Fu Yuanhui tells a journalist that she has used up all prehistorical powers after finishing the women's backstroke semi-final at the Rio Olympics on Aug. 8, 2016. [Photo from web]

Chewing Upon Words, a well-known linguistic magazine in China, yesterday published the 10 most popular words and phrases used by Chinese people over the year, among which five in particular are frequently employed in online chats.

Prehistorical powers

The internet meme emerged when Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui realized that she had achieved her personal best performance in the women's backstroke semi-final at the Rio Olympics. She commented that, "I've used up prehistorical powers."

Chinese legends say a huge flood once destroyed everything on earth after the planet was just born. Prehistorical powers suggest such natural forces, great enough to nearly destroy the world.

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