Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A misheard or misunderstood lyric, which gives the song a completely different meaning than originally intended. v. To misinterpret a song because you "hear" different words than the ones actually being sung.
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.
Misunderheard
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: mis-under-herd
Sentence: Grandma shrugged, "You kids today with your hippity-hop and stupid lyrics -- why when I was young we had songs with meaning!" She sighed wistfully and began to sing to herself, "Knock, knock, knocking on Kevin's door." Grandpa stood up, "You've been singing that song wrong for the past 50 years, old woman. It's "Knock, knock knockin' on heaven's door" for crying out loud." "Well, I guess I misunderheard the lyrics, excuuuuuse me. And if you correct me again in front of the grandkids you'll be knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door sooner than you think."
Etymology: misunderstood: improperly understood or interpreted + heard
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COMMENTS:
wonderful word... - mweinmann, 2009-05-05: 08:34:00
I just noticed that you used one of the same song title's in your sentence as I did....only I think Kevin is funnier tha Evan!!! - mweinmann, 2009-05-05: 08:34:00
There's a herd of misunderheard today! Goodjob, mrsk! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:15:00
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Misconsturpulate
Created by: hyperborean
Pronunciation: mis-con-sterp-you-layt
Sentence: History Lesson: Dylan didn't want people to misconsturpulate "Subterranean Homesick Blues," so he wrote key lyrics on flash cards and displayed them during the song ... and filmed the whole thing. The music video was born.
Etymology: misconstrue (to misinterpret) + extrapolate (to infer [unknown information] from known information) + my quirky spelling and pronunciation sound funnier
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COMMENTS:
flawless, once again, word, etymology, and as always the sentence - DrWebster111, 2009-05-06: 00:31:00
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Answerblowsinyourwind
Created by: abrakadeborah
Pronunciation: An-sir-blows-in-your-wind
Sentence: Dylan,sings as people hear Answerblowsinyourwind missing the meaning.
Etymology: Answer: A reply to another person or people by singing or speaking or as a written reply,as to a question. Blows: To cause to move by means of a current of by expeling (air) from the mouth as in singing. In: Located inside;inner,incoming; inward.(such as in your mind in your ears or memory) Your:Of, belonging to, or associated with you. Wind:Moving air carrying sound (In this case lyrics of music that blows like a wind through your mind as you process what you think you are hear. Such as > "The Answer My Twin Is Bowling In The Bin" :)~
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COMMENTS:
that was an exhausting etymology but worth getting to the end to read the last bit - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:17:00
Ah come on Jabber...you know you have enough time to read...LOL! OK JUST foryou I broke it down to a smaller etymology :) Thx though for liking atleast part of it :)) I can't help I'm a detailed artist...hehehe - abrakadeborah, 2009-05-06: 06:58:00
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Lyricnorance
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: lir-ik-ner-uhns
Sentence: John's lyricnorance led him to some strange conclusions about some of his favorite song writers. He thinks Jimi Hendrix was gay because of 'Scuse me, while I kiss this guy' and that some member of Creedence Clearwater Revival was incontinent when they sang 'There's a bathroom on the right'. His friends just howl when they take him out for karaoke night.
Etymology: lyrics (words to a song) + ignorance (lack of knowledge, inexperience)
Adversapropism
Created by: emdeejay
Pronunciation: Add verse à propism
Sentence: Wayne was of those amateur guitarists who seemed to know only half the words of the songs in his repertoire. When he gave his son an impromptu rendition of what he *thought* was "Sonny Be Good", his wife gave him the nickname "Dog Berry"
Etymology: Verse: component of a song that isn't a chorus. Malapropism: misuse of words, often humorously. Adverse: That doesn't sound quite right does it?
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COMMENTS:
clever combo - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:13:00
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Fudgeurlirics
Created by: jasjamson
Pronunciation: fudge ur leer ics
Sentence: Your fudgeurlirics has revamped that song completely!
Etymology: Fudge + your + lyrics
Mondegreen
Created by: theodrixx
Pronunciation: Mawn-deh-green
Sentence: I discovered a mondegreen just the other day; I heard Jimi Hendrix's lyrics in Purple Haze, "excuse me while I kiss the sky" as being "excuse me while I kiss this guy."
Etymology: Named for an instance of this phenomenon during a reading of a poem, where in the line "and laid him on the green" was heard as "and Lady Mondegreen."
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COMMENTS:
nice one - galwaywegian, 2010-11-17: 18:52:00
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Melohdear
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: mel o deer
Sentence: Jackie Chan was motivated by a 1966 hit by Johnny Rivers. He said it inspired him to play the tough guys in all his many movies. While learning the English language, the melohdear which inspired his career was "Secret Asian Man"!
Etymology: Melody (tune;musical notes in sequence) & Oh Dear (worrying phrase when something goes wrong, like Oh, My;Oh, Drat, etc)
Ballbadear
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: bahl bad eeeer
Sentence: his hearing loss turned him into a ballbadear, but when he first heard "tangled up in poo" he became a dylanquent
Etymology: balladeer, bad ear
Singawrong
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: sing a rong
Sentence: His singawrong in Dallas ended when he sang "Reminds me of my doctor's glove, Deep in the Heart of Texas".
Etymology: Sing a long (informal group singing of popular songs) & Wrong (incorrect;not appropriate for a purpose or occasion)
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COMMENTS:
You really know how to do a singawrong Alison! Opps I mean Nosila...lol too funny... - abrakadeborah, 2009-05-05: 01:48:00
funny - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:20:00
Sounds like a Jackie Chan Musical to me...and I rov Jackie Chan! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:16:00
I love this one. So simple and perfect. - hyperborean, 2009-05-06: 10:23:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by mrskellyscl (misinterpreted words) and by abrakadeborah (misinterpreted meanings). And of course, by Bob Dylan's classic song about doing the laundry -- Blowing in the Wind ~ James
abrakadeborah - 2009-05-05: 01:02:00
Thank you James~ Cartoon was great! & To mrskellyscl,Oh how I can relate to that one! I have an ex boyfriend that no matter what song he hears NONE of the words match as he tries to sing along! Too funny! :) LOL
Today's definition was suggested by mrskellyscl. Thank you mrskellyscl. ~ James