Quarantini? Moronavirus? COVID-10? Wordplay Brings Humor to These Times
2020-06-03
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1Did you hear about the town that was fattening the curve so much that the mayor had to take away everyone's quarantinis?
2Until recently, those words would not have made sense.
3But now, many people can probably relate to them on some level.
4The coronavirus crisis has changed the way we behave - and speak - adding a number of new words and expressions to our language.
5Some words are serious, like pandemic and quarantine.
6But others are much, much less serious.
7In these trying times, we have the chance to laugh - not at our struggles, but at how we think and act as a result.
8So today, we explore words that have been born in the time of coronavirus and the social distancing we have - or have not - been doing.
9Let's start with a word we hoped we would never need: covidiot.
10Some of us probably know at least one covidiot, a person who ignores health and social distancing rules for preventing the spread of the virus.
11The word "covidiot" combines COVID-19 and idiot, which is a stupid or foolish person.
12It is meant as an insult.
13Moronavirus has a similar meaning to covidiot.
14It combines the word "coronavirus" with the word "moron," another insulting word.
15Now let's talk about people who are following the rules: washing hands often, wearing a facial covering, keeping a safe distance from others and staying home as much as they can.
16Those people may be safer from the virus, but there is one thing they are not safe from: the refrigerator.
17For many, being at home might mean eating more and getting less physical exercise.
18In a crisis situation, people often choose foods that help them feel at ease.
19But those foods are not always the healthiest.
20This situation can lead to the COVID-10, COVID-15 or Quarantine 15.
21All three words describe the weight in pounds that some people are gaining from eating too much during quarantine.
22Another expression for this weight gain is "fattening the curve."
23For example: "Oh no. I've gained six pounds since the middle of March. I'm fattening the curve!"
24"Fattening the curve" sounds like "flattening the curve."
25These words mean taking steps to slow the spread of disease to ease the pressure on hospitals and health workers.
26While some people's COVID-10 may be the result of heavy eating, other people may have had one too many quarantinis.
27A quarantini is an alcoholic drink made at home with whatever alcohol and ingredients one has around.
28Quarantini is a play on the words "quarantine" and "martini," which is a very strong alcoholic drink.
29Other people may want a coronita, another kind of mixed drink.
30"Coronita" borrows words from two alcoholic drinks: margaritas and a Mexican beer.
31If the pandemic has caused some people to temporarily lose their jobs, however, they might want a furlough merlot instead.
32That is wine for someone who is worried about not working.
33Though losing work is not a laughing matter, funny words - and wine - might help bring smiles to people's faces.
34Let's have a coronababy!
35Another thing that might put a smile on someone's face is a baby, and coronababies are the most special of all!
36They are the babies who are conceived or born during long periods at home because of stay-at-home orders.
37Another word that the quarantine has produced sounds like "quarantine" but ends with the letters e-e-n instead.
38Some people are calling teenagers "quaranteens."
39On a normal day, teenagers can be, well, trying.
40But during a quarantine, they can become easily bored or restless.
41They are quaranteens, a play on words between "teenager" and "quarantine."
42Well, that's all for now.
43Join us again soon to learn more terms that might help make light of a heavy situation.
44I'm Alice Bryant.
1Did you hear about the town that was fattening the curve so much that the mayor had to take away everyone's quarantinis? 2Until recently, those words would not have made sense. But now, many people can probably relate to them on some level. 3The coronavirus crisis has changed the way we behave - and speak - adding a number of new words and expressions to our language. Some words are serious, like pandemic and quarantine. But others are much, much less serious. 4In these trying times, we have the chance to laugh - not at our struggles, but at how we think and act as a result. 5So today, we explore words that have been born in the time of coronavirus and the social distancing we have - or have not - been doing. 6Don't stand so close 7Let's start with a word we hoped we would never need: covidiot. 8Some of us probably know at least one covidiot, a person who ignores health and social distancing rules for preventing the spread of the virus. The word "covidiot" combines COVID-19 and idiot, which is a stupid or foolish person. It is meant as an insult. 9Moronavirus has a similar meaning to covidiot. It combines the word "coronavirus" with the word "moron," another insulting word. 10Help fatten the curve 11Now let's talk about people who are following the rules: washing hands often, wearing a facial covering, keeping a safe distance from others and staying home as much as they can. 12Those people may be safer from the virus, but there is one thing they are not safe from: the refrigerator. 13For many, being at home might mean eating more and getting less physical exercise. In a crisis situation, people often choose foods that help them feel at ease. But those foods are not always the healthiest. 14This situation can lead to the COVID-10, COVID-15 or Quarantine 15. All three words describe the weight in pounds that some people are gaining from eating too much during quarantine. 15Another expression for this weight gain is "fattening the curve." For example: "Oh no. I've gained six pounds since the middle of March. I'm fattening the curve!" 16"Fattening the curve" sounds like "flattening the curve." These words mean taking steps to slow the spread of disease to ease the pressure on hospitals and health workers. 17Shake it like a quarantini 18While some people's COVID-10 may be the result of heavy eating, other people may have had one too many quarantinis. 19A quarantini is an alcoholic drink made at home with whatever alcohol and ingredients one has around. 20Quarantini is a play on the words "quarantine" and "martini," which is a very strong alcoholic drink. 21Other people may want a coronita, another kind of mixed drink. "Coronita" borrows words from two alcoholic drinks: margaritas and a Mexican beer. 22If the pandemic has caused some people to temporarily lose their jobs, however, they might want a furlough merlot instead. That is wine for someone who is worried about not working. 23Though losing work is not a laughing matter, funny words - and wine - might help bring smiles to people's faces. 24Let's have a coronababy! 25Another thing that might put a smile on someone's face is a baby, and coronababies are the most special of all! They are the babies who are conceived or born during long periods at home because of stay-at-home orders. 26Another word that the quarantine has produced sounds like "quarantine" but ends with the letters e-e-n instead. Some people are calling teenagers "quaranteens." On a normal day, teenagers can be, well, trying. But during a quarantine, they can become easily bored or restless. They are quaranteens, a play on words between "teenager" and "quarantine." 27Well, that's all for now. Join us again soon to learn more terms that might help make light of a heavy situation. 28I'm Alice Bryant. 29Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 30________________________________________________________________ 31Words in This Story 32curve -n. a smooth, rounded line, shape or path 33relate -v. to understand and like or have sympathy for someone or something 34refrigerator -n. a device or room that is used to keep things food and drinks cold 35pound -n. a unit of weight that is equal to 16 ounces or 0.4536 kilograms 36ingredient -n. one of the things that are used to make a food, drink or product 37conceive -v. to become pregnant 38teenagers -n. someone who is between the ages of 13 and 19 years old 39bored -v. feeling tired or annoyed by being uninteresting or too much the same 40Other words related to the coronavirus pandemic