À bas
A French exclamation meaning “down with…”, used to express strong rejection, protest, or the desire to overthrow an idea, action, or authority.
Themes: dissent and protest
Abactor
A person who steals cattle or livestock; historically a rustler involved in the covert taking and driving away of animals.
Themes: criminal activity and roles
Aggressive politics
Political behaviour using confrontational, coercive, or unlawful tactics to force change, rather than peaceful or democratic means.
Themes: political behaviour and strategy
Baasskap
A concept describing dominance, control, or imposed authority, often highlighting unequal power dynamics and hierarchical influence.
Themes: authority, power dynamics, and roles
Baathist
A baathist is a supporter of the Ba'ath political movement, which promotes Arab unity, nationalism, and state‑led modernisation across the Arab world.
Theme: roles
Baller
A person who is extremely successful, wealthy, and lives an extravagant or flashy lifestyle, often showing off their achievements.
Themes: identity and status
Behavioural expression
The outward, observable way a person shows an internal state through actions, body language, tone of voice, or other behaviours.
Themes: communication and expression
CAB
A Citizen’s Advice Bureau is a community service offering free, confidential guidance on legal, financial, housing, and personal issues to help people understand and resolve everyday problems.
Theme: institutions
Cabal
A secretive group that collaborates covertly to influence decisions, often operating through hidden agendas, exclusive alliances, and coordinated strategies.
Themes: alliances and institutions
Caballero
A Spanish term for a gentleman or horseman, symbolising honour, courtesy, bravery, and refined conduct.
Themes: roles and social status
Cabby
A cabby (or cabbie) is a professional taxi driver who transports passengers for hire, navigating urban routes and providing point‑to‑point travel services.
Theme: roles
Clinical behaviour
Observable actions, thoughts, and emotional responses in a healthcare or therapeutic context that can be analysed to understand and change them.
Themes: behaviour in professional and clinical settings
Coercion
The use of force, threats, intimidation, or pressure to make someone act against their will.
Themes: control and power dynamics
Coercion under threat
Forcing someone to act against their will by using threats of harm, removing their ability to make a free choice.
Themes: control and power dynamics
Coercive control
A deliberate, ongoing pattern of behaviours used to dominate, isolate, and entrap another person, stripping away their freedom and autonomy.
Themes: control and power dynamics
Defensive behaviour
Any action taken to protect oneself from a perceived threat, whether physical, emotional, or social.
Themes: interpersonal dynamics and response
Ealdorman
A high-ranking Anglo Saxon noble who governed a shire or province, commanding military forces and administering law on behalf of the king.
Themes: roles and institutions
Economic regimentation
Strict organisation, control, and direction of economic activity by a central authority, limiting individual economic freedom in favour of coordinated planning.
Themes: economic policy and governance
Fascism
A far-right, ultranationalist, authoritarian ideology centred on dictatorial power, suppression of opposition, and subordination of individual rights to the nation or a defined group.
Themes: political ideology and system
Forms of aggression
Different ways aggressive behaviour can be expressed, all involving intent to cause harm—physical, psychological, or social.
Theme: behaviour
GAAP
The standardised rules and principles that guide how financial statements are recorded, presented, and reported to ensure consistency, transparency, and comparability.
Themes: institutions and standards
Gadgeteer
A clever maker who designs, modifies, or masters tools and devices to solve problems through ingenuity and hands-on innovation.
Themes: occupations and roles
Gabba
Casual slang for a close friend or mate, expressing camaraderie and easy social connection.
Themes: informal address and relationships
Gabelle
A historic French tax on salt, symbolising state levies, economic burden, and regulated commodities.
Themes: economic policy and institutions
Habeas corpus
A legal writ requiring authorities to bring a detained person before a court, preventing unlawful imprisonment and protecting individual liberty.
Themes: legal process and rights protection
IAAF
The former global governing body for athletics, responsible for setting rules, managing world records, and organising major competitions.
Themes: governing body and institution
IAEA
The United Nations agency that promotes the safe, peaceful, and secure use of nuclear science and technology and monitors global nuclear compliance.
Themes: institution and international agency
Identity
The set of characteristics, qualities, and facts that make a person or thing recognisably themselves.
Themes: individuality and self-concept
Ideological extremity
Holding political, religious, or social beliefs at the furthest, most uncompromising edge of a worldview, rejecting moderation, complexity, or alternative perspectives.
Themes: attitudes and belief systems
L driver
A learner driver who is still training and not yet fully licensed, typically marked by an “L” plate to signal limited experience and the need for extra caution on the road.
Theme: roles
Library Association (LA)
An organisation that supports libraries, librarians, and information services through advocacy, standards, resources, and professional development.
Theme: institutions
Ma’am
A polite form of address for a woman, often used to show respect or formal courtesy.
Themes: communication and form of address
Maatjes
Dutch term for close friends or companions who share mutual trust and camaraderie
Themes: friend and relationships
Nabob
A very wealthy or influential person, originally a provincial governor in the Mughal Empire, later applied to Europeans who returned from India with great fortunes.
Themes: role and status
NAACP
A U.S. civil-rights organisation founded in 1909 to fight racial discrimination and advance equality for African Americans.
Themes: civil rights group and organisation
O/a
Abbreviation for “on account of”; used to indicate that something is being charged, recorded, or referenced for a particular reason or account.
Themes: administrative notation and financial
Oaf
A clumsy, awkward, or notably stupid person, often behaving in a rude, insensitive, or bumbling way.
Themes: character type and personality
Scapegoating
The act of unfairly blaming an individual or group for problems they did not cause, often to divert attention or relieve social pressure.
Themes: attribution and group dynamics
Self-monitoring
The tendency to observe, evaluate, and adjust your behaviour, self-presentation, and nonverbal expressions to fit social expectations.
Themes: behavioural adaptation and self-regulation
Territorial aggression
Aggressive behaviour used to defend a specific area or space against intruders, typically members of the same species.
Themes: behaviour and interaction
Ultranationalism
Extreme or radical nationalism, marked by intense, uncompromising loyalty to one’s nation and a belief in its superiority over others.
Themes: belief system and ideology
Verbal aggression
The use of words to attack, hurt, or undermine another person, causing psychological or emotional harm.
Themes: harmful and hostile communication
Violence
Intentional use of physical force or power against others, likely to cause harm, injury, trauma, deprivation, or death.
Themes: conflict and harm