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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 14/09/2026

Samphire: "the saline greens" (from Waitrose Food magazine)

Samphire goes local

It's notable for it's knobbly-bobbly stems, crunchy texture and salty taste, which dunks your taste buds straight into the sea. But these particular samphire spears are making history: thanks to some nifty hydroponic technology, British growers are now able to produce the saline greens year-round instead of relying on international sources.

Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 20/07/2026

Did you catch the half-time show at the World Cup final last night? The Superbowl-inspired mega-spectacle featured Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and... Shakira! Here's one of our fave second mentions of all time from the Guardian. Take a bow! #worldcup #WorldCupFinal26

Shakira - the Colombian star, philanthropist and committed believer in the veracity of hips. Image of a podium and a trophy sitting on top.

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 20/07/2026

Justin Bieber as "the baby-faced pop sensation" in @thetimes.com

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 22/06/2026

A timely reminder of when Liz Truss resigned... From 'The Little Book of Second Mentions'

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 19/06/2026

thank you thank you 'the snout-nosed litter-collecting sensations'

wombles as snout-nosed, litter collecting sensations

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 12/06/2026

American football: "the US oval ball sport" from @faisalislam.bsky.social

Highlighted text reads: For a start, it is largely taking place in borrowed American football stadiums (a quarter of the games are in Canada and Mexico), with the US oval ball sport leaving its mark, perhaps indelibly.

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 01/06/2026

‘The insatiable invader’ 🐍

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 22/05/2026

Cyrano de Bergerac: "the verse-spouting, big-nosed soldier" @thetimes.com

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 20/05/2026

Euston: "the much-derided London railway station" @londoncentric.media

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 28/04/2026

We've loved reading about the adventures of Magnus the walrus, who has been touring the Scottish coast over the last few weeks. However, we've been somewhat disappointed by the second mentions so far...

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 19/04/2026

Mustard: "the hot-dog-adjacent hue" From @thetimes.com

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 11/04/2026

Belgium: "the land of Hercule Poirot, waffles, beer, moules-frites and Tintin" @thetimes.com

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 28/03/2026

Eastbourne: "the granny-friendly, bucket-and-spade resort" From @thetimes.com

Title: Eastbourne, East Sussex. Picture of a woman walking along a cliff path. Text below reads: the granny-friendly, bucket-and-spade resort has developed an arty/wellbeing side

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 25/03/2026

And there's more... Madeleines: "the shell-shaped delights"

Screenshot from Waitrose Food magazine reading: "Waitrose cooks... Madeleines. These delicate french cakes are having a moment on dessert menus. Alex Szrok shares his secrets to mastering the shell-shaped delights"

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 25/03/2026

Rice crispy cakes: "the iconic party treat" (from Waitrose Food magazine)

Screenshot of a magazine page, reading "Crunchy, chewy, marshmallowy goodness - the iconic party treat is totally irresistible, whatever your age"

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 14/03/2026

Apple Watch: "wrist brains" from today's @thetimes.com

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 11/03/2026

Peter Mandelson: "the now-very-much-former ambassador to the United States" www.thetimes.com/article/228a...

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 28/02/2026

Evgeny Lebedev: "the luxuriantly bearded proprietor" @privateeyenews.bsky.social

A short extract from Private Eye magazine that describes Evgeny Lebedev as "the luxuriantly bearded proprietor"

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 26/02/2026

Angel Gomes: "the 5ft 6in Wolves technician"

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 01/02/2026

See also: "the savory, crispy, and fluffy baked batter staple"

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 20/01/2026

In need of a second mention for Brooklyn Beckham? Look no further...

Brooklyn Beckham ('the celebrity spawnster', in MailOnline), meanwhile is described as "the photographer-turned-online-chef" at second mention in the Sunday Mirror, and somewhat more harshly by MailOnline as "the budding but untalented chef".

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 19/01/2026

Cabbage: "the humble brassica" www.bbc.co.uk/food/article...

Cabbage's comeback (yes, really)
It's true: cabbage is having a moment. Chefs have been pushing the fancy stuff on us for years - grilled hispi, for instance, is no stranger to trendy restaurant menus - but it seems the humble brassica is what the people really want.

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 04/01/2026

Ghostbusters: "the phantom-fighters"

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 10/12/2025

"This book isn't just a definitive, overdue exploration - it's a celebration" @footballcliches.bsky.social

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 10/12/2025

"My favourite less-than-vast agglomeration of pages in print this year" @shippersunbound.bsky.social

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 10/12/2025

"A delightful book for anyone who loves words" @stephenkb.bsky.social

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 05/12/2025

🎁 Looking for a Christmas stocking-filler or a Secret Santa present? 🎁 'The Little Book of Second Mentions' is the perfect read for anyone with a passion for the power of the English language! 👉 Available now to buy on Amazon: amzn.eu/d/foAcACB

The front cover of The Little Book of Second Mentions

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 04/12/2025

🎁 Day 4 🎁 A sprig of mistletoe... ☠️ The toxic, parasitic plant ❤️ The romantic, Christmas plant

Kombucha girl meme with girl looking disgusted and then looking interested

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 26/11/2025

It's #Budget2025 Day! Or rather "the big fiscal event" Can you identify what is being referred to in these other second mentions?

