Vote for the best verboticism.

'It's all strategic positioning.'

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.

Create | Read

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.

Shirkcrafting

Created by: jedijawa

Pronunciation: shirk-craft-ing

Sentence: Betsy has honed the skill of shirkcrafting so that she can manage to get no work done during a day with nobody being the wiser.

Etymology: shirk + crafting

| Comments and Points

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

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

excellent! - toadstool57, 2007-05-01: 07:15:00

ohwtepph 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

petaj Brilliant. - petaj, 2007-05-02: 05:40:00

That's awesome! - jedijawa, 2007-05-03: 13:27:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Shamployee

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: sham ploy ee

Sentence: Sam was a shamployee. He spent a lot of energy avoiding real work by pretending to be busy. He gets hundreds of calls and e-mails a day (from family, friends, telemarketers) and he has to go to endless rounds of meetings with outside contacts and on many missions to customers outside the building (movie theatres, restaurants, casinos.) Sam's not alone...there is a Sam in most companies: The Loafer in the shoe store or bakery; the Abstainer in the paint company; the Clock-Watcher in the Watch Factory; The Wool-gatherer in the sheep station; The Idler in the mechanic shop; The Slacker in the men's wear store;The Sluggard in the Garden Centre; The Lazybones at the Orthopedic Surgeon's; the Trifler in the cake shop...they are everywhere!

Etymology: Sham (something that is a counterfeit; not what it seems to be;a person who makes deceitful pretenses;make believe with the intent to deceive) & Employee (a worker who is hired to perform a job)

| Comments and Points

Rushsemblance

Created by: catgrin

Pronunciation: ruhsh-sem-bluhns

Sentence: Jerry's definitely not my fastest worker, he never seems to hit quota, but the rushsemblance he maintains during the work week is that of a dedicated, single-minded drone.

Etymology: From "rush" (to hurry) and "semblance" (outward aspect or appearance)

| Comments and Points

Nulldrudgery

Created by: Lifeforce

Pronunciation:

Sentence: The boss fell victim to my nulldrudgery.

Etymology:

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

I like this word, but it sounds more like the sort of work that you have to do despite the fact that it accomplishes nothing. - ErWenn, 2007-05-01: 22:03:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Mockupation

Created by: trunktickle

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Love the word! Where's the rest? It's perfect! :) - lumina, 2008-07-17: 11:55:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Imitoil

Created by: iwasatripwire

Pronunciation: im-ih-toil

Sentence: "Tip 14: Constantly making trips to the photocopier is a great way to look busy AND get in some exercise." --from Imitoiling for Dummies

Etymology: imitate + toil

| Comments and Points

Laborge

ohwtepph

Created by: ohwtepph

Pronunciation: ley - bohrj

Sentence: It is often portrayed in television that CEOs are good at laborge-- that is making it seem like they are really working. Donald Trump has nothing to say on this.

Etymology: labor + forge (to imitate fraudulently)

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Strangely enough, forge also means, "To advance gradually but steadily", which why laborgery... Oops! Here comes my boss - wordmeister, 2007-05-01: 09:11:00

ohwtepph Oh, trivial! - ohwtepph, 2007-05-01: 09:41:00

Laborgery is fergery! (Since no one has gone down the "erg" path yet.) - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-01: 13:22:00

petaj Ah yes, how about some ergonotics. Hadn't considered that idea. - petaj, 2007-05-02: 05:38:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Researf

Created by: lukeE

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

| Comments and Points

Simdiligence

Created by: badsnudge

Pronunciation: /sim ˈdi-lə-jən(t)s\

Sentence: The simdiligent Simon stopped sweeping to tie his tennis shoe. An hour later Simon was found still 'tying' his shoe, with his head on his knee and softly snoring.

Etymology: sim- simulated diligence- diligence

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-05-01: 00:31:00
Today's definition was suggested by petaj.
Thank you petaj! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-05-01: 01:33:00
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

metrohumanx metrohumanx - 2008-07-17: 00:58:00
A word that NEEDS no introduction...