The youth of Thailand were the first to adopt the three finger salute which featured in The Hunger Games, seen by this generation of protestors as a story for them, a story about young people defying an authoritarian and corrupt elite. In The Hunger Games the salute is a gesture of respect and friendship but as used, for example, in Thailand it is a sign of rebellion.

ZG: 5

There is much enthusiasm for The Hunger Games in Australia as well, but we have not yet attempted to apply it to our politics.

The banks call this a home loan deferral. It is not new but became a big factor in easing the strain on family finances in March 2020.

ZG: 7

For many people this is a looming crisis. Mortgage holidays sound like such fun at the beginning but they can cause considerable grief when they come to an end.

The definition of viral shedding was broadened to cover the circumstances in which an individual who has had the disease and recovered can still be shedding viral genetic material (RNA) some weeks afterwards. This is described as long shedding and such a person is a long shedder.

ZG: 5

This did reach mainstream news because of the Australian Open, but it is still more an item of medical jargon than a general term.

In other circumstances this might have been referred to as a field hospital but these pop-ups are being erected in the middle of cities, often in the carpark of the bricks-and-mortar hospital.

ZG: 7

These are appearing with horrible regularity and some of the stories emerging as hospital systems are overwhelmed are sobering in the extreme. Except of course to Trump.

Britain launched its vaccine with lots of publicity and the day was called V-day. This resonates with VE day at the end of WWII so it has both gravitas and excitement.

ZG: 5

Unfortunately the excitement of V-day in the UK was overtaken quickly by the gloomy prospect of no Christmas.

This is a derogatory term used by people who do wear facemasks in public for those who don’t. The word is a blend of facemask and arsehole. It seemed to become popular in the middle of the year but spread widely.

ZG: 6

There are those in the community who feel that wearing a mask is a sensible and practical thing to do. Equally there are those who resist it.

Now that there is the possibility of a vaccine opening up international travel again, the WHO is wary of asking for an immunity certificate and will simply require a confirmation of vaccination certificate.

ZG: 4

The various international bubbles have burst so this certificate will have to wait.

This is proving to be a popular asset in libraries, schools and homes. It is a spin bike with a book holder where the bike handles should be so that it combines the activity of reading with bicycling.

ZG: 5

It is well known that some children find it very difficult to sit still long enough to read a book, so something that syphons off their excess energy while allowing them to read at the same time is a great idea.

The WHO has recognised that pandemic fatigue is real and is encouraging a discussion of what to do about it. The sense of empowerment has been replaced by feelings of sadness, frustration, fear, but also boredom.

ZG: 5

While many of us would say ‘We’re over it!’, the response of the people in the northern suburbs of Sydney to a new threat shows that we still have the energy to resist.

This is sometimes referred to as G2G pass declaration or G2G declaration pass but is in full G2G pass registration and declaration. This is the authorisation that is required if you wish to travel to Western Australia.

ZG: 5

Sadly we were all good to go for a very brief period and then the borders were closed again.

This is a system which Victoria has implemented on its border with NSW. Everyone coming from NSW into Victoria needs a border pass but the restrictions vary according to the zone from which you are coming.

We are now suddenly acutely aware of the dangers involved in the simple cough or sneeze, particularly when the person coughing is not wearing a mask.

The populace took to standing outside or on their balconies, verandahs, fire escapes or any vantage point they could legally reach at a certain time of the day and clapping their hands, banging pots and pans, making a racket in any way available to them, to express their support for those at the frontline of the pandemic

This is an acronym formed from All Cops Are Bastards, a slogan which emerged early in the 20th century from groups resisting governments and government authority.

ZG: 8

The impetus for this acronym came from America but it proved to be quite popular in Australia as well.

We have all been encouraged to be alert to the possibility that someone we know is in some kind of crisis, and to ask the simple question How are you feeling? rather than shy away from the difficulty.

ZG: 5

This is a word launched by a public campaign so it remains to be seen whether it really takes in the community or not.

This year has seen the adoption of the acronym BIPOC standing for ‘Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour’. The idea is that this is a unifying grouping for all people who are not white.

ZG: 3

This one is low frequency and will, I think, pass us by.

The inability to think clearly and make decisions has been called bushfire brain when it arises from the overwhelming devastation and loss caused by bushfire.

ZG: 6

Sadly this was something that affected a number of people in the community.

This is the fruit of a small tree, Buchanania obovata, which is native to the woodland areas of northern Australia. It has a small green fruit which is plum-shaped, and so the name green plum.

ZG: 4

This will remain low frequency until the fruit is for sale commercially. After that we will have to see how popular it becomes.