I am hoping to study a foreign language this November -December; it’s called English. I knew I had to take a refresher course when I saw the expression “throw the shade at someone” and had no clue as to what it meant. Huh? Throw a lamp shade? Throw a Venetian blind? On the positive side, I thought with the intense heat wave the entire U.S. has been experiencing that most of us would actually WANT some shade thrown at us. So, what does throwing shade at someone really mean? Dang! It’s a negative expression (as if we need more of those in this hateful world!). It is when you criticize someone or something publicly and show that you do not respect them. Duh. Why not just say that? Then there’s the term “gas lighting.” To me, that sounds like excessive farting, but it is actually psychological manipulation that eventually causes a person to question their perception of reality and the validity of their own thoughts. I still say it sounds like something to do with flatulence. Sliving. A polite way of saying “slobbering”? The baby was sliving badly, so that no one – not even grandma – wanted to kiss his cheeks. Nope. Doesn’t mean that. The term – a blend of “slay” and “living”– was created by Paris Hilton, and means living your best life. Why not say “I’m living my best life”? If someone is sliving, I say fetch a bib! Ever hear the term “bed rotting”? I thought it might signal that someone needs a new mattress. I mean, an 8-year-old mattress supposedly collects enough dead skin and hosts enough mite colonies that your mattress eventually weighs two-fold. Oddly, bed rotting is supposedly a good thing. It describes a “vacation” in bed, where all one does is nothing. It is considered mental therapy, although not covered (yet) by health insurance. It is funny how words and expressions gain fame, then disappear, so I am not too worried about my current vocabulary de icit. Language has always gone through more changes than Taylor Swift changes her wardrobe in her concerts. Sometimes words or phrases are so overused, you are glad when they vanish from everyday communication. I remember when “diva” was THE word – describing everyone from Tina Turner to Margaret Thatcher. Even Tiny Tim was a diva. The word “awesome” also had a good run, describing God (we got that right) to a 4-slice toaster, and David Muir’s newscast was riddled with the word “doubledown” to the point of making me nauseous. I got to where I didn’t want to hear the word “double” in any discourse, be it double down, double up, double over, or Double Jeopardy. Hey, David – what’s wrong with “resolute” or “zealous”? Just double checking on you. Then there’s Donald Trump who, let’s admit it, isn’t the greatest of orators. His “See Spot Run” vocabulary is mostly overuse of the word “sad.” The Department of Justice is “sad.” The 2020 election was “sad.” Whoopi Goldberg and “The View“ talk show are “sad.” Liz Cheney and any Republican who opposes him is “sad.” To this day, he never uses “big” words like “incomprehensible” or “lugubrious” or “morose“”, which is rather sad for a world leader, if you ask me. (Stand back, Trumpees; I’m not saying great-orator presidents accomplished more than he. He just lacks a typical adult-like vocabulary and this column is about vocabulary). If you want to “clap back” at my opinion re: language, have at it. Jean Mlincek is a free lance writer who resides in St. Petersburg, FL