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.
Smilation
Created by: uhhuhokay
Pronunciation: smahyl-ley-shun
Sentence: my smilation as usual only came to me as I wathced her leave the restaurant.
Etymology:
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
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.
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)
Retorture
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: ree tort chur
Sentence: Drew always became tongue-tied after the tart-tongued Ramona passed him by at school and made one of her blistering comments to him. It was only after she departed that he would think of something clever in return. This retorture replayed like a video in his head all night. He was so busy trying to be the witty racontuer that he failed to realize that she only did this to get his attention because she liked him.
Etymology: Retort (a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)& Torture (torment emotionally or mentally;the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean)
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)
Retart
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: re tart
Sentence: When the Drag Queen sauntered past Drew and asked him what he was looking at, he was dumbstruck. Of course, once he/she was long gone, his retart finally kicked in and he said, "You've got big hands!". He Drew his own conclusions...
Etymology: Retard ( be delayed;slow to develop)& Retort (a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
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COMMENTS:
Kind of demeaning to use the R-word. - Koekbroer, 2012-08-02: 00:03:00
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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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Gigglelag
Created by: Sed8ed
Pronunciation: gig-el-lag
Sentence: Gigglelag was a familiar state of affairs for Mark, who always found himself tongue-tied (?) until well after the argument was over.
Etymology: giggle + lag = gigglelag
Tardytort
Created by: PythianHabenero
Pronunciation: tar-dee-tort
Sentence: A half hour after being wittily insulted, Andrew came up with the best tardytort he'd ever heard.
Etymology: "tardy" as in late and "retort" as in comeback.
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