Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. Something, or someone, that/who always seems to break or fall apart, just when you need it/them the most. v. To fall apart just when you need to get it together.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.
Quitessential
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: kwit-uh-sen-shuhl
Sentence: Marsha assumed that the owner's manual had a typo when it described her new computer as quitessential. Not so. All too often, when she was at a crucial juncture in a tabulation, it would just quit. She wouldn't even get the dreaded blue screen, just a few Chinese-looking Kanji characters and a shutdown. When she had the characters translated, they said "I have a headache, goodnight". So much for buying a cheap PC from the back of a van.
Etymology: quit (of the pure and essential essence of something) + essential (absolutely necessary; indispensable)
Paragone
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: parəgôn
Sentence: Just when they were needed most the aging quarterback’s legendary comeback abilities were paragone.
Etymology: paragon (a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality) + gone (no longer present; departed)
Fethrend
Created by: tigress
Pronunciation:
Sentence: My fethrend dentist has an appointment available whenever I don't need him.
Etymology: fair weather friend
Jerkalist
Created by: jasjamson
Pronunciation: jurk ul ist
Sentence: The jerkalist never returned my call.
Etymology: The act of being a jerk. Even if it means making yourself look good!
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COMMENTS:
Being the jeralist effects everyone to the degree that if you're not careful you'll end up doing the same to others - jasjamson, 2009-05-07: 03:41:00
I think I know that guy - mrskellyscl, 2009-05-07: 06:07:00
Everyone is bound to run into a jerkalist at some point in our lives. Thanks for the comment mrskellyscl! - jasjamson, 2009-05-08: 07:39:00
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Reliabull
Created by: remistram
Pronunciation: ree-lie-ah-bull
Sentence: "Sure, I'll be there for you whenever you need me, anytime, anyplace I promise." At that, she stealthily slipped out the door. He knew at this moment he was being fed a hefty dose of reliabull.
Etymology: reliable (trustworthy, dependable) + bull (as in bullcrap, lies, nonsense)
Phondrome
Created by: Krixwell
Pronunciation: fon-drowm
Sentence: He would be there for her at all times, except when she really needed him to. He kept phondroming her. He was a real phondromist.
Etymology: Phone (telephone) + syndrome (disease), shortened from idea "broken phone syndrome".
Vacellate
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: va sel layt
Sentence: Mona's phone was often on the fritz. It never happened when robocall election polls came through, heavy breathers or debt consolidation recordings happened. It would only vacellate when Mona needed it for emergencies, work calls, making important appointments or talking to cute guys on the 1-900 numbers.
Etymology: Vacillate (to be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action)& Cell (Cellular telephone)
Dylanthropologist
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: dil anth ro pol ojist
Sentence: His card stated he was a Dylanthropologist, so when Joan kept calling to make an appointment, she would invariably get his answering machine which would either play "It ain't easy"; "It ain't me, Babe"; "Lay, Lady, Lay" or "Don't call me no more, cause I'm knock, knock, knockin' on Heaven's Door!".
Etymology: Dylan (Bob Dylan, stage name of Robert Allen Zimmerman, an American songwriter noted for his protest songs (born in 1941) & Anthropologist (the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings) & Apologist (A person who expresses regret at having caused trouble for someone)
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COMMENTS:
perfect! - splendiction, 2009-05-07: 22:26:00
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Humptydumptease
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: hum/tee/dum/teeze
Sentence: Bob was such a humptydumptease. Every time Sarah felt secure in their relationship he would fall apart and go off singing How does it feel To be on your own With no direction home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone?
Etymology: humpty dumpty + tease
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COMMENTS:
The Yolk is on him. - Nosila, 2009-05-07: 21:42:00
Eggcellent word! - splendiction, 2009-05-07: 22:24:00
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Vexamate
Created by: dochanne
Pronunciation: Vecks-a-mate
Sentence: Dave did his best to avoid looking self-absorbed by offering his help where he could, but when the time came he always had a good excuse to renege. He prided himself on being just retreatimate enough with his female friends that they would be left wanting more, never realising that the VXM he saw in texts was a referral to him, the ultimate vexamate.
Etymology: Vex - annoy; mate - friend, buddy, chum or partner; vaccinate - unpleasant treatment required before people become immune to nasty things.
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by abrakadeborah , who was wondering why some people break their promises, and by Bob Dylan's answer in song "Everything is Broken" ~ James
abrakadeborah - 2009-05-07: 03:14:00
WOW James thanks a LOT for using my definition and cartoon was great too :) Deb :)~
abrakadeborah - 2009-05-07: 04:20:00
NoJokingitisallbroken...is my word James~ ! I really enjoyed making up my word and sentence for this one the most of any one I've written! Along with Bob Dylan's music. He is SO PROFOUND :) People breaking their word of honor,the economy,poverty,the government...all need to be repaired...
Broken cutters, broken saws,
Broken buckles, broken laws,
Broken bodies, broken bones,
Broken voices on broken phones.
Take a deep breath, feel like you're chokin',
Everything is broken.
Bob Dylan
See: http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/everything-is-broken. ~ James
Depressing. In the words of one of my favorite gurus, "Quitcherbitchin and get off your butt and fix it."
I like "Quitcherbitchin." A great verboticism. ~ James
abrakadeborah - 2009-05-08: 05:20:00
Yes! James~ so much in the world is broken...but how many are willing to attempt to repair OR put forth the effort to make a difference...very few. Bob Dylan is so PROFOUND in his lyrics! YOU James made me slow down and get deep into listening to Dylan! So thank you~ :)
Today's definition was suggested by abrakadeborah. Thank you abrakadeborah. ~ James