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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Laborfeign
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: LAY - bor - fain
Sentence: Elliot was an absolute master of laborfeign and had his boss and almost all of his office mates convinced he was struggling to achieve results while in reality he was accomplishing nothing, nor even putting forth any real effort.
Etymology: Blend of 'labor' (work), and 'feign' (to represent fictitiously; put on an appearance of)
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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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
Defartmentalize
Created by: lumina
Pronunciation: dee/fart/men/tul/ize
Sentence: Josh was able to convince everyone in the office that he was on top of several projects at once. He had the ability to defartmentalize any project thrown his way. Yes, he had gotten so good at allocating everything to others on the sly, that he considered himself the Head of the Customer Service Defartment.
Etymology: Root word: Departmentalize: To organize something into departments. Phrase: fart around: To waste time.
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COMMENTS:
I think my boss is the defartment head. What should I do? - reverb, 2008-07-19: 06:42:00
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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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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
Busifake
Created by: remistram
Pronunciation: biz-ee-fayk
Sentence: Weldon's favorite time killer was playing sudoku, as he busifaked the day away.
Etymology: busy + fake
Toiletraining
Created by: HubbMU
Pronunciation: toilet/training
Sentence: In order to avoid the gaze of his supervisor, Don decided to make time in his schedule for toiletraining.
Etymology: Toilet and training
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)
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...