“The ick” is among 3,200 new words and phrases added to the Cambridge Dictionary so far this year.
Referring to the feeling of being overwhelmed by a sudden dislike or loss of attraction for somebody, “the ick” has had a rapid uptake across popular culture and internet chat.
It gained recent prominence after being used on Love Island, the ITV dating show, but the term is thought to have first been coined in 1990s comedy drama Ally McBeal.
The Cambridge Dictionary has decided “the ick” now deserves to have its place in the English language sealed and has included it on a list of new additions in its 2024 update.
Examples given by the dictionary of the phrase used in sentences include: “I used to like Kevin, but when I saw him in that suit it gave me the ick”, and: “If you suddenly feel repulsed by someone you’re dating, that’s the ick talking.”
Other terms made popular by texting and the world of the internet to have received the rubber stamp by the Cambridge Dictionary include “boop”, “copypasta” and “IYKYK”.
“IYKYK” is an abbreviation for “if you know you know”, used to suggest shared knowledge or a private joke that others might not understand.
“Copypasta”, referring to chunks of text shared many times on the internet, will also now grace the online pages of the Cambridge Dictionary.
It will join “boop”, meaning a “gentle hit or touch on a person’s or animal’s nose or head”, “porch piracy”, the act of stealing parcels from outside people’s houses, and “chef’s kiss”, which describes something perfect or excellent.
Online gaming words make the list
Several words and phrases associated with online gaming also now feature in the dictionary.
They include “speedrun”, meaning completing a video game or a part of one as quickly as possible, and “side quest”, referring to a subplot of a game.
Wendalyn Nichols, the Cambridge Dictionary’s publishing manager, said it was normal for dictionary updates to reflect a language increasingly shaped around internet culture.
“Language is dynamic, changing right along with technology and culture,” she said.
“Some new terms are added very quickly and others can take some time. We try to identify words and uses that have proven staying power, rather than adding ones that might be short-lived.”