Being included in a dictionary is a great way to gauge the impact of a word or phrase. So, as 2012 winds down, "Gangnam Style" is one of the new entries to Britain's prestigious Collins Dictionary. Joining it are several tied to "the colonies": "Superstorm," as in the devastating Hurricane Sandy, "47 percent" -- from the leaked video in which Mitt Romneydescribed the voters he'd never attract -- "Fiscal Cliff" and "Romneyshambles" which became a popular line in the U.K. after Mitt's visit to the London Olympics where he questioned Britain's ability to stage the games.

Consultant edtor Ian Brookes tells Reuters, "We were looking for words that told the story of the year... Some words are from events that have been and gone and so are not likely to stick around ... but others are probably here to stay."