• Michaela Dante splurged on Jimmy Choo heels for her wedding.
• She said the shoes broke before the wedding, and the retailer chalked it up to "normal wear and tear."
• The brand later apologized to Dante and sent her a new pair of shoes and a purse.

Michaela Dante, 26, had never purchased a luxury product before her wedding, but she decided her big day was a good excuse to splurge on a pair of heels.

"I figured I'm not going to wear my dress again, but I'll definitely wear a pair of shoes that I can have for anniversaries and special occasions and pop them on when I want to feel beautiful," the Bay Area bride, who is getting married on July 20, told Business Insider. "I kind of just assumed that buying the luxury route guaranteed that they would have some longevity."

Dante said she considered shoes from several different high-end retailers because she was searching for heels with a fairly specific height. In April, she found what she thought were the perfect shoes at Jimmy Choo.

But she said the shoes broke before the wedding, leading to a weeklong, frustrating experience with staff from the store.

Dante told BI that representatives from Jimmy Choo apologized to her for her experience on Tuesday. The brand did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Dante said she discovered the shoes were ripping at one of her bridal fittings

The Aurelie 65 shoes Dante selected were 65 millimeters tall, made of patent leather, and had a pointed toe.

The pearl-studded strap on top of the shoe completed the look, which Dante said she loved because her wedding dress features pearl detailing. She also said she was surprised by how comfortable they were.

The shoes are listed for $995 online. According to a receipt reviewed by BI, Dante paid $1,085.95 for them after taxes.

Dante said she barely took the shoes out of the box after buying them. However, she brought them to one of her final wedding dress fittings in June to ensure the dress was hemmed to the height of her heels.

"I had them on to place the bustle," she said of the shoes. "When I took them off to hand them to my mom — because I've been keeping them in their box in their dust bag with the stuffing in them — she was like, 'What is this?'"

That's when Dante saw that the leather was ripped in the crease of the point at the front of one of the shoes.

The tear wasn't huge. But Dante said she had worn the shoes for under five minutes, so she was concerned they wouldn't hold up for her wedding.

"I wasn't too worried about it at that point because I was like, 'Well, obviously they'll fix it," Dante said.

Replacing the shoes was difficult, according to Dante

Dante said she first tried to rectify the issue on the phone, calling the Jimmy Choo location where she bought the shoes later that day.

She said the sales associate she spoke to — who was not the same person who initially sold her the shoes — first chalked the rip up to "normal wear and tear," not seeming to understand Dante hadn't worn the shoes for more than five minutes maximum.

"It almost felt like I was getting a runaround," Dante said. "My concerns weren't really being addressed."

Dante told BI she then went to Jimmy Choo in person to speak with the salesperson who originally sold her the shoes because she would know more about the purchase. When she arrived, she said the employee didn't seem to know the details of her situation despite her coworker promising Dante she would inform her. She also said she could do nothing about the rip since Dante had technically worn the shoe, but she offered to speak to her manager.

Dante said the salesperson and her manager agreed to swap the pair, telling her it was a "one-time" deal.

When the salesperson opened the box of replacement shoes, Dante said she discovered the new pair was broken, too, as the fishing wire that held the pearls was detached on one side of one of the shoes.

"At that point, I kind of felt sick to my stomach because I was like, 'What are we paying for when we're buying luxury items?'" Dante said. "I felt pretty stupid for doing it in the first place."

Dante ultimately got a refund

Dante considered buying a different pair of Jimmy Choo shoes but ultimately decided she just wanted a refund on the original pair.

She said the employee told her she couldn't refund the shoes without her manager's presence, promising the manager would call her to finish the transaction.

"It was kind of like a waiting game of hearing back from the manager, and I never did," she said.

After several days of waiting for a call, Dante said she called the store back to speak to the manager. Again, she said, there was a communication breakdown, and the manager was unaware of the details of Dante's situation.

"He knew that there was a damaged pair of shoes, but he didn't know that he was supposed to call me," Dante said, adding that the manager told her that her issue was not "really high on the priority list."

"It was just very unprofessional," she said.

Dante also said the manager didn't seem inclined to give her a refund until she told him she had posted a TikTok video about her experience with the store. The video she posted on June 14 had over 9.1 million views as of Friday.

Dante told BI she expected better customer service from a luxury retailer.

"As a company, if Jimmy Choo is selling this kind of a product, they really should be providing some sort of an experience, and it wasn't like that," she said.

Dante said Jimmy Choo's president and the vice president for the regional sales team for her area called her on Tuesday to apologize for her experience with the brand. She told BI the brand also gifted her a replacement pair of shoes and a handbag.

"I felt glad to know that they understood why the situation was stressful and that they wanted to make it right," Dante said of hearing from the brand. She added that she was glad their contact could lead the company to "implement better practices moving forward if others have faulty products that need rectification."

Dante said in a TikTok video about Jimmy Choo's apology that she plans to wear the replacement shoes the brand is sending her to her wedding. But she told BI she won't be in a rush to buy another luxury product herself.

