Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To create an illusion of busyness so that your co-workers, and most importantly your boss, never realize that you have absolutely nothing to do. n. A person who pretends to be very busy.
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.
Workfake
Created by: suzanne
Pronunciation: wur-k-fayk
Sentence: John workfaked his way home early by carrying out three telephone directories wrapped in envelopes to his car. His boss opened the door for him.
Etymology: work- to labour fake - false
Workillude
Created by: mercurious2001
Pronunciation: worl/il/lude
Sentence: I spent all day trying to workillude so that my boss stays happy.
Etymology: work and illusion
Fauduction
Created by: zrotv
Pronunciation: fō-dŭk'shən
Sentence: no one was really doing anything productive, but when the boss came in we were all heavily engaged in fauduction, so no superiors were the wiser. (also, to fauduce, or fauducing)
Etymology: faux + production
Exertsham
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: exert/sham
Sentence: The illusion of working is an age old problem and is also known as walking the dog, a government job, or exertsham.
Etymology: exertion + sham
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COMMENTS:
as long as the dog walkers don't shampoop and scoop - Jabberwocky, 2007-05-01: 10:36:00
i need someone to walk my shampoodle - rikboyee, 2007-05-01: 18:10:00
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Choreshaminvention
Created by: TJayzz
Pronunciation: Chor-sham-in-vent-shun
Sentence: Charles had perfected the art of the Choreshaminvention, whereby he would spend all day at his desk looking so busy when he was actually doing nothing at all. His co-workers began to wonder how he managed to cope with the workload. In fact he was so good at it that he was thinking about writing a book and perhaps even a film script about his talent
Etymology: Chore(a routine or tedious task) ORIGIN Variant of obsolete Char or Chare + Sham (Pretence, bogus, false) ORIGIN Northern English dialect variant of SHAME. + Invention (Something invented, a false story) = Choreshaminvention
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COMMENTS:
a film and a book?? way too much work - Jabberwocky, 2008-07-17: 14:07:00
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Skivedriver
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: skyv dryv er
Sentence: We've all worked with them. The skivedriver. The co-worker who can avoid real work, like a spy can elude a tail. The skivedriver puts all his energy and efforts into shirking his responsibilities. The skivedriver thinks he is clever, but how satisfying is spending your day going on bathroom breaks, wandering the halls, hiding in plain sight, having constant doctor and dentist appointments, going home sick or evading anything meaningful to earn your keep? Sooner or later, someone calls his bluff...
Etymology: Skive (to not be at work or school when you should be there) & Driver (person with a physiological state corresponding to a strong need or desire;chase from cover into more open ground)
Camofile
Created by: Akarroa
Pronunciation: Kam-oh-file
Sentence: Artie was achieving a high score on Tetris when he heard the sound of his boss's cheap leather shoes squeaking down the hall; a cue to camofile.
Etymology: Camoflauge, file
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COMMENTS:
Good one! - Nosila, 2009-11-17: 17:46:00
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Mockupy
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: mok u pye
Sentence: Jason could mockupy his entire 8 hour work day doing nothing. He applied stealth and cunning to avoid the boss, new assignments or answering phones. He was seldom at his desk and no one could exactly pinpoint how he filled his day. This actually was no surprise to his boss, as he was also Jason's father and Jason used the same tactics at home.
Etymology: Mock (constituting a copy or imitation of something) & Occupy (keep busy with)
Moccupy
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: mock-you-pie
Sentence: spending the whole day moccupying my time is quite draining....but i guess its just a moccupational hazard...maybe i should talk to my mocc, health and safety officer...if they're not to moccupied themselves
Etymology: mock, occupy
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COMMENTS:
Clever! - wordmeister, 2007-05-01: 09:03:00
I think so too. - petaj, 2007-05-02: 05:48:00
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Exertsham
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: exert/sham
Sentence: The illusion of working is an age old problem and is also known as walking the dog, a government job, or exertsham.
Etymology: EXERTSHAM - noun - from EXERT (to put oneself into strenuous, vigorous action, or effort)+ SHAM (something that is not what it purports to be; a fraud, or hoax)
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by petaj.
Thank you petaj! ~ James
Congratulations to petaj for her win last week. We are offering a new Verbotomy Cup for the top player this week. And next week, we are doing theme on Cory Doctorow, and offering his newest book "Overclocked" as a prize to the top writer. See more about Cory at his blog www.craphound.com ~ James
A word that NEEDS no introduction...