Vote for the best verboticism.

'What's with this stupid pen?'

DEFINITION: v., To search for and find a pen to write down an important note, only to discover that the pen does not work. n., A moment in time when the only pens you can find, are pens that do not work.

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.

Thenotwritestuff

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: The not rite stuff

Sentence: When the first astronauts went up in space, they had thenotwritestuff for report writing, because the lack of gravity prevented the ink from flowing down the shaft and appearing on official NASA notepaper. This where the famous line, "Houston, we have a problem" was born. After the Astronaut Pen was invented, where you could write upside down or at any angle, proper records could be documented. This was long before any computers were available (except HAL) to enter data. Imagine then how many alien encounters were missed or not reported because the crews had thenotwritestuff! Have you any ink-ling? The biro-ny...they can get a man on the moon, but they cannot invent a pen that does not dry up!

Etymology: The Not (negative) Write Stuff (play on Right Stuff(Essential abilities or qualities;dependability,etc.necessary for success...also name for a Hollywood Movie about astronauts chosen for the space program)

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

zxvasdf Good sentence. Funny, cud have just splurged a buck for a dozen of pencils instead. - zxvasdf, 2008-10-03: 13:39:00

Then they would have had to get the lead out! Cheers! - Nosila, 2008-10-04: 23:08:00

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

| Comments and Points

Penundrum

Created by: OZZIEBOB

Pronunciation: pen-NUHN-druhm

Sentence: Bob faced a penundrum when his biro pendripulated as he tried to write down the address of his new girlfriend - Woodraliggunie st, Gutchboordankendockenarup, Western Australia. Despite his dyspengraphic pleadings, she remained unsympathetic presenting him with a penultimatum: get one that writes or get lost!

Etymology: Blend of pen & conundrum: a puzzling question or problem.

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

I think Bob should buy some pencils - Jabberwocky, 2007-11-06: 13:51:00

I guess Bob will never get to go to Camp Comeoniwannalaya with his new-found girlfriend. (great word ozzie!) - purpleartichokes, 2007-11-06: 19:58:00

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

| Comments and Points

Inkvain

petaj

Created by: petaj

Pronunciation: ink-vain

Sentence: It was all inkvain. Scrabbling through the bureau drawer in search of a writing implement while the gormless game-show host rabbited on about numbers to call had proven fruitless, and Sally was left despondent that she had not been able to write down the SMS number to win $5000 on Who wants to be a Millionaire.

Etymology: in vain (to no purpose) + ink (what the pens are missing)

| Comments and Points

Frupenstration

Created by: remistram

Pronunciation: fruh-pen-strey-shun

Sentence: By digging a small grave for all his old pens helped his frupenstration anxiety, but he did keep his favorite purple pen under his pillow - in case the pen fairy happened to come around.

Etymology: frustration + pen

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

has a great sound to it - would be very satisfying to mutter when searching for a pen - Jabberwocky, 2007-11-06: 14:03:00

thanks! I was going to go with fruspentration, but it sounded odd...! - remistram, 2007-11-06: 16:20:00

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

| Comments and Points

Bictimized

Created by: bookowl

Pronunciation: bik/tim/ized

Sentence: There were two signatories and two pens to choose from, one that had a grey cover and one that was clear with a reservior of blue ink showing through. He chose the clear pen and realized when he put the pen to paper with no result he'd been bictimized again.

Etymology: bic + victimized

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

zxvasdf If you have been a bictim, raise your hand. - zxvasdf, 2008-10-03: 13:41:00

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

| Comments and Points

Pendicament

Created by: Eyeshah

Pronunciation: /pen-DIK-uh-mint/

Sentence: Pennelope found herself in quite the pendicament (quilemma) when her professor decided to give a pop quiz, and her backpack rummagings for a functional pen proved fruitless.

Etymology: pen+predicament=pendicament

| Comments and Points

Notworthy

Created by: marge

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

| Comments and Points

Inklessdilemma

Created by: kellysue94

Pronunciation:

Sentence: i was having an inklessdilemma yesterday

Etymology:

| Comments and Points

Pendaver

Created by: Stevenson0

Pronunciation: pen/daver

Sentence: It's another of Murphy's Laws that writing utilsils turn into pendavers when an important message needs to be scribbled.

Etymology: pen + cadaver

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

kinda gruesome but apt - porsche, 2007-11-06: 14:05:00

Good word! - OZZIEBOB, 2007-11-06: 16:54:00

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

| Comments and Points

Plastick

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: plastik

Sentence: Tommy thought he had a drawer full of pens. When he went to use them he found one plastick after another. He might as well have a fistful of tongue depressors.

Etymology: plastic (a synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers such as polyethylene, PVC, nylon, etc) + stick (a thin piece of wood that has been trimmed for a particular purpose)

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-11-06: 00:01:00
Today's definition was suggested by vixphilia. Thank you vixphilia! ~ James'

OZZIEBOB - 2007-11-06: 16:53:00
Good word!

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-03-03: 00:16:00
Today's definition was suggested by vixphilia. Thank you vixphilia. ~ James

Petrikreink - 2020-03-03: 05:14:00