"We live in a time when it seems like everybody has a designer bag," she said. "It seems like this really special thing to do, and I don't necessarily think that it is, which honestly made me feel better because it's like, 'OK, I'm not really missing out on anything.'"

"I thought there was a guarantee in designer items," she added. "But designer doesn't mean they're going to hold up and last better than a non-designer item."

Joe Biden's age has fueled concerns about a second term. Here are seven key Democrats who could step in if Biden exits the 2024 presidential race.

• "The Bear" and "The Mole" both returned with new seasons this week.
• "Killers of the Flower Moon" star Lily Gladstone stars in a new movie that's now streaming.
• Netflix also has a new reality show about luxury realtors.

What do "The Bear" and "The Mole" have in common?

Aside from both having the name of an animal in their title, they're also both back with new episodes this week.

FX's critically acclaimed dramedy starring Jeremy Allen White as a young chef in Chicago returned for its third season. Over on Netflix, the reality competition series "The Mole" is back for its second outing on the streamer, with the first five episodes of the season out now.

There are also two new documentaries about powerful women worth checking out.

Here's a complete rundown of all the best movies, shows, and documentaries to stream this weekend, broken down by what kind of entertainment you're looking for.

A new season of "The Bear" is out now

All 10 episodes of the FX hit's third season were released Wednesday night, thanks to the show's controversial all-at-once drop schedule. It picks up right after the season two finale.

Some critics are calling the new season too indulgent for its own good, but most agree it's still one of the best TV shows right now.

Streaming on: Hulu

Fashion lovers should check out "Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge"

The celebrated fashion designer gets the documentary treatment in a film co-directed by Trish Dalton and Oscar-winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. It tracks von Furstenberg's background as the child of a Holocaust survivor growing up in post-World War II Europe all the way through her career today.

"Woman in Charge" premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this month but just got a global streaming release this week.

Streaming on: Hulu

Music fans can tune in to "I Am: Celine Dion"

The iconic singer opens up about her life and her health struggle with Stiff Person Syndrome in an emotional new documentary.

"I Am: Celine Dion" is raw and moving, with Dion emotionally opening up about powering through her pain to continue performing before her diagnosis was made public and admitting she "could've died" from the high dosages of Valium she was taking to manage her condition while on tour.

Streaming on: Prime Video

Live vicariously through luxury realtors by watching "Owning Manhattan"

Step aside, "Selling Sunset." Netflix's latest reality show about luxury real-estate brokers shifts the focus to the East Coast and to Ryan Serhant, the mogul behind one of the largest brokerages in New York City who previously starred in Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing New York" for nine seasons.

Streaming on: Netflix

Or for a competition series fix, watch the new season of 'The Mole'

This is technically the seventh overall season of "The Mole," which originally aired on ABC from 2001 to 2008 before being revived on Netflix in 2022, when the streamer released its first season of the reboot.

Ari Shapiro takes over as host, but the format is still pretty much the same: Twelve players complete challenges to earn money toward a prize pot, all while one of those 12 is secretly trying to sabotage their earnings.

Streaming on: Netflix

True crime fans can check out "TikTok Star Murders"

This harrowing new true-crime documentary tells the story of TikToker Ali Abulaban, who was convicted of murdering his wife, Ana Abulaban, and her friend Rayburn Barron.

Streaming on: Peacock

Looking for a drama? Watch "Fancy Dance"

"Killers of the Flower Moon" standout and Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone stars as Jax, an Indigenous woman living on an Oklahoma reservation who takes over caring for her niece after her sister goes missing in this family drama.

Streaming on: Apple TV+

For historical-fantasy vibes, tune into "My Lady Jane"

If you liked how "Dickinson" played fast and loose with history, "My Lady Jane" will be your jam.

The British series is a reimagining of the life of the real Lady Jane Grey, who was beheaded after nine days as the queen of England. In this version, there are also shape-shifting humans who can transform into animals, because why not?

Streaming on: Prime Video

For a home renovation show with a deeper message, watch "Breaking New Ground"

This new docuseries follows the uplifting story of Robert Hardwell, a gay Black Broadway performer, as he buys and gut-renovates a 200-year-old Plantation-style home in Massachusetts.

Streaming on: Max

• AI will cut the marginal costs of producing information, Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman says.
• Suleyman predicts near-zero marginal cost for new knowledge production in 15-20 years.
• Suleyman believes these changes will mark a "true inflection point" in human history.

If the internet dramatically cut the costs of producing information, AI is bound to eliminate them.

That's according to Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of Microsoft AI.

"The economics of information are about to radically change," Suleyman said in an interview with journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin at the Aspen Ideas Festival this week. "In 15 or 20 years' time, we will be producing new scientific, cultural knowledge at almost zero marginal cost."

Marginal cost is the change in the total cost of production when the quantity is increased. By then, he added, information will also be open-sourced, which means it'll be available to everyone.

