gift trauma
n.— «“Gift giving has lost its meaning because we’re way too focused on the reaction of the recipient instead of wanting to find a small, meaningful gift,” says Sunwolf, a communications professor at Santa Clara University in California. She coined the phrase “gift trauma” to describe the malice, ill will and general bad feelings caused by gift-giving, and she will soon release a book of the same name.» —“Santa Clara University: Researcher Says Ill Will, Anxiety Caused by a Gift-Drunk Culture Busts Relationships and Ruins Holidays” Santa Clara University (California) Dec. 10, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
In the 15th century, the word respair meant “to have hope again.” Although this word fell out of use, it’s among dozens collected in a new book of soothing vocabulary for troubled times. Plus, baseball slang: If a batter...
Eric from West Lafayette, Indiana, wonders which phrase is correct when referring to “making the grade” or “meeting expectations”: Is it cut the mustard or cut the muster? It’s the former, a reference to the strong...