ISLAMABAD: To mark World English Day, the British Council has unveiled Phrase-ology, a major new research project exploring the fascinating journey of English expressions, from ancient origins to modern slang shaped by global cultures and digital life, hoping the project will “build bridges within Pakistan and around the world.”

Led by Dr. Barbara McGillivray, an expert in computational linguistics and NLP specialist Iacopo Ghinassi, the study analyzed millions of online texts to track the emergence, evolution, and popularity of phrases. From long-established idioms like “breaking the ice” to new-gen slang such as “ate and left no crumbs,” meaning to do something flawlessly, the research shows how English continues to evolve and adapt.

“As we trace the journey of English through time and culture, we’re also recognizing its power to open doors and build bridges within Pakistan and around the world,” James Hampson, Country Director, British Council Pakistan, said in a statement. 

Mark Walker, Director of English & Exams at the British Council, said the new research project not just looked at the past but also the future of English:

“Whether for work, study, travel, relationships, or lifelong learning, as the global lingua franca, English is one of the key ways that people connect and engage across cultures.” 

From Ancient Greece to Gen Z: A Language in Motion

Phrase-ology reveals that while time-honored phrases like “kill two birds with one stone” are still common, others have been reinvented or emerged in recent decades. For example, “spill the beans” dates to the early 1900s, but its modern cousin “spill the tea,” popularized within African American and other communities, surged on social media from 2017 onwards.

Even expressions like “bucket list,” now widely known, barely existed in popular usage before the 2007 film of the same name. 

Meanwhile, phrases like “let them cook” and “main character energy” highlight how social media continues to generate and amplify new linguistic trends.

Language Across Generations

The study also highlights generational differences and overlaps.

While older phrases like “better late than never” remain widely used, Gen Z has embraced terms such as “glow up”, “no cap”, and “vibe check.” Yet, some expressions like “keep it real,” first heard in the 1960s, remain relevant across all age groups.

A Global Language with Global Roots

English expressions often have unexpected international origins. 

“Long time no see” may derive from Chinese Pidgin English or early 20th-century American Westerns. “Moment of truth” comes from the Spanish bullfighting term “hora de la verdad,” while “chin chin” – now a toast – stems from the Chinese word “qǐng,” meaning “please.” 

The study even draws linguistic parallels, such as Nigeria’s “to yarn dust” – similar in meaning to “talking rubbish.”

A Living Language, Categorized

The British Council has compiled a list of 100 phrases that reflect the richness of English, organized into eight thematic categories:

Global English – borrowed from other languages (e.g. let the genie out of the bottle)
Classic Evergreen – longstanding idioms (e.g. raining cats and dogs)
Generational – tied to specific eras (e.g. instant karma)
Pop Culture – driven by media and entertainment (e.g. let them cook)
Sports – with athletic origins (e.g. straight off the bat)
Gen Z – contemporary slang (e.g. no cap)
Language of Belief – rooted in religion (e.g. turn the other cheek)
Shakespeare – phrases from or inspired by his works (e.g. wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeve)

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and global vaccine alliance Gavi have donated 31 refrigerated trucks to Pakistan, the country’s health ministry confirmed on Wednesday, in their bid to improve vaccine access for children in remote areas.

Children in Pakistan’s remote areas face considerable challenges in accessing vaccines. Many parts of the country, such as mountainous terrains in the north, desert areas in the south and conflict-affected zones lack proper road infrastructure and reliable transportation for vaccines. 

Refrigerated trucks, also known as cold chain vehicles, store vaccines in specific cold temperatures to ensure they do not lose their effectiveness. These trucks were provided through a collaborative effort between the Pakistani government, UNICEF and Gavi, the health ministry said. 

“UNICEF officially handed over 31 refrigerated trucks to the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) in Islamabad today,” the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination said. 

Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and UNICEF’s representative in Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, took part in a ceremony during which the trucks were handed over to Pakistan. 

The ministry quoted Kamal as saying that five refrigerated trucks would be allocated to each province of the country.

“These new refrigerated vehicles will significantly strengthen access to life-saving vaccines for children across Pakistan, including the remote regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and other hard-to-reach areas,” he said. 

Kamal also spoke about Pakistan’s ongoing national anti-polio drive, which began on Apr. 21 and will run for seven days. Over 450,000 frontline workers are taking part in the drive. 

The health minister expressed concern over parents’ growing refusals for polio drops and directed authorities to file a police report against vaccine refusers.

“Every child has the right to be protected from preventable diseases,” UNICEF’s Fadil was quoted as saying. “By safeguarding vaccine potency through a strengthened cold chain, we are making strides toward a healthier Pakistan where every child is fully immunized.”

The health ministry said UNICEF, with support from Gavi, was also providing technical assistance to improve vaccine micro plans, cold chain system strengthening and real-time monitoring.

This latest initiative builds upon ongoing support for vaccine access in Pakistan, which included the delivery of 23 refrigerated vehicles in 2021 and seven pick-up trucks earlier this year.