In Suleyman's view, that's a net positive because humans' core function is to produce knowledge, and AI is just going to "turbocharge" that.

"I think that is gonna be, you know, a true inflection point in the history of our species," he said, "because what are we, collectively, as an organism of humans, other than a knowledge, an intellectual production engine."

Suleyman has long been considered one of the top minds in AI. He co-founded DeepMind, an AI lab acquired by Google in 2010 that has made significant progress, particularly in healthcare. He joined Microsoft in March and has said his main goal is to "uplevel the quality of Copilot," which is the company's version of an AI assistant that works with business applications.

• From "chockablock" to a "full Monty," the Brits have a wide range of interesting slang words.
• You don't want to be described as "dim," "a mug," or "a few sandwiches short of a picnic."
• If you're "zonked" or "cream crackered," you might want to take a nap.

Brits have an interesting vernacular that includes words and phrases that might confuse many Americans.

Some terms, like "dim," "a mug," or "a few sandwiches short of a picnic," can be used as colorful insults, while being called "cheeky" can be either negative or positive, depending on the context. 

In a business setting, you might want to avoid certain words or phrases while conversing with Brits so as not to offend them, or incorporate their terms into your presentations or marketing materials if you want to relate with British clients or customers.

Here are 60 British phrases that will confuse anybody who didn't grow up in the UK.

An earlier version of this story was written by Bobbie Edsor.

"A few sandwiches short of a picnic" means someone who lacks common sense.

The phrase was first documented in the BBC's "Lenny Henry Christmas Special" in 1987.

"She's great fun, but she's a few sandwiches short of a picnic."

"Anorak" refers to someone who's a little bit geeky, with strong interests or expertise in a niche area.

Although it's more often used as a synonym for raincoat, an anorak is something slightly different in playground slang. This word probably originates from the "uncool" appearance of anorak coats and the people wearing them.

"Thomas is such an anorak when it comes to train trivia."

"Bagsy" is the equivalent of calling "shotgun" or "dibs" when something, like the front seat of the car or food, is offered up to a group.

School kids might call "bagsy" on items in their friends' pack lunches, like an apple or a cereal bar, that the friend isn't going to eat.

"Does anyone want thi—"

"Bagsy!"

"Bee's knees" refers to something at the "height of cool."

This phrase became mainstream in the USA in the 1920s despite its British origins, but its popularity in the States has dwindled since the turn of the century.

The "bee's knees" referred to small or insignificant details when it was first documented in the 18th century. Since then, the phrase has evolved and refers to something popular or cool.

"The Beatles are the bee's knees."

A "bender" is an extended period of drinking, usually in excess.

Someone on a spree of excessive drinking and mischief is "on a bender." Benders can last over 24 hours, and so you might say that someone is on "a weekend bender," or a "three-day bender."

"I bumped into him towards the end of his four-day bender. He was a wreck."

A "bird" is an informal word for a girl or young woman.

While the phrase can be interpreted as misogynistic, it's still commonly used. It's usually used to describe a woman between the ages of 18 and 50, particularly one who is attractive.

"Look at that bird over there. She's fit."

To "pull a blinder" involves achieving something difficult faultlessly and skillfully.

The phrase is most commonly used when the individual has been lucky and the person saying it is in disbelief that the first person has managed to pull it off.

"And did you see that equalizing goal in the last minute of injury time? He pulled a blinder there."

"Bloody" or "bleeding" is used to add emphasis to adjectives, similar to how "wicked" is used in New England.

The origins of the word are widely disputed. Some believe it's derived from the Dutch word "blute," meaning "bare." Others believe the word is a contraction of the 17th-century phrase "by our lady," and is blasphemous.

This second theory has been disproved, however, by the slang's first documentation predating the widespread use of the phrase "by our lady."

Nowadays, "bloody" is used widely — it's even used in children's films such as "Harry Potter" — and is arguably one of the most quintessentially British words on the list.

"That was bloody good."

"Bob's your uncle" is the very British equivalent to "hey presto!" or "et voilá!"

This phrase is often used to describe a process that seems more difficult than it actually is.

"Press down the clutch, put it into gear, then slowly ease off the clutch again. Bob's your uncle — you're driving!"

Something that is "bog-standard" is completely ordinary with no frills, embellishments, or add-ons.

Its origins are somewhat unclear, but a "bog" is another word for a toilet in British slang, adding to the connotations that something "bog-standard" is unglamorous and unspecial.

"How was the hostel?" "Oh, nothing exciting to report. Just your bog-standard dorm, really."

The "boot" of a car is the trunk in American English.

A popular pastime in the United Kingdom is attending or having your own "car boot sale," in which people usually sell knick-knacks and old personal items out of the back of their cars.

"Shove the shopping in the boot."

A "botch job" is a repair job that's been completed in a hurry and will probably fall apart reasonably soon.

A "botch job" can also refer to anything that's been done haphazardly, like a work assignment.

"Sam did a botch job on these shelves — they're wonky!"

A "brolly" is a shortened word for an umbrella.

