︎Elmo effect
n.— «People were referring to it as the “Elmo effect” because it got people into the stores way ahead of what is normally seen as the kickoff to the holiday shopping season.» —“Hot-selling US toy Elmo was well-kept secret before debut” in East Aurora, New York International Herald Tribune (Paris, France) Dec. 19, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Imagine telling someone how to get to your home, but without using the name of your street, or any other street within ten miles. Could you do it? We take street names for granted, but these words are useful for far more, like applying for a job or...
If you speak a second or third language, you may remember the first time you dreamed in that new tongue. But does this milestone mean you’re actually fluent? And a couple’s dispute over the word regret: Say you wish you’d been able...