The words ‘goblin mode’ conjur up Tolkien-esque images of trolls and goblins, and while that’s not exactly on the money, the phrase does have something to do with being a bit goblin-like…
Whether it was the three different prime ministers, climate crisis, cost of living crisis (how many crises do we need?!), the war in Ukraine or something closer to home, you may have found yourself going ‘goblin mode’ without even knowing it.
It’s officially described as “a slang term, often used in the expressions ‘in goblin mode’ or ‘to go goblin mode’ – a type of behaviour which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.”
In real terms, it’s when life gets all too much and you go into hibernation mode, cosying up on the couch or in bed (potentially with some wine and snacks) and forgetting about the world for a while. We all know the feeling! Or those days when you just Can’t Be Bothered and run out of the house with your hair pulled back into a messy bun and last night’s pyjama bottoms on as you make a dash to the shop for some milk. Which, typically, is when you run into your boyfriend from 30 years ago…
‘Goblin mode’ being selected as the Oxford word of the year tells us a lot about how hard this year has been for so many of us. It’s a trend that has been picked up across the board: Collins word of the year was declared as “permacrisis” and Merriam-Webster’s as “gaslighting”, which just about sums it all up.
Well, we don’t know about you, but here on Platinum HQ, we’ll be going full ‘goblin mode’ until we see 2023. Here’s to a healthier, happier and more joyful year for us all next year!