On a rainy day in London, you would definitely want a brolly on hand.

"Grab your brolly, it's drizzling outside."

"Budge up" is similar to "scoot over" or "move over."

An informal way of asking someone to make room where they are sitting for you to sit down, too, would be asking them to "budge up."

"Hey, there's loads of room on that bench. Budge up and make some room for us, too!"

"Builder's tea" is the name of a strongly brewed cup of English breakfast tea with milk and sugar.

It's common courtesy to offer a laborer or builder working on your house a builder's tea while they're working — especially if they're working out in the cold. This is probably how the term came about.

"A bacon sandwich and a builder's tea. Now that's a proper breakfast."

"Butcher's hook" is Cockney rhyming slang for "look."

Therefore, if you're "having a butchers," you're having a look at something.

"Would you take a butchers at this broken bike for me?"

"Cheeky" refers to an act that could be deemed as impolite or shameless, but for some reason comes across as funny or endearing to others.

"Being cheeky" means being funny or humorous, but slightly mischievous at the same time. 

"Joe's children are absolute rascals — they tied my shoelaces together last week!"

"Those cheeky monkeys."

A "chinwag" is a chat or conversation.

A "good old chinwag" is a good chat, catch-up, or gossip with someone.

The action of chatting away — with the jaw bobbing up and down — resembles a chin "wagging" like a dog's tail.

"Those two are having a proper chinwag — I haven't been able to get a word in edgeways for half an hour!"

"Chockablock" could be used to describe something that's full to the brim or rammed.

This is sometimes shortened to "chocka." The phrase is most often used to describe heavy road traffic.

"We should've taken the other route. This road is chocka!"

"Chuffed" means overjoyed and full of pride.

If you get a promotion or meet someone special, you might describe yourself as "chuffed."

"I heard you got the promotion. Congratulations! You must be chuffed."

"Codswallop" means something untrue, often made up for dramatic effect.

Although no one is completely sure of the word's origins, it could derive from the words "cod" and "wallop," which historically meant "imitation" and "beer" respectively — implying that "codswallop" is the kind of rubbish you make up when drunk.

"Oh, what a load of codswallop!"

"Cream crackered" is Cockney rhyming slang for "knackered," or incredibly tired.

The term probably came about due to the fact that it rhymes with "knacker." A "knacker" was the person who slaughtered worn-out horses in the 19th and 20th centuries for their meat, hoofs, and hide. So, if you're "ready for the knacker's yard," you're exhausted beyond relief.

"This week's done me in already, and it's only Tuesday. I'm cream crackered."

"Dench" is an adjective used to advocate something that is impressive or agreeable.

Dench is the equivalent of "solid" or "cool" when used in response to someone else.

Its reported creator, British rapper Lethal Bizzle, elusively told The Guardian that the word "means anything you want." 

"I'm going to make us spaghetti carbonara for dinner."

"Dench."

"Dim" refers to someone who lacks common knowledge.

On the other hand, someone who's intelligent might be described as "bright."

"She's a bit dim."

A "doddle" is an easy task.

The word could be a variation of "toddle" — like a young child's first steps.

"This will be a doddle."

A "dog's dinner" is a mess or fiasco.

It is also sometimes referred to as a "dog's breakfast."

"You've made a dog's dinner of that paint job."

To "faff" or "faff about" is to waste time doing very little.

"Faff" comes from the 17th-century word "faffle," which means to flap about in the wind.

"What did you do on your day off from work?"

"We were just faffing about."

"Fit" is used to describe someone physically attractive, usually referring to their physique.

If you see someone you find attractive, you would call them "fit."

"He's fit."

To "flog" means to sell something, usually quickly and cheaply.

"Flogging" also refers to whipping a racehorse in order to make it move faster, so there is some speculation into whether you flog goods in order to make them shift faster, too. However, there is no proof for this theory.

"I'm trying to flog my old sofa. Do you know anyone who might be interested?"

A "full Monty" refers to pursuing something to the absolute limits.

After "The Full Monty" film was released in 1997, there was some international confusion over the phrase, which it was taken as a euphemism for stripping. However, "the full Monty" now usually refers to taking something as far as it can go, similar to "the whole nine yards."

"The full Monty" historically refers to an old tailor called Sir Montague Burton. Going "the full Monty" meant purchasing a full three-piece suit, a shirt, and all of the trimmings.

"Our Christmas dinner had everything from sprouts to Yorkshire puddings. If you're going to have a roast, have the full Monty!"

"Full of beans" can be used to describe someone who's energetic, lively, or enthusiastic.

This phrase could be a reference to coffee beans, although these claims have been disputed.

"Goodness, you're full of beans this morning!"

"Gaff" is an informal word for "home."

Although the origins of this phrase are largely unknown, a gaff in the 18th-century was a music hall or theater, and so it's believed to derive from this.

"What are you up to this weekend? We've got a party at our gaff, if you fancy it?"

A "geezer" is a man who could be described as "suave" or "dapper," and is often suited and booted.

