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.
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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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)
Mockupation
Created by: trunktickle
Pronunciation:
Sentence:
Etymology:
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COMMENTS:
Love the word! Where's the rest? It's perfect! :) - lumina, 2008-07-17: 11:55:00
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Slackofflage
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /ˈslækəˌflɔʒ/
Sentence: The key to successful slackofflage is an untidy workspace; if your boss can identify each paper on your desk and window on your computer screen, then you've already lost.
Etymology: From "slack off" + "camouflage"
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COMMENTS:
nice. - playdohheart, 2007-05-01: 07:12:00
Thanks. - ErWenn, 2007-05-01: 09:20:00
Nice word, I tried going down the camouflage path but I couldn't come up with anything. Cheers! - Goldentongue, 2007-05-01: 10:14:00
Funny! - HubbMU, 2007-05-03: 12:52:00
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Accounterinsurgent
Created by: CharlieB
Pronunciation: ack-ount-er-in-serge-ant
Sentence: Ted believed in subverting the system from within by doing as little as possible. He clicked between spreadsheets while gazing into middle distance. No one knew it, but he was proud to be an accounterinsurgent.
Etymology: Accounts (money, esp in business) + counter (a desk from behind which service is given) + counterinsurgency (combating guerrilla warfare)
Workastallic
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: wurk/a/stahl/ik
Sentence: Jim was such a workastallic that, while giving the impression that he never let go of a project, he was in fact seriously stalling (and checking out verbotomy on the side)
Etymology: workaholic + stall
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COMMENTS:
Oh yes.. that's good! - pinwheel, 2007-05-01: 06:37:00
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Faketivity
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: fake-tiv-i-ty
Sentence: Wally was so well practiced in the art of faketivity that his pointy haired boss never knew that in 20 years he never once accomplished a single task. It was probably a good thing since Wally was so incompetent that he probably would have caused the company to go belly up if he had actually done any work. It was especially laughable that he won employee-of-the-month several times because the pointy haired boss thought he was really working hard.
Etymology: fake: having a false or misleading appearance; fraud + activity: the state of being active; energetic, lively; participate in specific pursuits (Wally is a character in the comic strip Dilbert who is always standing around holding a coffee cup, going to meetings and getting involved in conversations without ever actually working. Nevertheless he somehow always manages to stay under the pointy haired boss' radar and collect his paycheck.)
Laborge
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)
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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
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
Ah yes, how about some ergonotics. Hadn't considered that idea. - petaj, 2007-05-02: 05:38:00
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Industriouscreen
Created by: Goldentongue
Pronunciation: Ind-os-trios-creen
Sentence: My God, that Edwards sure looks busy, although I can't recall asigning him any new tasks. He is an adept industriouscreener, I wonder if industrioscreenship can be tought?
Etymology: Industrious: hard working: Screen:concealment
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...