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Drama Dots: What does honeyfuggle, snool, and flype mean?
Parents were huddled in the back of the cramped classroom, staring at the three students in the front. We were surprised when they began singing the Sesame Street theme song as they walked in a circle around a table.
Occasionally, they would pause and sing words like “Bishkek” and “Pyrolysis” with jazz hands. They presented in a program called Future Cities and used a skit to introduce us to their city and the environmental improvements they planned to make.
It was memorable, and the judges thought so, too. They were the first of 34 groups to present, and after five hours of presentations, the judges gave them the award for the most creativity.
It’s a perfect example of the Primacy Effect. (And, the fact that their skit was really good!)
If the first review you read about a product is glowing, you are more likely to remember that review over others. You usually remember the first items on a list and possibly the last ones. It’s hard to remember the middle section.
With the Primacy Effect, we tend to remember the first piece of information better than information that is shared later on.
Why does it matter to us?
If we aren’t paying attention, we will latch onto the first bit of information – a review, a story, a negative first impression, etc. This can impact our overall opinions. On the flipside, if you are writing an email, presenting to a client, or trying to grab someone’s attention, pay attention to what you share first. That is the piece of information that will be retained.
Focus on what you need people to remember from your email or presentation, and place that content at the beginning.
Honeyfuggle? Snool? Flype?
Have you ever been guilty of honeyfuggling? Or, has someone ever called you a snool? Believe it or not, these are real words! Here are a few fabulous words that are rarely used.
Honeyfuggle is a verb that means to obtain by cheating or deception; to ingratiate oneself in order to cheat or deceive.
I was exhausted after my friend honeyfuggled me into attending a concert I didn’t want to go to.
Pronunciation: hənēˌfəgəl
Snool is a noun that describes an obedient/submissive person.
He was more than a yes-man – he was the office snool, as he’d do anything management asked of him.
Pronunciation: ˈsnül
Flype is a verb that means to turn or fold back (as a stocking).
His mom flyped back his clean socks so they stayed together.
Pronunciation: flahyp
A MUCH-NEEDED LAUGH!
INSPIRATION
Joy Ryan had lost contact with her grandson, Brad. After Brad’s parents divorced, he and Joy drifted apart. When Brad saw Joy at a family wedding, he was shocked by how much she had aged. After the wedding, they occasionally talked, but it was definitely a strained, awkward situation.
Years later, after reeling from a classmate’s suicide, Brad reached out to his grandma. They started connecting more, and during one of their conversations, he learned that his 85-year-old grandma had never seen a mountain or been to the ocean. They decided to take a camping trip to the Smoky Mountains.
That trip started a new goal: to visit all 63 national parks. And, they did just that! Their final park was the National Park of American Samoa in the South Pacific. It was 6,700 miles from Joy’s home in Duncan Falls, Ohio! As their plane approached their destination, the flight attendant announced that Brad and Joy were about to reach their goal, and they were met with cheers and applause from their fellow passengers!
Their travels gave them an opportunity to get to know one another again and heal past conflicts. They documented their travels on Instagram and now have a new goal to visit every continent.
🌍 🌍 🌍
This story reminds me that it’s never too late to reconcile with someone and to try something new. Think of how much richer Joy’s life is after these wonderful experiences.
May we all learn from Brad and Joy to embrace new adventures and reconnect with loved ones.
Joy and Brad at the National Park of American Samoa
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I'm a professional communicator who loves stories, effective communication tactics, and cats. Subscribe to my newsletter for grammar tips, communications advice, and things to make you laugh/cry!
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