Slanguage – ONEDOWNMANSHIP
ONEDOWNMANSHIP – a contest to see which party can trump the other in wretchedness. Evoking the ‘luxury’ sketch of Python, onedownmanship is a sustained tournament of self-reproach and whinery open to mid-tier execs, invisible 40-year olds, Gen Xers and outmoded boomers to see who can out-low the other. (“What, you can’t download music? Well, I can’t send a pdf!”) With fresh football wounds, the English refer to Gallant Loser Syndrome, while Alcoholics Anonymous can’t close a session without a game of my-past-is-more-abject-than-yours. Grumpy Old Men (and Women) owe their cult status to stellar displays of onedownmanship.
Any other new-word nominations? Trump your co-surfer and post your own.