Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v., To facilitate camaraderie among your colleagues by making fun at your boss's expense, only to discover that you-know-who is standing right behind you. n., A professional faux pas made with the best intentions.
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.
Fundermine
Created by: bzav1
Pronunciation: rhymes with undermine
Sentence: Bob had to resist the temptation of making a smart ass comment during the boss's presentation because he did not wish to fundermine the point she was addressing and receive the glare of his coworker, Sarah.
Etymology: fun + undermine, synonym - fundercut
Mockeriffic
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: mok-uh-rif-ik
Sentence: Janice thought it was great fun to lampoon her boss for her coworkers. It was a sure way get a laugh. Her latest performance was not so warmly received by "Mr. So this is what you do when I'm not here". Though her show proved to be mockeriffic, she was somewhat regretful as she danced out the door in her pink slippers.
Etymology: mockery (an imitation, especially of a ridiculous or unsatisfactory kind) + riff (a reduction in the number of persons employed by a business) + terrific (extremely good; wonderful)
Mockupation
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: mok u pay shun
Sentence: When the Boss left, Sally would entertain the troops by imitating him and playing the fool. Her mockupation went too far, when he returned early and caught her mid-act. Her mockupation lead to her walkupation right out of a job.
Etymology: Mock (make fun of;ape;mimicry) & Occupation (career, calling, work one is paid for)
Shenanigaffe
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: shə-nān'ĭ-gāf
Sentence: Marta usually got a laugh from her coworkers when she would imitate her boss, asking if they remembered to use a cover sheet on their TPS reports, but she eventually realized she'd made a shenanigaffe when their eyes went wide and they began making subtle motions with their hands, pointing behind her.
Etymology: shenanigan - a playful or mischievous act (Origin: 1850–55, Americanism; of obscure orig.) + gaffe - a clumsy social error; a faux pas (from Old French, "hook")
Comickaze
Created by: Khikhob
Pronunciation: kämi-käzē.
Sentence: Lampooning her boss right in front of him meant Linda had effectively committed comickaze.
Etymology: Comic + (kami)kaze
Beraternize
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: bi/reyter/nahyz
Sentence: In our office, which has toxic management, beraternization of the boss is the only way we get through the day. It definitely builds team spirit with my colleagues when we beraternize about the evil one.
Etymology: berate + fraternize
Bossonono
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: bos so no no
Sentence: Carmen got up on her manager's desk to show off for her colleagues by grinding and gyrating in a frilly dress. It was Friday afternoon and he had gone for the day. Right? Wrong! He came back for his briefcase and to tell her that the white slip she had been flaunting would now be a pink slip.
Etymology: Boss (leader, manager) & Bossa Nova (Brazilian dance, related to the samba) & Oh No No (an utterance of regret)
Paronody
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: per o no dee
Sentence: Shelley was always the life of the party, even at work. She could imitate anybody, but especially her boss, Fred. Unfortunately, Fred gave her lots of material to work with. Like many bosses, Fred was always too busy to answer his staff's concerns. If you wanted to get his attention, it was usually a challenge. Unfortunately for Shelley, Fred also had a knack for showing up when she least expected him. If you talked to him, he would not hear, but if you talked about him, he had omnipresent hearing. Fred could managerialize out of thin air. This happened on Shelley's last day of work, when she was doing her paronody of Fred dancing at the Christmas party. "Out, Shelley", he yelled..."you will be a slambossador no more"!
Etymology: Parody (humorous or satirical mimicry; a composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way) & Oh No! (Exclamation of regret, remorse, unpleassant surprise...like SNL's Mr.Bill who always said "OHHH NOOOOO!)
Laughodoom
Created by: metrohumanx
Pronunciation: LAFF-uh-DOOM
Sentence: Cynthia did an excellent impression of her boss, Pat. Her LAUGHODOOM won her the undying respect of her co-workers, a place in corporate legend, and a termination slip.
Etymology: laugh: to release tension by involuntary reaction to humor + doom: a certain and unpleasantly final, end.
Coldbossted
Created by: Nuwanda
Pronunciation: cold-BOSS-ted
Sentence: Luke didn't feel his job offered him many perks, but one undeniable benefit was the feeling his co-workers gave him that he was the funniest guy in the office because he did the best impression of their dufus manager. Even after he was coldbossted by said dufus, Luke swaggered through the cube farm with confidence, winking and mugging at the giggling gaggle as he followed Ron to his office for a long lecture.
Etymology: Cold busted means being caught red-handed at doing something stupid. Altered to incorporate boss.
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Mustang. Thank you Mustang! ~ James
Mustang - 2007-11-23: 02:38:00
What a pleasant surprise to find one of my submissions on display! It's inspiring. :-)
Congratulations Mustang! I am sure your Boss is also quite thrilled. ~ James
Mustang - 2007-11-23: 08:17:00
When I retired 20+ yrs ago I WAS the boss. :-)
Well, you're the still big boss here! ~ James
Jabberwocky - 2007-11-23: 12:12:00
nice save James - I think you just got caught making fun of the boss
Are you trying to fundermine my steambuilding efforts? ~ James
The warm-up act must have been the bossanova.
galwaywegian - 2008-10-21: 08:47:00
extempoorise
galwaywegian - 2008-10-21: 08:47:00
oops
Today's definition was suggested by Mustang. Thank you Mustang. ~ James