Men from east London are also commonly referred to as "geezers," where the term is more interchangeable with "lad."

Geezer is thought to stem from the 15th century "guiser," which meant well-dressed.

"That guy's got such swagger — he's a proper geezer."

"Gutted" means devastated or extremely upset.

If your favorite football team were to lose, you'd be "gutted."

"I was absolutely gutted."

"Innit" is an abbreviation of "isn't it," most commonly used amongst teenagers and young people.

This phrase is used to confirm or agree with something that another person has just said.

"It's really cold today."

"Innit."

A "kip" is slang for a short sleep or nap.

The term is usually used to refer to a nap, but it can also mean a long sleep.

"What a long day. When we get home, I'm going to take a quick kip."

"Leg it" means to make a run for it, run away, or escape.

It's used most commonly when you're trying to get out of a situation by physically running away.

"That's when all of the lights came on, and so we legged it."

"Miffed" means slightly irritated or annoyed.

"Miffed" possibly derives from the German "muffen," meaning "to sulk."

"I was a bit miffed, I can't lie."

"Mint" might be used when referring to something of the highest caliber.

It's derived from "mint condition," which refers to something pre-owned that retains its pristine condition — although something that's just "mint" doesn't have to be pre-owned.

"Those shoes are mint!"

"Mortal" describes someone highly intoxicated or drunk in a sloppy manner.

Derived from the Newcastle sociolect, "mortal" was made widely known across the country in 2011 by the reality TV show "Geordie Shore."

"Did you see Scott last night? He was mortal."

A "mug" is someone who has been made a fool of.

"Mug" likely originated in London with Cockney slang. It means a stupid, often gullible, person who is easily taken advantage of.

"You signed that contract? You're such a mug."

In the same vein, to "mug off" someone is to make a fool of them, usually by deceiving or cheating on them.

The phrase is common on the hit British reality show "Love Island."

"He's going on a date with Amber? I feel so mugged off right now."

"You're mugging me off."

To "nick" something means to steal it.

"The Nick" can refer to a prison. The origins of the phrase are largely debated online, however, it's believed that "to nick" as in to steal influenced the slang term for prison, as being imprisoned is similar to being "stolen" away.

"Did you just nick that?"

"Don't get caught, or you'll end up in the Nick!"

Someone who's "on the pull" has gone out, usually on a night out, with the intention of attracting a sexual partner.

"Pull" can also be used as a verb. If you've "pulled," you've kissed someone.

"You look nice. Are you going on the pull?"

"Pants" means something is rubbish, trash, or garbage.

It's most often used to say something is unsatisfactory, like "blows" or "reeks," rather than actual trash.

"That is pants."

A "pea-souper" is a thick fog, often with a yellow or black tinge, caused by air pollution.

The idiom was first used to describe the thick, choking smog that settled over London, caused by lots of people burning fossil fuels in close vicinity, as early as 1200 c.e.

The smogs were compared to pea soup due to their color and density.

"Be careful when you're driving — it's a pea-souper out there."

To "pop your clogs" means to die.

This cheery phrase is widely believed to originate from Northern factory workers around the time of the industrial revolution. When they were working on the factory floor, employees had to wear hard clogs to protect their feet.

The idea is when someone popped, or cocked, their clogs, the toes of the clogs pointed up in the air as they lay down dead.

"Did you hear what happened to John's old man? He popped his clogs, didn't he…"

"Poppycock" means something that is nonsense, rubbish, or simply untrue.

Not referring to actual poppies, this quintessentially British idiom derives from the Dutch "pap" and "kak," which translate as "soft" and "dung."

"What a load of poppycock!"

"Quids in" means invested in something, sometimes — but not always — financially.

Someone who's "quids in" has invested in an opportunity that is probably going to benefit them massively.

"Quid" is British slang for "pounds." For example, "five quid" means £5.

"If it all works out as planned, he'll be quids in."

"Shirty" could be used to describe someone who is short-tempered or irritated.

The meaning of this slang has been debated at length.

The word "shirt" is derived from the Norse for "short," hence short-tempered. However, other people believe that "shirty" has connotations of being disheveled.

"Don't get shirty with me, mister."

"Skew-whiff" means askew.

It means literally tilted on one side rather than slightly off or uneasy, as askew can mean in the US.

"Is it just me or is that painting a bit skew-whiff?"

To "skive" is to avoid work or school, often by pretending to be ill.

"Skive" is derived from the French "esquiver," meaning "to slink away."

"He skived off school so we could all go to Thorpe Park on a weekday."

"Smarmy" is used to describe someone who comes across as scheming or untrustworthy.

Although the adjective's origins remain largely unknown, early documented uses seem to use the word as synonymous with "smear," further suggesting that someone who is "smarmy" is also "slick" or "slippery."

"Don't trust him — he's a smarmy geezer."

"Take the biscuit" is used similarly to "take the cake."

"Taking the biscuit" is the equivalent of taking the nonexistent medal for foolishness or incredulity.

