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'It's for you. Tell them you're busy.'

DEFINITION: v. To instinctively answer your cell phone ring, even when caught in a somewhat compromising position. n. The instinct to answer your phone

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Verboticisms

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Callflex

surfstang

Created by: surfstang

Pronunciation: call/flex

Sentence: I was busy but callflex got the better of me and I answered the call.

Etymology: call + reflex

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Thumbjerk

Created by: ErWenn

Pronunciation: /ˌθʌmˈdʒɝk/

Sentence: Answering my cell phone is such a thumbjerk reaction that when it rings while I'm asleep, I will pick it up, open it, put it to my ear, say "Hello," and wake up, in that order. I sometimes have to ask whoever called to to repeat their first sentence.

Etymology: As in knee-jerk, only with a thumb.

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Cellborg

Created by: Stevenson0

Pronunciation: sell/borg

Sentence: We are a society of cellborgs, rudely leaving a live face to face conversation to answer on the cue of a fashionable ringtone our cyber aquaintances.

Etymology: cell - (cell phone) + cyborg  (a person whose physiological functioning is aided by, or dependent upon a mechanical, or electronic device)

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COMMENTS:

whipspeak Good word. I too have joined the collective... - whipspeak, 2009-12-03: 18:46:00

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Pickall

Created by: logarithm

Pronunciation: pik-all

Sentence: My boss is looking for a natural PICKALL to replace the receptionist whom he has just fired because he caught her polishing her fingernails unperturbed by the ringing phone.

Etymology: Pick + all + call

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Hiphonetics

Created by: BemaSelf

Pronunciation: Hi-phone-et-ics

Sentence: The guy totally has Hiphonetics or something. He answered the phone even though we were in the shower together!

Etymology: Hello, Hi, Phone, Phonetics

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Oughtoreply

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: auto ree ply

Sentence: No matter what (or who) he was doing that ringtone just triggered his oughtoreply button every time

Etymology: ought to reply, autoreply.

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COMMENTS:

I'm walking out the door with a smile on my face after this one - Jabberwocky, 2007-05-18: 07:15:00

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Phonosmis

Created by: davebailey

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Pavlophonian

CharlieB

Created by: CharlieB

Pronunciation: pav-low-phone-ean

Sentence: Jed knew that the call was from a girl at work who had a crush on him. He didn't fancy her and avoided her in the office. He also knew his girlfriend on the other side of the bed would probably hear everything. But such was his pavlophonian response to his ringtone, he couldn't stop himself snatching up the phone and jabbing at the answer button.

Etymology: Pavlovian (a conditioned reflex) & phone (communications device)

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Helloto

ohwtepph

Created by: ohwtepph

Pronunciation: hel - LOH - to

Sentence: Like a monster out of a horror movie, Jill's hand shot out of the shower and in a second, hellotoed her ringing cellphone.

Etymology: Hello [What is often said at the beginning of a call conversation] + Auto [automatic]

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Ringstinct

Created by: Rhyme79

Pronunciation: ring-stinked

Sentence: Honey, please try to fight your ringstinct in future. Or, you know, wait a few minutes.

Etymology: Ring (of phone) + Instinct = Ringstinct

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COMMENTS:

I thought about this exact word but decided against, still it gets my vote :) - Discoveria, 2012-09-14: 07:29:00

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-05-18: 03:12:00
Today's definition was suggested by duchessella. Thank you duchessella! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-12-03: 00:22:00
Today's definition was suggested by duchessella. Thank you duchessella. ~ James