Do you really know?

What is hogging? As 2021 draws to close, let’s discuss a word which has become more and more widespread in the United States at the end of the year. This contemptible practice was called out by young woman Megan Mapes on TikTok in October 2021. She had herself been a victim of hogging in an American college. Are these students fat fetishists then? And why are we hearing about hogging now? Have the...

What is anasyrma? Anasyrma literally means “exposing of the genitals.” But rather than a display of arousal, it’s a form of exhibitionism which is found in religion or artwork. In ancient times, people believed it could turn away harm or evil spirits.  Today, similar practices are used as political statements and even works of art. For example, in the midst of a Black Lives Matter protest in July...

What is a family rave? New Year’s Eve often throws up dilemmas, especially for those with young children. To go out or not? Who’s going to look after the kids?   Luckily, being a parent doesn’t necessarily mean saying goodbye to your social life and occasional fun! Not if you see it as an opportunity to share your passion for music and clubbing with your children! But what is the concept, really?...

What is EU law primacy? There has been a lot of tension between Hungary and the EU in 2021, and it doesn’t seem to be calming down as the year comes to an end. The latest debate is closely linked to the principle of EU law primacy. All EU member states are subject to it. It stipulates that EU law is considered superior to domestic law within a member country. So in the case of a conflict, EU law s...

What is the gig economy? You’ve no doubt caught a lift from a ride-sharing service before, had a meal delivered by a guy on a bike or rented out someone else’s apartment for a weekend away. Well such services are all part of a system known as the gig economy or collaborative economy. Just like performers who are paid on a per gig basis, workers are increasingly being paid task by task. It’s a dire...

What are the Christmas Blues? Ho, ho, ho, Christmas time is here! For many people, the holiday season brings to mind decorations, gifts, and happy moments spent in good company.  But that’s not the case for everybody, and we would all do well to remember that. Some people find Christmas a difficult moment to live through, which causes sadness known as the Christmas blues. Who are these people who...

 What is a Christmas tree? “O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, How faithfully you blossom!” is the English translation of lyrics to a traditional folk song written by German composer Ernst Anschütz in 1824. A Tannenbaum is actually a fir tree, and Anschutz likely had no idea his song would be associated with Christmas trees and go on to become one of the most popular carols out there.  Fast forward to 20...

What is Wikileaks? On December 10th, a UK court ruled that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange could be extradited to the United States. The Australian is currently being held on remand in Belmarsh Prison for breaching the terms of his bail, but he also faces long-standing espionnage charges from the US. Those relate to the publication of secret documents on US army activity in Afghanistan, over a de...

Who is Spiderman?   The eagerly-awaited Spider Man: No Way Home hit cinemas last week, becoming the second-biggest box office opening ever. The film brought in $260m on its first weekend alone, according to CNN. Let’s take the opportunity to look back at the story of Peter Parker in the cinema world. The latest instalment continues Hollywood’s third Spiderman series since the turn of the century....

What is the Santa shortage?   The latest wave of Covid-19 is impacting 2021 Christmas celebrations in a big way. And that includes one of its most important traditions: that of Santa Claus. Santa is synonymous with the joy of Christmas, and we’re used to seeing him more or less everywhere around this time of year, from Christmas markets to supermarkets to TV adverts. But this time around, the labo...

What is Ugly Sweater Day? It could be a Christmas tree, a skier in a bobble hat, a team of reindeer, a snowman or Mr Santa Claus himself. OK no need to guess, we’re talking about motifs that you could find on an Ugly Christmas sweater. It’s truly become a popular gift option and wardrobe staple of the holiday season in recent years. The concept originated with commercial impetus in the 1950s in th...

"Do you really know?" is Bababam's daily podcast, which helps you understand the words, acronyms, and concepts that are making the news every day. From December 6th to 20th, discover the words that have left their mark on the year, with our 2021 Retrospective. From the "Pandora Papers" affair to the "#QuitMyJob" hashtag and of course the "Long Covid" condition, (re)discover these words that sum up...

