. When the final bell rang, several students hurried to the desk, holding books tightly against their chests and whispering to each other.

What can you infer about why Ms Patel kept checking the clock?

  

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Click on the words in the article. See if you can find them all.

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