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'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.

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Verboticisms

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Marygoround

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: merēgōround

Sentence: Mary loves to look busy. That*s the key. She likes to LOOK busy. She is a regular Marygoround. Round and round she goes getting nowhere. If she did any real work or took any initiative she could be criticized and that would upset her.

Etymology: Mary (a common first name) + merry-go-round (a revolving machine with model horses or other animals on which people ride for amusement)

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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)

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Camouflex

AnnieChandon

Created by: AnnieChandon

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Feigndustrious

Created by: mweinmann

Pronunciation: fayn - dus - tree - us

Sentence: On his good days Harold was feigndustrious as he at least pretended to be busy for most of the day. On his bad days, he sat at his desk and played solitaire with a deck of cards but no one seemed to notice but me.

Etymology: fein, industrious

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COMMENTS:

good one - Nosila, 2009-11-17: 17:48:00

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Fantasimulabor

metrohumanx

Created by: metrohumanx

Pronunciation: FANT-UH-SIM-YOU-LAY-BURR

Sentence: Since reading was prohibited at the library's circulation desk, everyone engaged in various degrees of FANTASIMULABOR. One portly cretin had been at it for so long that she actually believed FANTASIMULABOR would bring her academic accolades aplenty. Using smoke and mirrors, she had turned PROductivity into CONductivity. Her work ethic was so well camouflaged as to be completely undetectable, and the deception was made complete by her total lack of anything resembling a personality.

Etymology: FANTAsy+SIMUlated+LABOR

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COMMENTS:

metrohumanx I LOVE retirement! Ars longa vita brevis. - metrohumanx, 2008-07-17: 00:56:00

great sentence - Jabberwocky, 2008-07-17: 14:10:00

She should read "Personality for Dummies" Terrific sentence. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-07-20: 07:15:00

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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

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Dilbertification

Created by: pepperpatti

Pronunciation: dil-bur-ti-fi-kashun (after first two syllables, pronounced like identification)

Sentence: Since he started despising his job, he's been dilbertificating every day.

Etymology: origins trace back to Dilbert, a comic strip character created by Scott Adams that has since become the mascot of cubicle workers everywhere.

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Nyetworking

petaj

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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Puttermucking

Created by: paperhoard

Pronunciation: putter-muck-ing

Sentence: I'm in a haiku mood today: Boss walks in the room... Puttermucking sounds elevate... Office silent chuckles...

Etymology: putter = do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly. muck = nonsense; worthless talk or literature; trash.

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Knoemotion

Created by: abrakadeborah

Pronunciation: No-Moe-shun

Sentence: Able was in the midst of knoemotion all hours of the day. He would constantly ask, "is there anything I can help you with?" When I knew I could finish the project quicker than I could explain what he already knew needed to be done.

Etymology: Know - A play on the word know and no. Motion - Movement.

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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...