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.
Resputtal
Created by: mplsbohemian
Pronunciation: ree-SPUHT-uhl
Sentence: Alex choked on his resputtal of "Then I'll be sure to clear out my night schedule," a full hour after hearing, "I wouldn't give you the time of day."
Etymology: rebuttal + sputter
Retorture
Created by: Erikv
Pronunciation: re tort chur
Sentence: He knew he thought of a gem with the "jerk store" line but she was gone and he was left with retorture.
Etymology: Combination of retort and torture
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).
Retrotort
Created by: caroline73
Pronunciation:
Sentence:
Etymology: combines retro - after the event - and retort.
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COMMENTS:
Good word. I bet if you put in the time to include a sample sentence, you might get a few more votes. - ErWenn, 2007-04-04: 01:15:00
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Wittischism
Created by: pinwheel
Pronunciation: wit/i/skiz/um
Sentence: John's wittischism was particularly acute as he replayed the argument in his mind three hours after the event.
Etymology: witticism (a clever remark) + schism (a division or break - in this case the break between the desire to retort and the actual thinking of the retort.
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COMMENTS:
a clever cut... - ajcor, 2007-04-03: 18:00:00
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Disslate
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
Latealine
Created by: Dolraith
Pronunciation: Late-a-line
Sentence: The next day I had a latealine to her remark...
Etymology:
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:
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