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.

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.

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

I think my boss is the defartment head. What should I do? - reverb, 2008-07-19: 06:42:00

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

| Comments and Points

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.

| Comments and Points

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

| 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

Slackrobat

karenanne

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

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

| 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

Kinetinertia

Created by: verysimplegame

Pronunciation: ki-ne-tin-er-sha

Sentence: His kinetinertia was a difficult balancing act - to remain active and involved while not actually DOING anything bordered on a science.

Etymology: Kinetics + inertia

| Comments and Points

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"

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

playdohheart 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

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

| Comments and Points

Fluffjob

Created by: Osomatic

Pronunciation: fluff + job

Sentence: I can't possibly help you with your project, I'm busy already with my fluffjob.

Etymology: From the swedish "flufjobba."

| 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...