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.
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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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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Busybodiness
Created by: allawson
Pronunciation:
Sentence: Katrevor sunk down behind her computer to in busybodiness in hopes that her boss would not notice.
Etymology: At work!
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COMMENTS:
Thing is, by the rules of English morphology, "busybodiness" should mean: The state of being a busybody. A "busybody" is a nosey, meddlesome person. - cacarr, 2018-08-22: 03:34:00
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Imitoil
Created by: iwasatripwire
Pronunciation: im-ih-toil
Sentence: "Tip 14: Constantly making trips to the photocopier is a great way to look busy AND get in some exercise." --from Imitoiling for Dummies
Etymology: imitate + toil
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)
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.
Conshymime
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: KON-she-mahym
Sentence: Bob was the marcel-marceau of merchandising, going silently about his business, coshymimimg his every unproductive move assiduously.
Etymology: CONSHY(Conch): a hard worker, often with the connotation of one who "sucks-up" to the boss; from SE: conscientous) & MIME: the art or technique of portraying a character, mood, idea, by gestures and bodily movements; to play or act out a part; imitate (familiar).
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
Taskmasker
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: task-mass-kur
Sentence: Phil was a professional taskmasker; I don't know how he was able to look busy all the time when everyone knew he had absolutely nothing to do.
Etymology: taskmaster, mask
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COMMENTS:
excellent! - toadstool57, 2007-05-01: 07:15:00
one LOL and one vote for you. - ohwtepph, 2007-05-01: 09:39:00
Nice word Artichokes! - Goldentongue, 2007-05-01: 10:11:00
great word purple - Jabberwocky, 2007-05-01: 10:38:00
Thanks! - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-01: 12:41:00
Fantastic, as always. - Osomatic, 2007-05-01: 13:47:00
Hmmm - I wonder who you are referring to? - paperhoard, 2007-05-01: 14:58:00
Phil is an "imaginary" coworker. He excels at imagining himself working. - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-01: 15:15:00
Brilliant. - petaj, 2007-05-02: 05:40:00
That's awesome! - jedijawa, 2007-05-03: 13:27:00
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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...