What is apostasy? Christians around the world are preparing to celebrate Christmas, with many non-believers also joining in on the festivities. But what happens when someone decides to give up or denounce their religion? Well that’s known as apostasy and it comes from the ancient Greek word apostasia, meaning a defection or revolt. Of course it touches on the idea of freedom of thought. But the te...

"Do you really know?" is Bababam's daily podcast, which helps you understand the words, acronyms, and concepts that are making the news every day. From December 6th to 20th, discover the words that have left their mark on the year, with our 2021 Retrospective. From the "Pandora Papers" affair to the "#QuitMyJob" hashtag and of course the "Long Covid" condition, (re)discover these words that sum up...

"Do you really know?" is Bababam's daily podcast, which helps you understand the words, acronyms, and concepts that are making the news every day. From December 6th to 20th, discover the words that have left their mark on the year, with our 2021 Retrospective. From the "Pandora Papers" affair to the "#QuitMyJob" hashtag and of course the "Long Covid" condition, (re)discover these words that sum up...

What is Cheugy? Some neologisms end up having an impressive online presence, spreading virally, but without many of us even being aware they exist. Cheugy is one such term!  It more or less means old-fashioned or passé, standing for anything which is no longer trendy. It’s a term which has highlighted an intergenerational culture war between the Millennials and Gen Z in 2021, the latter using it t...

"Do you really know?" is Bababam's daily podcast, which helps you understand the words, acronyms, and concepts that are making the news every day. From December 6th to 20th, discover the words that have left their mark on the year, with our 2021 Retrospective. From the "Pandora Papers" affair to the "#QuitMyJob" hashtag and of course the "Long Covid" condition, (re)discover these words that sum up...

What is the Xbox? The end of 2021 marks 20 years since the launch of major video game console the Xbox. Back at the E3 trade event in 2001, Bill Gates unveiled Microsoft’s latest project: a big black box with a fluorescent X on top. It represented the company’s first foray into the gaming console market.     The “X” part of the name refers to Microsoft’s DirectX technology on which the console run...

"Do you really know?" is Bababam's daily podcast, which helps you understand the words, acronyms, and concepts that are making the news every day. From December 6th to 20th, discover the words that have left their mark on the year, with our 2021 Retrospective. From the "Pandora Papers" affair to the "#QuitMyJob" hashtag and of course the "Long Covid" condition, (re)discover these words that sum up...

What is the FIRE movement? Imagine you could quit work by the age of 40 and enjoy the freedoms afforded by retirement while still pretty young. Well that’s exactly what the FIRE movement, standing for Financial Independence, Retire Early, is all about.  The way of life is particularly popular among millennials, and although its origins date back to a book from the 1990s, it really gained in popula...

"Do you really know?" is Bababam's daily podcast, which helps you understand the words, acronyms, and concepts that are making the news every day. From December 6th to 20th, discover the words that have left their mark on the year, with our 2021 Retrospective. From the "Pandora Papers" affair to the "#QuitMyJob" hashtag and of course the "Long Covid" condition, (re)discover these words that sum up...

What is Tangping? China is known for its hyper competitive work culture, with young people accustomed to doing long hours and having an always-on mentality. But earlier this year, Tang ping came along as a counter culture, an antidote if you like. Literally the word simply means to lie down flat. But it has taken on political significance in 2021. What kind of pressures are we talking about? Are w...

"Do you really know?" is Bababam's daily podcast, which helps you understand the words, acronyms, and concepts that are making the news every day. From December 6th to 20th, discover the words that have left their mark on the year, with our 2021 Retrospective. From the "Pandora Papers" affair to the "#QuitMyJob" hashtag and of course the "Long Covid" condition, (re)discover these words that sum up...

What is West Side Story?   Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story” hit UK cinemas just last Friday. That makes it a perfect occasion to dedicate an episode to one of the most iconic musicals in history. What is the story about? So what makes this story so special? So how did the cinematic adaptation come on? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you c...

"Do you really know?" is Bababam's daily podcast, which helps you understand the words, acronyms, and concepts that are making the news every day. From December 6th to 20th, discover the words that have left their mark on the year, with our 2021 Retrospective. From the "Pandora Papers" affair to the "#QuitMyJob" hashtag and of course the "Long Covid" condition, (re)discover these words that sum up...