Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A clever remark, especially a "comeback line" to an insult, which does not come to mind until it is too late to be delivered; often leads to the gnashing of teeth. v. To think of something clever after it's too late.
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.
Retord
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: ree-tord
Sentence: My clever retord about his ass being listed as a major source of global warming did not come to me until long after it could be effectively delivered.
Etymology: retort, retard
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COMMENTS:
I reckon this one is better than "retortoise" because the tortoise kicked the hair's major source of a problem the American government denies exists. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-03: 17:35:00
*hare Duh! - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-03: 17:35:00
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Aftercrack
Created by: CCadieux
Pronunciation:
Sentence:
Etymology:
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COMMENTS:
Nice word. If you put in some extra info, you might get a few more votes. - ErWenn, 2007-04-04: 01:15:00
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Badinaggro
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: bad-in-ar-gro
Sentence: Bob's OCD had led to him writing down all his badinaggros, creating a perpetual reminder of his inadequacy at repartee. Even worse were the badinagesaggro - remarks that he thought up at least a month after the insult.
Etymology: badinage (playful banter) + ago (in time past) + aggro (colloq. aggravation)
Numback
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: nəmbak
Sentence: She cut him to the quick with her biting remark. All he had was a numback. Like the line from the Three Stooges, ”I’m trying to think but nothing happens”, He’s trying to speak but nothing happens.
Etymology: numb (deprive of feeling or responsiveness) + comeback (a quick reply to a critical remark)
Retrozinger
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: REH-tro-zyng-ir
Sentence: Several minutes after being Zapped with a major insult by Miriam, Leonard thought of a great comeback and wished he could go back and whack her with a retrozinger, convinced he would then be a 'winner'.
Etymology: Blend of 'retro' (prefix meaning 'backward : back') and 'zinger' (n. something causing or meant to cause interest, surprise, or shock)
Hindsightjibe
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: hynde syte jybe
Sentence: Drew was famous for his hindsightjibes. When that snotty drag queen walked passed him and told Drew his fly was down (well, she actually said that he had left the garage door open on his dinky car)...he got tongue-tied and froze up(and not just because he had left that door open). Upon reflection, he should have yelled at her that the back of her dress was tucked into the top of her panty hose and a big long piece of arsewipe was stuck to the heel of her stilettos. But then he thought that he would just leave it to cleavage...
Etymology: Hindsight (understanding the nature of an event after it has happened) & Jibe (an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect)
Retorlate
Created by: erasmus
Pronunciation: re toor layt
Sentence: Colin was always just a bit retorlate when trying to look cool if someone tried to put him down
Etymology: from retort and late
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COMMENTS:
I like this word - ajcor, 2007-04-03: 18:06:00
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Substingstuff
Created by: ajcor
Pronunciation: substingstuff
Sentence: she devastated him with her oneliner about his mono brow but this time he was ready for the cruel witticism and was able to substingstuff right back at her.
Etymology: subsequent to+clever, smart, sting+remark,statement,content,stuff.
Ifonlyism
Created by: imcvey
Pronunciation: if-only-ism
Sentence: That ifonlyism would have floored her.
Etymology:
Tortard
Created by: zrotv
Pronunciation: tōr'tärd
Sentence: Her insult was witty and cutting. I dug deep in my repertoire for an equally eloquent response, not wanting to defer to simple comments about her mother. Finally it came and I released it to the now distant and distancing back of her head. My lack of haste had resulted in the ever embarrassing tortardation. My weak totard fizzled on absent ears. Why, oh why, was I doomed to tortardation?! (slang, pejorative, adj.: retortarded)
Etymology: retort (To reply, especially to answer in a quick, caustic, or witty manner) + retard / tard (To be delayed. Latin retardāre : re- + tardāre, to delay (from tardus, slow))
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by mplsbohemian.
Thank you mplsbohemian! ~ James
mplsbohemian - 2007-04-03: 11:13:00
Thanks for using the definition! I specifically chose it because the French expression for this is notoriously difficult to succinctly translate into English. Perhaps you guys can help! Peace Clint
Ah oui, "l'ésprit de l'escalier"... Merci pour la suggestion, mplsbohemian ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by mplsbohemian. Thank you mplsbohemian. ~ James