Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To seek compliments and/or support by insulting oneself or by complaining about the difficulty of one's life. n. A person who uses self-deprecation as flattery bait.
Verboticisms
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Disparagus
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: dis par a gus
Sentence: When he came in to work, he always shook off comments about his appearance. He was slim, well-dressed and groomed himself well, but could not take a compliment gracefully. His coworkers atarting calling him a disparagus, which was funny because his first name was Gus.
Etymology: Disparage (self-deprecate;diminish) & Asparagus (edible young shoots of the asparagus plant, a vegetable)
Complitangler
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: compleat angler
Sentence: Pedro cast down his eyes and with false modesty declared that his handmade flies were very low quality. A complitangler, Pedro was always playing down his fishing skills to lure some praise from the crowd in his local pub, the Cod and Catfish. This time it backfired, Nemo put him in his plaice and told him not to hawrasse them with his self-deprecation. Pedro skated out the door and tackled the crew in the beer garden. He was always fishing for compliments.
Etymology: compli(ment) - words of praise + angler (fisherman) Song: Pedro the fisherman Book: The Compleat Angler
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COMMENTS:
Love a reel good fish story, just for the halibut! No flies on you. - Nosila, 2008-12-11: 02:13:00
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Overesteemer
Created by: AMurray
Pronunciation: o-ver-es-teem-er
Sentence: Nobody like an overesteemer they make everyone else feel bad.
Etymology: over-above and beyone es-self teem-thought er- (suffix) being of or from
Blandishwaif
Created by: Ismelstar
Pronunciation: [blan-dish-weyf]
Sentence: Carol is such a blandishwaif that she can subsist solely on my last compliment for more than a month.
Etymology: blandish (to coax or influence by gentle flattery; cajole) + waif (a person, esp. a child, who has no home or friends).
Depressionalist
Created by: Biscotti
Pronunciation: de-pres-shun-al-ist
Sentence: Rita was great at being a depressionalist. She always got compliments when she talked down to herself.
Etymology: depression (sad) + analyist (deducting one's state of mind/being)
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COMMENTS:
Very thought provoking! - silveryaspen, 2008-02-27: 18:01:00
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Shuckster
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: shuk ster
Sentence: Melanie was a shuckster. Everytime she was given a compliment, she'd turn it into a negative, so that people would have to compliment her more to convince her it was sincere. When Georgia complimented her on her new purple dress, Melanie said she thought it made her look fat. Then Georgia would insist that the colour suited Melanie so well. Finally Georgia, who had not had any compliments in a long time, got fed up with Melanie's act in demureness. Georgia told her flatly to enjoy any compliments she got now, because in 25 years, 2 kids and a divorce later, she probably wouldn't be able to fit that little purple dress anymore. Georgia knew from whence she spoke.
Etymology: Shucks (an expression of disappointment or irritation;something of little value...phrase Aw Shucks, is Characterized by a shy, self-effacing, often unsophisticated manner, intended to show humble reaction to compliments) & suffix "-ster" (Someone who is, or who is associated with, or who does something specified.) Rhymes wkith Huckster (a seller of shoddy goods)
Belittlebigman
Created by: silveryaspen
Pronunciation: bee-lit-tull-big-man
Sentence: In his acceptance speech, the oscar-winning actor made little of his accomplishment, instead giving much credit to everyone else in the movie, and to those who had a hand in making the movie. His down play of himself, worked in reverse, making him seem even better, nobler, and nicer. It was his way to belittlebigman.
Etymology: Belittle and big man, also a play on the movie Little Big Man. Belittle: make little of: down play. Big Man: slang expression meaning great or important person.
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COMMENTS:
It could also have been Louisa belitllinglittlewomen - Jabberwocky, 2008-02-27: 13:04:00
If the movie was about General Custer's demise, it may have been titled, "Belittlebigman at the "Little Big Horn" - OZZIEBOB, 2008-02-27: 15:54:00
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Flattersnare
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /ˈflædɚˌsnɛɹ/
Sentence: The sort of person who gets caught in a flattersnare tends to care about others' feelings and escape generally means doing even more damage to the trapper's feelings, so escape is generally difficult. However, repeatedly trapping the same person is dangerous as even the biggest softy in the world has their limits.
Etymology: from flatter + snare
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COMMENTS:
So strong a word, I feel snared by it! - silveryaspen, 2008-02-27: 11:57:00
Good word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-02-27: 16:00:00
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Comparisonar
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: com para so nar
Sentence: Melissa's comparisonar was working overtime. She could sense when her whines would get her the much needed attention she craved. Her comparisonar could send out signals for 20 feet over a crowded room that said, "I can't help it, my beauty is such a curse, I'd rather be fat, ugly and poor!" "Yeah, right, Melissa", thought her friend, Didi, "Careful what you wish for, because time, gravity and having a mortgage, 3 kids and a cheating husband will give you your wish"!
Etymology: comparison (examining differences) & sonar (a measuring device)
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COMMENTS:
Clever interpretation of the definition! Unique creation! - silveryaspen, 2008-02-27: 12:05:00
I think Didi's getting ready to 'ping' Melissa right in the nose. Ditto to what silveryaspen wrote. - Tigger, 2008-02-27: 22:34:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Maxine. Thank you Maxine. ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by Maxine. Thank you Maxine. ~ James
mrali613 - 2011-09-22: 13:46:00
:D