Personal Blogs

As an English student, nothing mesmerises me quite so much as the way that people communicate with one another. I consider myself to be more of a descriptive linguist and relish in language change and observing the different linguistic choices that people make. I work in a call centre and speak to people from all over the UK. One of the highlights of the job for me is encountering the different dialects of English and how others who use it as a second language. It was during one phone call that took place two weeks ago that I first was introduced to a fantastic term that I now both frequently use and endorse.

It was a busy Wednesday afternoon. I'd just returned from my lunch and was helping a customer to resolve their complex complaint. The gentleman and I had built quite a rapport and he was recounting a story about a colleague of his whom, shall we say, was of a pessimistic disposition. He was laughing, telling me how he so feared the draining effect of that particular person's company that he tried to avoid it altogether. It was then that he so casually said, "oh yes, [they are] quite the mood-hoover!"

My initial response to this description, aside the inevitable momentary confusion when one does encounter something new, was to burst out laughing! I had never heard the term 'mood-hoover', yet I couldn't imagine a more perfect phrase. We've all been to that team meeting or that family meal where there is that one person (who we do love) who sucks the positive atmosphere out of the room, leaving it full of desolation and despair, and more importantly, leaving you in dire need of caffeine, wine or some time alone. On rare occasions, that person can be me or it could be you.

The phrase is published on the Urban Dictionary, the entry of which dates back to 2007. There it is defined as:

'Someone who sucks all the good feelings out a room. They are obsessed with doom and gloom and that is where there conversations are focused.

This phrase by no exaggeration has filled a descriptive void in my life that I didn't even know was there. It presents a graphic image to associate with the loss of cheer following exposure to another person's negative expressions, opinions and ramblings. I have shared the term amongst my family and friends in an attempt to break it into my sociolect. Each of them have expressed some delight at its simplicity and appropriacy.

If you are reading this and have in so doing also discovered some joy in this fantastic fledgling neologism then please use it. Share it! There are some things in life that were created to be enjoyed and this is one of them!