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.
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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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.
Repartardy
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
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COMMENTS:
:) - galwaywegian, 2009-10-20: 12:47:00
Cutting and pointed! - Nosila, 2009-10-21: 01:25:00
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Verbotomissed
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: ver bott ommm ist
Sentence: He verbotomissed madly as she strutted into the dissedance
Etymology: vertobotomy, missed
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COMMENTS:
Verbotombest! - Nosila, 2009-10-21: 01:23:00
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Ifonlyism
Created by: imcvey
Pronunciation: if-only-ism
Sentence: That ifonlyism would have floored her.
Etymology:
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)
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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Missdiss
Created by: Insatori
Pronunciation: Miss diss
Sentence: Your response to her insult was genious, but you hesitated and missdissed.
Etymology:
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)
Comeslack
Created by: ziggy41
Pronunciation: (KUHM-slak)
Sentence: He sat in dismay as he had created a perfect comeslack to her nasty remark an hour ago.
Etymology: From "comeback" (a retaliation remark) and "slack" (slow or sluggish).
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COMMENTS:
What every woman wants? - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-03: 17:30:00
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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