The global financial crisis competes with old favourites like sex and celebrity in a search launched this week by Australia's top dictionary for the best new word or phrase.

'Toxic debt' may not have the ring of 'bromance', 'sexting' or 'climate porn' but the description of worthless loans like those that sparked the meltdown in world markets has entered everyday usage with a vengeance.

That puts it in the running for the annual popular vote on the Macquarie dictionary's favourite new word in its latest online volume.

Most of the 95 entries in 19 categories are not specifically Australian, but reflect global trends.

For the record, and for those who may not be on the cutting edge of language development, 'bromance' refers to "a non-sexual but intense friendship between two males".

'Sexting' is sending or receiving a sexually explicit photo or video clip on a mobile phone. This could be a sideline for 'textaholics' — those who are addicted to sending text messages over the same device.

'Climate porn' refers to "exaggeratedly alarmist" predictions about climate change — while climate wars are what will occur if the predictions are not so far-fetched.

'Fanta pants'

A 'celebutard' is a stupid celebrity, a 'fur child' is a pet animal treated like a baby and a 'flashpacker' is a backpacker who travels in relative luxury.

'Baby brain' is "the perceived diminished mental capacity" of pregnant women, supposedly signified by forgetfulness and loss of concentration.

'Lawfare' is the use of international law by one country to criticise another.

'Fanta pants' is apparently a reference to a redhead — and you can work out the rest of that one for yourselves...

Online voting, at www.macquariedictionary.com.au, ends on 31 January and a committee of academics and the publisher will announce the winner in the first week of February.

AFP