If someone has done something highly irritating or surprising in an exasperating fashion, you might say that they've "taken the biscuit."

"I could just about deal with the dog barking at 5:30 a.m., but the lawnmower at 3 a.m. really takes the biscuit."

To "take the Mickey" means to take liberties at the expense of others.

It can be used in both a lighthearted and an irritated fashion.

"Take the Mickey" is an abbreviation of "taking the Mickey Bliss," which is Cockney rhyming slang for "take the p***."

"Hey! Don't take the Mickey."

To "waffle" means to talk at length while not getting to the point.

When someone makes a great speech while skirting around a subject or saying little of any value, you might say that they're talking "waffle," or that they're "waffling."

In the 17th century, to "waff" meant to yelp, and that quickly evolved to mean to talk foolishly or indecisively.

"I wish he'd stop waffling on."

"What a load of waffle!"

A "wally" is someone silly or incompetent.

Although its origins are largely debated, the term's meaning has evolved over the last 50 years alone. In the 1960s, someone who was unfashionable might be nicknamed a "wally," according to Dictionary.com. 

"Don't put down a leaking mug on top of the newspaper, you wally!"

To "whinge" means to moan, groan, and complain in an irritating or whiny fashion.

It is often deemed as unnecessary or over-the-top. 

"Quit whinging."

"Wind your neck in" means to mind your own business.

If you want to tell someone to not concern themselves with issues that don't directly affect them, you might tell them to "wind their neck in."

This classic phrase is another way of telling someone that their opinion is not appreciated in the given scenario.

 "Wind your neck in and stop being so nosy!"

"Zonked" means exhausted or tired.

It can also refer to someone already asleep or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"I was going to go out tonight but when I finished work I was absolutely zonked."

"When I got home, he was already zonked."

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story was published on November 3, 2017, on Business Insider UK.

• President Joe Biden conceded his first debate did not go well.
• "I don't debate as well as I used to," Biden said during a rally, listing off other skills that have diminished.
• But Biden remained clear he's not going anywhere.

President Joe Biden on Friday admitted what the nation already knew: he bungled his first debate against former President Donald Trump.

"I don't debate as well as I used to," Biden told supporters at a rally in North Carolina.

To be fair, even Vice President Kamala Harris admitted that her running mate got off to "a slow start."

Biden conceded that his debate skills aren't the only thing that has diminished.

"I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious," Biden said, his voice growing louder. "I don't walk as easy as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to."

But the president remained emphatic that he remains the best option to defeating Trump this November.

"But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth," he said. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. And I know like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down you get back up."

Biden reiterated his long-held belief that he's up to the job.

"I would not be running again if I did not believe with all my heart and soul that I can do this job," he said.

During a disastrous Thursday night debate, Biden gave raspy and sometimes meandering responses. At one point, Trump even mocked him stating, "I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either."

It wasn't just Republicans.

After the debate, Democrats began sounding the alarm and reconsidering whether they could get the president to step aside or even push him off the ballot. Biden's performance, as Democrats pointed out, was particularly disastrous because it underlined the biggest concern Americans already had about his standing as the nation's oldest president seeking reelection to a term that would leave him at 86 years old at the end of it.

"There are going to be discussions about if he should continue," David Axelrod, a former senior Obama White House advisor, said on CNN following the debate.

A snap poll of debate watchers also proclaimed Trump the clear winner. According to the CNN poll, 67% of viewers thought the former president won, compared to just 33% for Biden.

No current major elected Democrats have called on the president to step down. Senior Democrats and others in the party offered mostly curt responses to reporters on Capitol Hill when asked about Biden's standing.

"From a performance standpoint it wasn't great, but from a values standpoint, it far outshone the other guy," former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters, per The New York Times.

As if Biden's rally speech wasn't a clear enough message to anxious Democrats, the president walked off the stage with Tom Petty's defiant hit, "I Won't Back Down" playing in the background.

• Marilyn Monroe's home in Brentwood, California, was ruled a landmark by the LA City Council.
• The current owners sued the city for the right to demolish it to expand their home next door.
• Monroe died inside the home in August 1962.

In 1962, Marilyn Monroe, one of the most iconic figures in American culture, was found dead inside her home in Brentwood, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. She was 36.

Sixty-two years later, the Los Angeles City Council ruled that her former home should be declared a historical cultural monument, as Variety reported.

The decision came after a May 2024 lawsuit from the current owners, Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank, who sued the City of Los Angeles to tear down the home, alleging "illegal and unconstitutional conduct and abuse of power by the city." The Los Angeles Times reported the couple bought the home in July 2023 for $8.35 million.

However, after this latest decision, Monroe's home will remain standing.

Here's everything you need to know about the home, its past, and what will happen now.

Marilyn Monroe purchased the Brentwood hacienda-style house in February 1962. It was the only house she ever owned.

The home, located at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive, was built in 1929. According to Architectural Digest, the 2,900-square-foot home had two bedrooms, a small guesthouse, and a pool. Two more bedrooms have since been added.

