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The Oxford Word of the Year was announced on December 5th from a shortlist of ‘metaverse’, ‘#IStandWith’ and ‘Goblin mode’, with the winning word being the latter. According to the digital elves at Oxford Languages, the company behind the Oxford English Dictionary: ‘Goblin mode’ is ‘a slang term, often used in the expressions ‘in goblin mode’ or ‘to go goblin mode’ – atype of behaviour which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.’