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'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.

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Verboticisms

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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)

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Unaquipvent

Created by: suzanne

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Postwit

AnnieChandon

Created by: AnnieChandon

Pronunciation:

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Etymology:

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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

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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)

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Tortard

zrotv

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))

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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:

petaj 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

erasmus 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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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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Frappart

Created by: astraea22

Pronunciation:

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Etymology:

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Requipmentfailure

Created by: porsche

Pronunciation: ree/quip/ment/fayl/ur

Sentence: He was constantly plagued by requipmentfailure.

Etymology: re (regarding) + equipment failure + quip

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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