This summer's immense oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico launched the word "Spillcam," the name given to the camera that broadcast pictures of the gushing oil well deep under the surface. Unfortunately for the environment, the spill was severe enough – and the word "Spillcam" became colloquial enough – that the the term took the No. 1 spot in the this year's top words ranking.
Fittingly, although unrelated to the spill, "anger and rage" – used by American pundits to characterize the sentiment that pushed the tea party into the spotlight – took the top spot on the phrase list. All that "anger and rage" is now on its way to Washington. What will next year's top phrase be?
