Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n., A gallant gesture which does not produce the desired effect because of poor execution. v., To offer a small gesture of assistance, which backfires as you trip over your own kind 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.
Clumsyhurl
Created by: vmalcolm
Pronunciation: /'klʌmzihɜ:rl/
Sentence: In an attempt to be a gentleman, poor Harry ended up committing an act of clumsyhurl...
Etymology: CLUMSYHURL. From Clumsy + Hurl
Urbean
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: ur/bean
Sentence: John's attempt to be urbane, chivalrous, courteous, polite and just plain well-mannered became urbean when his head got jammed in the doorway helping a damsel in distress.
Etymology: URBEAN - noun - from URBANE (polite, refined and often elegant in manner) + MR. BEAN
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COMMENTS:
Very clever - OZZIEBOB, 2008-09-25: 18:22:00
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Zeable
Created by: KenM2
Pronunciation: zea-bull
Sentence: Nice zeabull you pulled back there, wonder if you should have offered to pick up the old lady you dropped while helping her to cross the street.
Etymology: Zeal+Stumble
Fewtility
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: fyoo til lit tee
Sentence: Fewbert's heroic gestures towards his fewture wife, Fewgenia, were often attempts in fewtility. Like when he placed his coat over a puddle in the street for her, only to discover that it actually covered an open manhole. Or when he chased her cat FewFew through hill & dale, caught it, was scratched to death and brought it home to her, only to find the real FewFew happily sitting in front of the hearth at home. Poor Fewbert, his fewtile efforts made Fewgenia think that a fewture with Fewbert might be fewtile, at least until after he passed fewberty.
Etymology: Few (an indefinite but relatively small number) & Futility (uselessness as a consequence of having no practical result)
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COMMENTS:
Beware the fewmious bandersnatch.... - Mustang, 2008-09-25: 00:02:00
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Fauxcilitation
Created by: milorush
Pronunciation: (n.) fō-sĭl'ĭ-tā'shən; (tr. v.) fō-sĭl'ĭ-tāt'
Sentence: Henri's poor reflexes and terrible eyesight usually turn his eager attempts to help his friends into nightmarish and dangerous moments of fauxcilitation which usually finish up at the local emergency room.
Etymology: Faux = from faux pas = blunder + [fac]ilitation = The act of making easy or easier.
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COMMENTS:
A shade of meaning might include a subconscious lack of desire to actually help out, which might lead to a purposeful poor or "fake" ("faux") effort to assist. - milorush, 2007-10-26: 07:04:00
A shade of meaning might include a subconscious lack of desire to actually help out, which might lead to a purposefully poor or "fake" ("faux") effort to assist. - milorush, 2007-10-26: 07:05:00
Interesting and good blend! - OZZIEBOB, 2007-10-28: 02:28:00
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Oopdonk
Created by: wordslikevenom
Pronunciation: Oup-don-k
Sentence: In the parallel universe, Sir Walter wasn't so lucky. Having laid his cloak over a puddle for the Queen to step onto so that she wouldn't muddy her feet, little did he realise it was well over 3 metres deep ..."Oopdonk!" went the crowd.
Etymology: Oops - an expression of surprise or feeling sorry about a mistake or slight accident. Donk (onomatopoeia) - Comedic knocking noise.
Chivalreeeeeeek
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: shiv al reeeeeeeeeek
Sentence: his act of chivalry turned into an act of chivalreeeeeeeek. He won't try that again without checking his flies
Etymology: chivalry eeeeek
Chivalwrong
Created by: blacklotus90
Pronunciation: \ˈshi-vəl-ˈrȯŋg\
Sentence: Due to Barry' s clumsy nature, his gesture of good faith became a chivalwrong in no time.
Etymology: CHIVALRY + WRONG
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COMMENTS:
The word is chivalright! - Nosila, 2008-09-24: 01:53:00
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Clobbergest
Created by: Lidipop
Pronunciation: Klob-er-jess-t
Sentence: when i realized the good intention had gone badly, her "clobbergest" was just the begining of a series of unintentional punishments!!! :)
Etymology: Clobbering(to defeat overwhelmingly)+ gest/gesture(something said or done by way of formality or courtesy)= clobbergest
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COMMENTS:
I was thinking also that a guest was being clobbered. - petaj, 2007-10-27: 02:02:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn! ~ James
After you. No after you. No after you. No after yooooooeeeeouwwww!
Kevcom - 2007-10-26: 07:38:00
Awesome cartoon James! That is so funny - I was almost dyin' of laughter of the expression on the guys face...
Thanks to Kevcom and Petaj for your hurteous thoughts and magnanimistakian clobbergestures ~ James
Lidipop - 2007-10-26: 10:19:00
I actually printed this one out...it's so good, well done!!!
We must not forget to thank ErWenn again for his generous courteslip. ~ James
purpleartichokes - 2007-10-26: 18:57:00
Yes, thank you ErWenn and James. Fabulous contributions from you two!
yellowbird - 2008-09-24: 11:49:00
Haven't we seen this definition before?
petaj - 2008-09-26: 04:19:00
Yep - looking forward to some new ones
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn. ~ James