This term came to be used during the peak of the recession period, during Christmas season, when the world was shrouded with the economic downturn. It refers to women who went on a ‘spending binge’ despite the fact that they couldn’t afford it and more so when their ‘purse’ was already dented. The splurging during recession earned them the name …

The Parthian shot was a military tactic made famous by the Parthians, ancient Iranian people. The Parthian archers, mounted on light horse, would feign retreat; then, while at a full gallop, turn their bodies back to shoot at the pursuing enemy. The maneuver required superb equestrian skills, since the rider’s hands were occupied by his bow. As the stirrup had …

Nuclear umbrella refers to a guarantee by a nuclear-weapon state to defend a non-nuclear allied state. It is usually used for the security alliances of the United States with Japan, South Korea, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Australia, originating with the Cold War with the Soviet Union. For some countries, it was an alternative to acquiring nuclear weapons themselves.

NEET is a British term used for a young person who is not engaged by way of any work, academics, or training programme. It’s an acronym derived from the phrase ‘Not in Employment, Education or Training’, a government classification often used to refer to the stage that teenagers or young adults go through when they have nothing to do. However, …

A map legend is a guide to all the symbols used on a map. It helps a person read a map correctly. Both shapes and colours can be used for symbols on a map. Stated simply, a map legend is a sort of dictionary so that you can understand what the map represents. Vegetation, topographic features, surface features etc are …

A kangaroo court describes sham judicial proceedings which are conducted without giving the rights of defence to the accused by invoking the expediency clause. In this process, prosecution cases are taken up without witnesses and cross-examination. As the trial proceeds by leaps like a kangaroo, it is known as kangaroo court. It may also mean punishing players in sports with …

The difference between the underwriting price received by the issuing company and the actual price offered to the public. Investopedia explains Gross Spread as – By charging the public a higher price for an IPO than the price paid to the issuing company, the underwriters are able to make a profit. For example a company might get $15 per share …

Many people have reported seeing unidentified flying objects, also known as UFOs, in the sky. Some of them described these objects in the shape of discs or saucers hovering overhead with a glow around them. These have been mostly interpreted as transport vehicles of aliens visiting earth, but photographs of them are now believed to be hoaxes. The first highly …

A fake-ation is a vacation where a large part of your time is spent reading emails and being engaged in other work-related tasks. It can also mean calling in sick when one is not, a problem-filled vacation or staying at home but making changes in the environment to make it seem like you are someplace else.

A bucket list is a number of achievements which a person hopes to accomplish during his/her lifetime. It is also called a life list, drawn up to make life more interesting or goal-oriented, and ensure that it doesn’t just slip away. It could have to do with many aspects: work, family, travel, health, relationships, finance, contribution to society. A person’s …