She called it a "cute little Mexican-style house with eight rooms" and a "fortress where I can feel safe from the world," AD reported.

In a sad coincidence, the Latin phrase "Cursum Perficio," which means "The journey ends here," was written on the front porch's tiles. Its origins remain unknown.

Monroe lived there for just a few months — she died of an overdose in the home in August 1962.

At the time, she purchased it for $77,500. In 2023, it sold for $8.35 million.

The most recent sale was in July 2023, according to the Los Angeles Times. The property was purchased by heiress Brinah Milstein — her family was worth $3.1 billion in 2015 after making their fortune in real estate, according to Forbes — and her husband, Roy Bank, a reality TV producer.

Milstein and Bank sued the City of Los Angeles in May 2024 for the right to demolish the home.

The lawsuit came after a temporary halt on demolition that was issued in September 2023.

According to Milstein and Bank, the home has changed hands 14 times since Monroe's death and there have been "over a dozen" permits issued in relation to remodeling the home.

"There is not a single piece of the house that includes any physical evidence that Ms. Monroe ever spent a day at the house," the lawsuit alleged, The New York Times reported.

But the home has been likened to Graceland for fans of Monroe and has become a tourist attraction.

Much like Elvis Presley's home Graceland has become a place for fans of the King to come together and celebrate their idol, Monroe's super-fans are connected to this home.

That's according to Scott Fortner, a lifelong fan who runs The Marilyn Monroe Collection. He spoke to KCAL News in September 2023, after the demolition had been temporarily halted.

"This home is the equivalent of Graceland. It's that place where people go to remember Marilyn and just consider the fact that this was where she was happy and really wanted to start something new — a new chapter in her life," he said.

Now, the home will remain untouched after the LA City Council ruled it is a landmark.

According to The New York Times, on June 26, the council voted unanimously 12 to 0 to add the house to the list of local landmarks.

"There is no other person or place in the city of Los Angeles as iconic as Marilyn Monroe and her Brentwood home," said a member of the City Council, Traci Park. "To lose this piece of history, the only home that Marilyn Monroe ever owned, would be a devastating blow for historic preservation," she continued.

After the decision, an attorney for the homeowners told City News Service, "Traci Park's actions today and throughout the process, disregarding the interests of her constituents and the facts and merits, demonstrate that no one's home or investment is safe."

The lawsuit is still pending, and a hearing is set for August 13.

• Mobile Passport Control lets travelers skip customs lines with a free app on their phone.
• The app, available since 2014, is underused despite being available at 33 major US airports.
• Global Entry is faster and more widely used but costs $100 and requires an interview.

Global Entry isn't the only way international travelers can skip long lines at US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The popular program that allows travelers reentering the US to breeze through customs has a $100 application fee and requires an in-person interview at an airport or government building for approval, according to the CBP website.

"It's a great option for those who frequently travel internationally, but it doesn't make sense for everybody," Sean Cudahy, an aviation reporter at The Points Guy who has Global Entry and has already flown 65,000 miles this year, told Business Insider.

For occasional international travelers, there's a free way to save time at CBP, and no application or interview is required — all you need is your phone.

Mobile Passport Control

Mobile Passport Control is an app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. It allows many travelers to submit their CBP forms electronically and enter a shorter customs line upon arrival in 33 major international US airports, including John F. Kennedy, Phoenix Sky Harbor, and Dallas Fort Worth, according to the CBP website.

"On any given day, you might see a 30-minute line for customs, and most of the people that are standing in that line are eligible for the Mobile Passport Control line, which is sometimes only a couple of people at any given moment." Cudahy, who recently reported on the program, told BI. "It's available to a wide range of travelers."

US citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, Canadians with a B1/B2 visa, and permanent citizens of the 41 countries included in the Visa Waiver Program who have been to the US before can use the app when arriving in the US.

It's not exactly Global Entry

"Nothing is as fast as Global Entry," Cudahy said. "I've been through Global Entry probably a dozen times in the last eight or nine months, and on most of those occasions, it's so fast that my feet barely even stop moving."

While Mobile Passport Control users access a shorter line to talk to CBP officers, Global Entry members don't talk to an officer at all.

"You get off the plane, go right to a kiosk, it recognizes your face, and you're on your way in a matter of seconds," Cudahy said of Global Entry.

Global Entry is also available in twice as many US airports as Mobile Passport Control, and it includes TSA PreCheck access for the duration of the membership.

While it's a more useful perk than Mobile Passport Control, not every international traveler wants to pay $100 and go to the airport for an interview. But they can still avoid long wait times.

An underrated hack

Mobile Passport Control has been available since 2014, but not many people use it — especially compared to Global Entry. According to a CBP press release, 4 million travelers used Mobile Passport Control in 2023.

Meanwhile, more than 10 million travelers either enrolled in or renewed their Global Entry memberships in the same year, according to the CBP. And the regular customs line remains long.

