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.
Filibluster
Created by: pinwheel
Pronunciation: fill/ee/blust/er
Sentence: Jemima spent the whole day working out what she would do if she won the lottery and managed to filibluster her way out of being given any new assignments.
Etymology: filibuster (using delaying tactics) + bluster (noisy bluffing)
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COMMENTS:
excellent! - Jabberwocky, 2007-05-01: 10:28:00
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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)
Slackrobat
Created by: karenanne
Pronunciation: SLAK ro bat
Sentence: Robb is a talented slackrobat. He is quick and agile in his avoidance of being pinned down to actual work. His knowledge of media production enables him to circulate around his workplace claiming to be "working on a project." He has two homepage tabs set on his browser so that if someone approaches while he is working on the Verbotomy site, he can quickly click on the other tab, which is his employer's Intranet site.
Etymology: slack(er) + acrobat
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COMMENTS:
Most offices are three-ringed circuses, so they need more slackrobats! - Nosila, 2009-11-17: 17:47:00
Clever...best word of the day! - mweinmann, 2009-11-18: 07:47:00
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Taskmasker
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: task-mass-kur
Sentence: Phil was a professional taskmasker; I don't know how he was able to look busy all the time when everyone knew he had absolutely nothing to do.
Etymology: taskmaster, mask
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COMMENTS:
excellent! - toadstool57, 2007-05-01: 07:15:00
one LOL and one vote for you. - ohwtepph, 2007-05-01: 09:39:00
Nice word Artichokes! - Goldentongue, 2007-05-01: 10:11:00
great word purple - Jabberwocky, 2007-05-01: 10:38:00
Thanks! - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-01: 12:41:00
Fantastic, as always. - Osomatic, 2007-05-01: 13:47:00
Hmmm - I wonder who you are referring to? - paperhoard, 2007-05-01: 14:58:00
Phil is an "imaginary" coworker. He excels at imagining himself working. - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-01: 15:15:00
Brilliant. - petaj, 2007-05-02: 05:40:00
That's awesome! - jedijawa, 2007-05-03: 13:27:00
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Busybodiness
Created by: allawson
Pronunciation:
Sentence: Katrevor sunk down behind her computer to in busybodiness in hopes that her boss would not notice.
Etymology: At work!
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COMMENTS:
Thing is, by the rules of English morphology, "busybodiness" should mean: The state of being a busybody. A "busybody" is a nosey, meddlesome person. - cacarr, 2018-08-22: 03:34:00
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Fauxworker
Created by: Splosion
Pronunciation: pho-werk-er
Sentence: Mary's just a fauxworker: she doesn't really do anything all day.
Etymology:
Nyetworking
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: n-yet-working
Sentence: No one quite understood what Brian did all day, but he was frequently seen corridor cruising with clipboard under his arm and dropping into offices for "urgent, critical" meetings that never achieved anything. He was excellent at nyetworking.
Etymology: nyet (no in Russian) + network + work
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COMMENTS:
nyice! - wordmeister, 2007-05-01: 09:03:00
I like it too. Notworking would have worked (or not) as well, but this is more creative and describes shwirking. - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-01: 09:28:00
wish I had more votes to hand out today - very clever word and you can just imagine the cartoon character saying it - Jabberwocky, 2007-05-01: 10:42:00
OK Jabber - I'll give up one of mine. - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-01: 10:59:00
OK Jabber - I'll give up one of mine. - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-01: 11:04:00
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Busillusion
Created by: Ellemorpheus
Pronunciation: Biz-ill-you-shon
Sentence: Bob had nothing to do but did not want his boss to give him more work, so he created busillusion.
Etymology: bus-business/busy illusion
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...