neknomination

/ˈnɛk nɔmɪˈneɪʃən/

Etymology

From neck (“to drink very quickly”) + nomination. Originated in Australia and gained popularity on social media.

Why this word is great

**NEKNOMINATION** — Noun. A viral drinking challenge where participants film themselves consuming a full pint of alcohol in one continuous gulp before nominating others to replicate or escalate the act, typically shared on social media. The term blends *neck* (British slang for drinking swiftly) and *nomination* (the act of issuing a dare), originating in Australian social media circa 2013 before spreading globally. Unlike a *toast*—which binds drinkers in shared ritual—or the *Ice Bucket Challenge*—which channeled peer pressure toward charity—neknomination thrives on reckless one-upmanship: liquor substituted for beer, stunts added for spectacle, each video a gauntlet thrown to outdo the last. A pixelated parade of flushed faces and sloshing glasses, the clink of ice cubes in empty tumblers, the flicker of bravado before the screen cuts to black—modern merriment measured in proof and views.

noun

  1. An online drinking game, typically involving a person uploading a video of themselves drinking a pint of an alcoholic beverage (most commonly beer) in one gulp, then nominating two or more others to do the same.“The controversial Neknomination craze has reportedly led to the death of another young British man, after a rugby player mixed two pints of gin with teabags and said to the camera: “This is how you drink.””