Cudahy told BI that CBP wants more travelers to use Mobile Passport Control.

How to use the app

Once your flight lands in the US, open the Mobile Passport Control app.

The app will ask you to select the airport you've arrived at.

Next, you'll be prompted to add travelers to your trip. Up to 12 travelers in your household can enter their information on the same phone, making it easier and more efficient for families traveling together.

Each traveler will scan their passport, enter their personal information and customs declaration forms, and take a selfie.

Once you submit the forms through the app and deplane, follow the signs for Mobile Passport Control to the shorter customs line.

A customs officer will take only one traveler's photo to pull up everyone's information in your group.

First-timer tips

The process is simple, but Cudahy has a few tips for first-time users.

First off, download the app before your trip rather than after landing.

"Sometimes, when you take a phone off airplane mode, it could be a little wonky at first," he said.

When you download the app in advance, Cudahy suggests getting comfortable with it before your trip.

"Don't submit any declarations on the application until you're ready, but you can play around with it and familiarize yourself so you're ready to go when you land," he said.

And lastly, if you're traveling with family, make sure everyone knows about the selfie.

"Just have them all aware of the fact that everybody's going to need to take a selfie on the one person's phone," he said. "That way, you can do it in an efficient manner once the plane lands."

Once you deplane and see that short line next to rows of travelers in the regular customs line, you'll be glad you're in on this underrated hack.

• Dr. Laurie Santos teaches "Psychology and the Good Life" at Yale University.
• She came up with the course after seeing students struggle with their mental health.
• Recently, she shared her own obstacles to happiness on her podcast, "The Happiness Lab."

At an annual checkup, Dr. Laurie Santos' tests all looked good — except one.

Her CRP levels, which measure inflammation, came back a little higher. Her doctor said one of the triggers could be heightened stress.

It made sense. Santos, a Yale professor, oversaw over 500 students during the pandemic, ran a university lab, and led a podcast, she said in a recent episode.

But there was some irony to her high stress levels: Santos is also known as a "happiness expert." After becoming head of Yale's largest residential college in 2016 and witnessing depression and panic attacks among her students, she created "Psychology and the Good Life," a course that explores how to improve well-being.

It became the most popular class in Yale's history and was eventually adapted into an online course with over 4.7 million students worldwide.

Recently, Santos decided to open up about her struggles.

In new episodes of her podcast, Santos tackles how she "flunks her own class," from being a perfectionist to fearing boredom.

"Some people really think I'm this walking happiness emoji," Santos said. "But of course, I'm human." She shared some of the lessons she learned.

Curb self-comparison

Santos said one of her biggest problems is perfectionism. In one episode, Ryan Dilley, her podcast producer, said that Santos constantly strives for flawless results in her work.

"Sometimes it's not possible, but it's so hard to watch," Dilley said to Santos. "You're horrible to yourself sometimes."

She told BI that "existential perfectionism" haunts her students, too, who strive to have ideal grades, looks, jobs, and relationships.

"There's no domain in which perfectionism is sparing young people," she said, adding that much of it is driven by frequent self-comparison via social media.

She said this chase for perfection is one of the biggest things people get wrong about happiness. "We have all these theories about the things that will make us feel better," she said, whether it's making more money or scoring that dream job.

"By and large, the research seems to show that our circumstances don't matter for our happiness as much as we think," she said. "We'd be much better off changing our behavior and mindsets."

Question your need for busyness

Santos said most of her issues arise from "trying to navigate busyness and busy culture" as a professor and podcaster. While she loves what she does, she also recognizes how much work it is to balance both responsibilities.

She wants to create "healthier standards for what counts as work," but said it's a struggle because her busyness also greatly contributes to her career success.

Part of what keeps her (and many of her students) so busy is a perceived glamour around hustling. "There's a sort of social status to being busy," she said. Becoming healthier means pushing back against common cultural norms.

Reframe negative emotions

Santos found ways to look at negative emotions through a different lens in multiple episodes.

For example, she learned that boredom isn't something to run from. While it's a feeling she never liked and something her students "definitely avoid at all costs," she also told BI that it's crucial for "coming up with their best creative ideas."

In the episode on stress, she spoke to David S. Yeager, a psychology professor at UT Austin. He taught her that how one frames stress impacts their body's reaction to it: people who learn to view stress as a helpful adrenaline boost or performance enhancer are less likely to be debilitated by it.

"That was really profound for me, because stress really felt like it's just this biological phenomenon," Santos said. "But even there, our mindset really seems to matter."

Take small, daily steps

If there's any big takeaway to get from her course or recent podcast episodes, Santos said it's that "happiness takes work."

In her class, she has students complete surveys to track their happiness at the beginning and end of the semester — a practice she follows in her own life. "You're not going from zero to 100," she said. The goal is to create small changes that amount to a 10-15% positive increase in your mood.

For example, if you're intensely self-critical, that work might look like tracking and challenging your thoughts with a daily journal instead of absorbing negativity. "That's pushing against the habit that feels really natural," she said.