“Slang has different functions: many of the words we use are playful and a lot are tribal - we speak the same way as the groups we are part of. A great deal are also euphemistic, so it's no surprise that a third of us are perplexed by their meanings and origins.”

English lexicographer, etymologist, and media personality

Susie Dent is an English lexicographer, etymologist, and media personality, known for her long-running presence on television. Born in 1964, she has appeared in Dictionary Corner on Channel 4’s Countdown since 1992. She also appears on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, the comedy spin-off of the show. Her work centers on words, their meanings, and their histories, which has made her a familiar voice on British television.