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.
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)
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))
Rejoinduh
Created by: CharlieB
Pronunciation: re-join-der
Sentence: Bill's witty riposte to his annoying colleagues came too late. He'd fallen into the humiliating trap of failing to think of a witticism, only a rejoinduh.
Etymology: rejoinder (a reply, a riposte) + uh! (an exclamation used to indicate doubt or hesitation)
Longliner
Created by: jonobo
Pronunciation: longliner
Sentence: If i only could make those longliner come earlier somehow... ...maybe i simply should invent a quicker way to transmit my thoughts through my speech-centre to my tongue... perhaps i am a rare patient of longuetonguelitis.
Etymology: long + line = message comes late.
Parrysoundbite
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: pary/sownd/byte
Sentence: Barry needed dental surgery after his latest parrysoundbite which of course went unheard
Etymology: parry (retort) + Parry Sound (Ontario town) + sound bite (hence gnashing of teeth)
Retortoise
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: re-tor-tus
Sentence: Finally, at 2am , he thought of a retortoise
Etymology: retort, tortoise
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COMMENTS:
another excellent one. I expect you may get a few comments that are retortoises - but they won't be posted for a few days :-) - petaj, 2007-04-03: 03:56:00
Sublime - pinwheel, 2007-04-03: 03:58:00
retortuous! - galwaywegian, 2007-04-03: 05:16:00
dang! I must arise earlier! - Alchemist, 2007-04-03: 05:41:00
fantasic - imcvey, 2007-04-03: 05:48:00
hareraisingly funny - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-03: 08:45:00
damn thats too good. - erasmus, 2007-04-03: 09:27:00
I thought of that too, but not until 3:30am... - wordmeister, 2007-04-03: 10:04:00
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Verbotoolate
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: ver bott oooo late
Sentence: He verbotoolated wildly as she walked out of earshot.
Etymology: verbotomy, too late
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COMMENTS:
I just thought of a great word for yesterday's definition. Is it verbotoolate? - wordmeister, 2007-04-03: 11:53:00
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Postrip
Created by: Alchemist
Pronunciation: POHST-rip
Sentence: As usual, Jimmy thought of a perfect postrip 2 days after Jeanine called him a lackwit: "I know you are, but what am I?"
Etymology: postscript, post (after), rip (as in to rip on someone verbally).
Duedefence
Created by: fantomex
Pronunciation: dew-deff-enss
Sentence: It was when I came up with an obvious duedefence that I realized how stupid I am in arguments.
Etymology: due - overdue // defence - defence or defend
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