A page from a book, reading 'Politics: Quiz'

1. The big fiscal event
2. The once-in-a-decade statistics survey
3. The powerful political and military alliance between 30 European and North American countries
4. The Swansea-based government agency
5. The controversial drilling practice
6. The weakening greenback
7. The unchecked effluvium
8. The Marxist touchstone
9. The scalded-amphibian treatment
10. The party political prophylactics

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 26/11/2025

🚨 Big news 🚨 The Little Book of Second Mentions is included in Amazon's Black Friday deals, for just £9.09! 👉 Get your copy of the 300-page synonym-packed collection here: amzn.eu/d/2jraqQN

Front cover of The Little Book of Second Mentions

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 15/11/2025

Kebab: "the post-pub classic" www.thetimes.com/article/6725...

Picture of a woman preparing an octopus kebab. Headline reads: The octopus kebab - Camden's fishy twist on the post-pub classic

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 12/11/2025

🎁 Looking for the perfect Secret Santa present? 🎁 🧑‍🎄 In honour of Father Christmas, here are our favourite second mentions for the big man 🧑‍🎄 👉 All this and more in 'The Little Book of Second Mentions', out now

Once you've selected a synonym for Christmas itself, the festive/yuletide/seasonal/Mariah Carey time provides a veritable feast of second mentions, starting with the big man himself. Father Christmas, or Santa Claus if you prefer, is variously referred to as 'the bearded present-bearer' for PA News, 'the man in red' for the Halifax Courier, and 'the red-robed friendly present giver' for Reading Today. Another perhaps slightly euphemistic example is 'the broad-girthed giver of joy' for BBC News, though that interpretation might just be us... We reckon we might end up on the naughty list for that one.

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 10/11/2025

"the noble, katana-wielding heroes" www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

An article from the Guardian with the words "the noble, katana-wielding heroes" highlighted in pink

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 04/11/2025

🐻 As #PaddingtonTheMusical opens this month, we're here for all your second mentions needs 🐻 👉 All this and more in 'The Little Book of Second Mentions', out now amzn.eu/d/aWn883j

Text reading: Meanwhile over on X, journalists Callum Thomson asked for our advice when trying to come up with a second mention for Paddington Bear, writing: "Not sure I can get away with "the Peruvian marmalade muncher, can I, Second Mentions'?" Of course, we can't speak on behalf of your sub-editor, but if you need more suggestions, then perhaps take inspiration from 'the furry Peruvian emigre' in The Guardian, 'the marmalade-loving bear' in the Halesowen News and, our favourite, 'the duffle-coat-wearing ursine' from BBC News. And, if you need a second mention for marmalade sandwiches, we suggest 'the bread and orange preserve staple', which featured in The Independent.

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 24/09/2025

🍻 To mark the opening of its first ever pub, here are our favourite second mentions for Greggs 🍻 Let us know if you can do better... www.greggs.com/news/welcome...

A bulletpoint list of synonyms for Greggs including 'the much-loved northern bakery chain', 'the pastry paradise', 'the sausage roll haven', 'the sausage roll stalwart', 'the pie-and-pastry giant', 'the steak-bake champion', 'the purveyor of sausage rolls and meat pies', 'the North East-based food-on-the-go firm'

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 17/09/2025

"the quasi-celebrity, leather jacket-wearing billionaire" www.cityam.com/nvidia-boss-...

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 10/09/2025

"the Sandhurst-educated leader of the gas-rich Gulf state" www.thetimes.com/article/e520...

Text from The Times newspaper. After the bombing, Trump called Netanyahu, describing the attack as an "unfortunate incident". He also called the emir of Qatar to reassure the Sandhurst-educated leader of the gas-rich Gulf state that his country was safe from further Israeli attacks.

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 07/09/2025

When you want to avoid repeating Sting. And The Police. (Sent to us by a follower on the other site) www.nme.com/news/music/s...

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 31/08/2025

"the begoggled chef" www.thetimes.com/article/fcbc...

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Second Mentions @secondmentions.com · 27/08/2025

Big thanks to @hackblackburn.bsky.social for featuring us - and some mischievous moggies - in today's Times Diary! www.thetimes.com/article/b809...

How to handle a cat

While flicking through The Little Book of Second Mentions, a study of how journalists avoid repetition, it becomes clear that some of the most original work is being done by the local press. For instance, when a cat interrupted a Sheffield Wednesday match the nationals went with the all-too-oft-repeqtee 'mischievous moggie', whereas only Wigan Today used the term 'the naughty tortie'. The book lists some of the many occasions when 'mischievous moggie' has been used and it seems the British press believe that the first word covers all manner of sins. It has been used for cats who have done everything from get their head stuck in a tissue box through to stealing socks, but surely it was stretched to breaking point when applied to a cat that dragged home 20 wraps of cocaine.

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