The B.B.C.
Contributed by: NAPSA
Talking Up America's Newest Words
(NAPSA) - While you may have found plenty of podcasts on the Web, until recently, you'd have been hard pressed to find one in the dictionary. But today, the popular downloadable audio tracks, along with a number of other terms used in our everyday conversation, have taken their places in dictionaries across the U.S.
The "truthiness" (yet another new addition to the dictionary) is that language is constantly evolving based on the words used most. Now there's a push to add yet another word to the lexicon: "sharp'ner."
New Word For Busy Times
Sharp'ner-the first and only drink of the evening-is a term coined by Londoners meaning a quick, social drink that allows friends to connect without committing to an entire evening-and it's a term that Americans may want to get a bit more acquainted with. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, we spend only about 40 minutes a day socializing-a number that trails other nations by a considerable amount. One reason may be that people in the U.S. tend to have hectic work and family lives, leaving less time for connecting with friends.
That's where the sharp'ner can come in.
"In America, meeting a friend for 'a drink' can mean committing to an entire evening," says Michelle Riley, of Beefeater Gin. "Londoners have the right idea with the sharp'ner as it offers an occasion to meet up with a friend for one drink and very little obligation."
So what makes for a good sharp'ner? Try this drink recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 parts Beefeater
- 1 part Stoli Blueberi
- 3 parts cranberry juice
Directions:
Pour ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass.
More Than Just Talk
In order to make "sharp'ner" part of the U.S. language, a nationwide campaign has been launched to bring this very British tradition stateside and to lobby several dictionaries to officially adopt the word via an online petition.
For more information on the sharp'ner or to add a name to the online petition, go to www.house ofbeefeater.com.
Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to accept responsibility when considering consuming alcoholic beverages. For more information, please visit www.AcceptResponsibility.org.
