Section 1.1: New Vocabulary Insights

• NSA: This acronym traditionally stands for the National Security Agency in the United States, which was once shrouded in secrecy until Edward Snowden revealed its inner workings. Recently, it has humorously been used to mean “No Such Agency,” albeit a bit late for that revelation!
• Condign: This term refers to punishment or retribution that is appropriately matched to the crime; it signifies something deserved.
• Gibbous Moon: While I had some familiarity with this term, I needed to verify its definition. It describes the lunar phase where the illuminated portion is more than a semicircle but less than a full circle.
• Diaphanous: Often used to characterize delicate, translucent materials, this word is commonly associated with dragonfly wings or very light fabrics.
• The Fourth Estate: This phrase, which I have encountered before, refers to the press and news media, a vital component of our society.

Section 1.2: Modern Expressions

• Nepo Baby: A shorthand for nepotism, a “nepo baby” is the child of a celebrity likely to achieve success due to their famous parents. While this term can carry a negative connotation, it may not apply if the individual possesses genuine talent. Examples include Stella McCartney and Brooklyn Beckham. Recently, this term surfaced in discussions about Robert De Niro becoming a father at the age of 79. Perhaps this is one way to avoid having grandchildren!
• Big Red Boots Meme: I often miss out on trending topics due to my limited social outings, so you may already be familiar with this phenomenon. The "big red boots" have captured the internet's attention, appearing on numerous celebrities and inspiring a plethora of memes. Created by the Brooklyn art collective MSCHF, these boots are described as “cartoon boots for a 3D world.” The product description humorously claims, “Cartoonishness is an abstraction that frees us from the constraints of reality. If you kick someone in these boots they go boing!” While I appreciate the explanation, I'm still puzzled!
• Bisociation: This term refers to the mental process of simultaneously associating an idea or object with two seemingly unrelated fields.

That wraps up this week’s collection, and I hope you found it enjoyable. If you're interested, you can check out my previous article in this series, which includes links to additional collections.