Vote for the best verboticism.

'Nothing clever to say?'

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.

Create | Read

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.

Delaverbovery

Created by: Jaxies

Pronunciation: /duh-luh-vurb-of-eree/

Sentence: "It was only five hours later that Chris thought of the perfect comeback to Andy's snide remark that 'you couldn't shag a sheep if you tried'. A perfect case of delaverbovery."

Etymology: Delay + verb + recovery

| Comments and Points

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.

| Comments and Points

Postwit

AnnieChandon

Created by: AnnieChandon

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

| Comments and Points

Numback

artr

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)

| Comments and Points

Rejoinduh

CharlieB

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)

| Comments and Points

Retorlate

erasmus

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

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

I like this word - ajcor, 2007-04-03: 18:06:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Lateslate

Created by: Discoveria

Pronunciation: layte-slayte

Sentence: My lateslate "No, your mother's a gas-guzzling user-unfriendly air polluter!" came to me only three minutes later - when the damage had already been dished out.

Etymology: Late + slate (to insult)

| Comments and Points

Repartardy

mrskellyscl

Created by: mrskellyscl

Pronunciation: re-par-tar-dy

Sentence: Mike could only deliver brilliant repartardy to his mirror long after his guests had gone. He longed to be quick and witty; however, he was tongue-tied while he was being verbally filleted by his friends' good natured bantering. As the Japanese proverb says: "He had many knives -- none of them sharp."

Etymology: repartee: swift, witty reply; a conversation marked with the exchange of witty retorts + tardy: arrive or occur after the expected time

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

:) - galwaywegian, 2009-10-20: 12:47:00

Cutting and pointed! - Nosila, 2009-10-21: 01:25:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

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)

| Comments and Points

Disslate

arlouxo

Created by: arlouxo

Pronunciation: diss/lay/te

Sentence: "UGH! I disslated again Sophie!" "That is the best disslate I ever thought of!"

Etymology: Diss ("comeback line" to insult back someone) & Late

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-03: 00:01:00
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

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-03: 11:45:00
Ah oui, "l'ésprit de l'escalier"... Merci pour la suggestion, mplsbohemian ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-10-20: 03:48:00
Today's definition was suggested by mplsbohemian. Thank you mplsbohemian. ~ James