“Add Oil”: Singapore’s Secret Power‑Up and a Dictionary Legend
Picture a crowded exam room in Singapore. Students lean in, whisper “add oil!” to each other, and the room suddenly feels less tense and more pumped. This little phrase, which translates directly from the Mandarin jia you, has quietly become a power‑boost emoji for students everywhere.
What’s the Real Deal with “Add Oil”?
Most of us don’t know that “add oil” isn’t just a quirky Chinglish broken‑translation. No, it’s officially in the Oxford English Dictionary, complete with an exclamation point. That means it’s not just a meme—it’s a proper entry that even the dictionary has embraced.
The surprising scoop came from Associate Professor Hugo Tseng of Taiwan’s Soochow University. Tseng spilled the beans in a column in Hong Kong’s Apple Daily (Oct 14) after discovering the phrase made the dictionary’s cut‑over list. He wrote in Mandarin that while jia you literally means “add oil,” English teachers might flag it as Chinglish. Yet it’s spread so far that the OED has officially stamped it as legit.
Why Does “Add Oil” Matter?
- It’s all about motivation. The phrase is like a pep talk wrapped in a nonsensical slogan.
- It shows cultural crossover. A Chinese expression has crossed into global slang, getting an official nod from one of the world’s most respected dictionaries.
- It adds a splash of humor. Saying “add oil” instead of “studying hard” turns studying into a fun, almost ironic sport.
TL;DR:
“Add oil” is a homemade, hopefully motivational phrase that started in Singapore, found its way into the Oxford dictionary, and now everyone from students to teachers can shout it at a 10‑minute crash‑study session. If you get a new examination, simply say “add oil!” and you’ll feel like you’ve officially pumped up the strength of your brain.
Singlish in the Oxford Dictionary: From Macao Cheers to Modern Chat
Picture this: a scrappy crowd in Macau in the 1960s shouting ga yau! (or jin you for friends who speak Mandarin). The freckled engines revved, the rubber on the track rippled, and somewhere in the noise, a phrase that would later have its own page in the Oxford English Dictionary emerged.
The Origin Story
- Hong Kong English claim – Some say ga yau sprung from the unique mix of Cantonese and English vibes in Hong Kong.
- Macao Grand Prix cred – Others trace it back to the 1960s Macau Grand Prix, where fans pressed “go on, go for it!” into the ears of drifting drivers.
- Both views agree on one thing: it’s essentially a pep talk. If your engine needs a boost, it’s the voice of the crowd, the cheer that says “fuel it, mate!”
The Oxford Upgrade
In 2016, the Oxford dictionary took a bold step and added some Singlish gems:
- “Blur” – meaning “slow to catch on.” “I’m absolutely blur after that joke…”
- “Lepak” – for those who like to chill and hunker down. “Let’s lepak by the beach.”
- And, of course, the headline star, “ga yau”, described as an old-school hype: “expressing encouragement, incitement or support,” a bit like a fuel injection for your spirit.
Why It Matters
The Oxford updates go fresh every quarter, and this month alone saw over 1,400 brand‑new entries. Who knew middle‑east slang and a little bit of petrol‑in‑the-engine vibe would get a shout‑out from the dictionary’s heavyweights? This is a win‑win for linguists and for anyone whose fingers bleed out the occasional “blur” or “lepak” in text messages.
What’s Next?
Stay tuned – the OED is just scratching its head now, but one thing’s for certain: language evolves, and the dictionary keeps pace. Whether you’re a street‑wise driver or a campus chatter, there’s a new word for every occasion.
