Cripes! It's back with a bang thanks to Boris

Published on Wednesday 1 October 2008 20:18

LONDON mayor Boris Johnson has single-handedly revived "cripes" so successfully it has been included among the words of the year by English-language experts.

The compilation of new words for the Oxford English Dictionary includes the old expression of surprise, even though it dates from 1910, when it was an acceptable alternative to "Christ".

The OED records 'cripes' as "a (dated) expression of surprise or dismay". It adds: "The exclamation has all the resonance of a Beano or St Trinian's character", and adds:

"In 2008 'cripes' became the trademark of Boris Johnson's successful bid for the mayorship of London."

Financial buzzwords and jargon are making their biggest comeback to the everyday lexicon since the 1980s. Now the public is becoming increasingly familiar with, for instance, 'ninja loans' with NINJA an abbreviation of No Income, No Job, No Assets.

These are the kind of loans made to anyone without checks and part of the reason for spiralling debt levels of the current economic crash.

Other phrases are also a sign of the times, such as 'jingle mail' – the sending back of keys to the mortgage company when the occupants can no longer make payments.

Other new words and phrases include "social networking" to describe using websites such as Facebook, and "nomophobia", a fear of being out of mobile phone contact.

Tracksuited Beijing men guarding the Olympic torch made the term "flame attendants" popular last year. "Boytox", cosmetic treatment for men, also hit the spot.