Vote for the best verboticism.

'That's cool technology! It's my deodorant.'

DEFINITION: v. To obsess over, and fantasize about electronic gadgets even though you can never figure out how they actually work. n. A beautiful but useless gadget.

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Verboticisms

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Gizmomitty

Created by: OZZIEBOB

Pronunciation: giz-moh-MIT-ee

Sentence: Bob spent most of his day, failing to understand how to operate and use even the latest, simple electronic gadgets. But, never mind, and despite the setbacks suffered, he set his gizmomitty steadfastly on the practical applications of the "inventions" of Heath Robinson, Rube Goldberg and the japanese chindoguists.

Etymology: GIZMO: A mechanical device or part whose name is forgotten or unknown; a gadget. & MITTY: "Walter Mitty" (by James Thurber): a meek, mild man with a vivid fantasy life imagining himself a wartime pilot, etc., The character's name has come into more general use to refer to an ineffectual dreamer.

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COMMENTS:

You had me with the 'gizmo' part. - Mustang, 2008-07-25: 07:06:00

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Inflappuation

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: in flap u ay shun

Sentence: When he saw her pink electronic device, Kenny had an attack of inflappuation. Like a magpie obsessed with shiny things, he was attracted to all things from cyber space. So bemused was he that he failed to notice Wendy's "device" was actually her container of Secret deodorant. That is why it is strong enough for a man, but made for a woman!

Etymology: Infatuation (an object of extravagant short-lived passion) & App (short for application...a program that gives a computer instructions that provide the user with tools to accomplish a task)

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Whatchamadooz

Created by: ErWenn

Pronunciation: /ˌʍʌtʃəməˈduz/

Sentence: My new vacuum cleaner comes with all sorts of whatchamadoozes and wherchamattachits, but the instruction manual only has very ambiguous pictures.

Etymology: From "What does it do?" in the same way that "whatchamacallit" comes from "What do you call it?"

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COMMENTS:

I think that the ambiguous, uncaptioned picture-instructions included with some whatchamadoozes would make a good verboticism. - ErWenn, 2007-06-04: 02:33:00

OK, just to be fair I'm waiting until later today to vote, but rest assured: you've got my vote. One of 'em, anyway. - Clayton, 2007-06-04: 06:27:00

Thanks both for voting and for waiting! - ErWenn, 2007-06-04: 12:08:00

I think they call those drawings Picasholes. I've used one to try to assemble what looked like a simple filing cabinet. Five months, and five friends later, it's almost together! - purpleartichokes, 2007-06-04: 15:29:00

Done and done. - Clayton, 2007-06-04: 21:41:00

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Whatchamashinything

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: wəchəməshīnēθing

Sentence: Ralph loves his gadgets. Though he hardly knows how to use them, he just has to have the newest whatchamashinything.

Etymology: whatchamacallit (used to refer to a person or thing whose name one cannot recall, does not know, or does not wish to specify) + shiny thing (used to express something that is distracting)

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Doohickey

Created by: colapop

Pronunciation: \ˈdü-ˌhi-kē\

Sentence: Alice flashed her doohickey at Todd and he was floored. 'Wow, what is that?' he exclaimed, itching to get his hands on the device. 'No no Mister, don't you dare touch my doohickey until you've read the manual' she cooed.

Etymology: 'Doohickey' first originated in 1914, but seems fit for a revival. It derives from the word 'doodad' (gadget) + 'hickey' (love mark)

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Whatchamacovet

mrskellyscl

Created by: mrskellyscl

Pronunciation: wha-tcha-ma-cov-it

Sentence: Jim watchamacoveted the new marvelous toy that his neighbor's son got for Christmas. "A wonder to behold, it was, with many colors bright. And the moment he laid eyes on it, it became his heart's delight. It went 'zip' when it moved and 'bop' when it stopped and 'whirr' when it stood still. He never knew just what it was, and I guess he never will".

Etymology: whatchamacallit: something whose name is unknown or forgotten; a widget, gadget, gizmo, doodad, thingamajig or doohickey + covet: blameworthy desire for another's stuff; wish for longingly. "The Marvelous Toy" (apologies to Tom Paxton)was a song sung by Peter, Paul and Mary (RIP) about a mystical toy, handed down from father to son, that had no name, no purpose, but seemed to have magical powers to amuse and delight the recipient.

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COMMENTS:

Good blend...I remember that old song! - Nosila, 2009-12-30: 01:53:00

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Electrowidget

Created by: texmom

Pronunciation: e lect o wid jet

Sentence: He bought the $600 red electrowidget as a gift for himself on Father's Day even though he had no clue what it was.

Etymology: electro - run by electricity widget - something non-understandable but useful.

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Implemenigma

Created by: Clayton

Pronunciation: IM-pluh-muh-NIG-muh

Sentence: Julie must've tangled with the ecclesiastical implications of her newfound implemenigma for at least half an hour before realizing it was just a fancy-schmancy garage door opener.

Etymology: implement + enigma

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COMMENTS:

I don't think you have an appropriate appreciation for garage door openers. They are the first form of high penetration consumer electronic wireless door locking system. It's not often people trust their Buicks and belt-sanders to robots. Still, great word. - jadenguy, 2007-06-04: 11:01:00

This word makes me sound smart! - purpleartichokes, 2007-06-04: 13:29:00

Garage door openers are nature's woodchuck drawbridge mechanisms. - Clayton, 2007-06-04: 21:40:00

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Incretoolity

Created by: porsche

Pronunciation: in/creh/tul/itee

Sentence: he couldn't disguise his incretoolity when he walked down the aisles at Home Depot.

Etymology: incredulity + tool

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Blondoodad

ohwtepph

Created by: ohwtepph

Pronunciation: blohn-DOO-dad

Sentence: *insert mystic music here* I see it...my visions are as clear as crystal... In the near future, Paris would carry a blondoodad with her to her prison cell in 2042, for nothing more than reckless driving [did you think she would learn?!]. The police then wouldn't have the mental capacity to figure out what it was so they will let it slide. Hell, even Paris couldn't figure out what it was. The rest of Paris' days in prison will be spent in suffering... having to be watched by jailmen blondoodading over the blondoodad.

Etymology: blonde [because it has been stereotyped that blondes have more fun and are more beautiful, but are brainless and useless; this stereotype, though, is false and should not be used to judge a person. heck, i'll use this though for fun. XD] + doodad

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-06-04: 01:33:00
Today's definition was suggested by shutz. Thank you shutz! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-06-04: 01:55:00
Read about Jabberwocky's Garden of Verbal Delights in Verbotoweek.

metrohumanx metrohumanx - 2008-07-25: 00:56:00
pronunciation: uh-GOG-uh-tek........... sentence:Poor old Ira Gobler was AGOGATECH at his designer's latest device.He was so AGOGATECH that he let the factory's flaccid finances flow into a virtual vat of vapors while he thoughtfully tinkered and tweaked the tin toys and gamboled among the gizmoes generated just beyond the grounded iron gates of the fabrication facility...Someday...he would write an operator's manual...................... etymology: Agog+at+Technology=aGOGatech!

metrohumanx metrohumanx - 2008-07-25: 01:12:00
Sometimes my "comments" seem to appear in the wrong places....if only some clever soul would invent a GIZBO to prevent that.

metrohumanx metrohumanx - 2008-07-25: 01:20:00
....my brain hurts.....

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-12-29: 00:10:00
Today's definition was suggested by shutz. Thank you shutz. ~ James