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.
Managingdeflector
Created by: porsche
Pronunciation: man/aj/ing/de/flek/tor
Sentence: The managingdeflector in our firm had a job that no one could explain but he was paid a ton of money for walking around with his headset and blackberry
Etymology: managing director + deflect
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)
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
Marygoround
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)
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
Exertsham
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: exert/sham
Sentence: The illusion of working is an age old problem and is also known as walking the dog, a government job, or exertsham.
Etymology: EXERTSHAM - noun - from EXERT (to put oneself into strenuous, vigorous action, or effort)+ SHAM (something that is not what it purports to be; a fraud, or hoax)
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)
Moccupy
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: mock-you-pie
Sentence: spending the whole day moccupying my time is quite draining....but i guess its just a moccupational hazard...maybe i should talk to my mocc, health and safety officer...if they're not to moccupied themselves
Etymology: mock, occupy
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Clever! - wordmeister, 2007-05-01: 09:03:00
I think so too. - petaj, 2007-05-02: 05:48:00
----------------------------
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...