In a competitive environment like a cash prize tournament, if you find yourself diagonally across from someone enjoying a traditional dessert, tensions may rise. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has recently included seven new terms from Canadian English to help understand such situations.

Here are the latest additions:
– **Cashspiel:** A contest held for cash rewards, often seen in curling tournaments between players from different clubs.
– **Elbows up:** Signifying readiness to defend oneself or retaliate aggressively.
– **Grunt:** A dessert made of stewed fruit with a biscuit topping, typically cooked on a stovetop.
– **Kitty-corner:** Positioned diagonally opposite someone or something.
– **Kokum:** Refers to a grandmother in Cree cultural contexts or an elderly woman.
– **Land acknowledgment:** A formal statement recognizing the original Indigenous inhabitants of colonized land.
– **Point form:** Information presented concisely in a list or series.

The OED monitors the introduction of new words in English through various means, including crowdsourcing, scholarly research, and software analysis of word frequency globally.

The term “elbows up” gaining popularity led to its inclusion in this year’s additions. This phrase became a rallying cry against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, with Canadian actor Mike Myers sparking the movement on Saturday Night Live.

Danica Salazar, OED’s world English editor, highlighted Canada’s growing influence, particularly through movements like “Elbows Up” and “Heated Rivalry.” These additions to the lexicon may offer a new perspective on how Canadians are perceived globally.

English naturally assimilates influences from other languages it encounters, evident in terms like “kokum” from Cree. While the term “point form” may be less common worldwide compared to “bullet points,” it offers a versatile alternative.

Salazar expressed her interest in incorporating “point form” into her vocabulary, recognizing its utility as both a noun and an adjective. This linguistic evolution reflects the dynamic nature of language and cultural exchange.