Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. Embarrassing pet behavior; may be perfectly natural for the pet, but often makes humans feel self-conscious or ill at ease. v. To be embarrassed by your pet's beahviour
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
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Petified
Created by: vermeulenstevos
Pronunciation: Pet-tea-fied
Sentence: Every time my girlfriend comes over I'm petified that Max might jump her
Etymology: Pet-animal kept at your home and cared for petrified-being scared
Faunagaffe
Created by: metrohumanx
Pronunciation: FA-NUH-GAF
Sentence: Rescued from an animal shelter in her youth, KATIECAT returned my affection by killing a rabbit and bringing it home. The neighborhood children were grossed out by this feline FAUNAGAFFE, but they're sure to experience many more examples of misguided animal behavior as they grow up.
Etymology: FAUNA-animals in general + GAFFE- a socially inappropriate act or faux pas (Fr- false step)
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COMMENTS:
True story-exceeded only by the boorish behavior of irresponsible pet owner apologists whose permissive approach to animal discipline results in the alarming rise of leg-humping incidents, pit bull attacks and random neighborhood defecation incidents.
- metrohumanx, 2008-07-04: 07:40:00
verbotomists really struck a nerve with all the FIDO references today - we are into the dogdays of summer though so not surprising you would get so dogmatic about it - love your word btw - Jabberwocky, 2008-07-04: 10:33:00
Metro, do you really want us to BIRDen you with CATastrophic tails of PETophilia? As a proud owner of many species, we all know that the little rascals are capable of many ASPects of antihuman social behavior.I could get HORSE talking about my experiences on this animal planet, but truly dogs do drool the most, even though hamsters are gnawty, guinea pigs squeal on you, bunnies carrot not a bit about your feelings, turtles are shell-shocked, lizards lounge at will and fish annoy you just for the halibut. Budgies won't budge, canaries sing to the authorities and cats, well they'd be good poker players, not a shred of emotion shown on their smug faces. But keep up the good words...we are all fauned of you! - Nosila, 2008-07-05: 00:16:00
Seems like Katiecat's faunagaffe is largely fawnagaffe. Another top word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-07-05: 06:54:00
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Hypersnorgascity
Created by: verysimplegame
Pronunciation: hi-pur-snore-gah-ci-tee
Sentence: Prince's hypersnorgacity manifested itself infrequently, but when it did, Beth knew no Wet-Wipes™ could clean the stains from her soul.
Etymology: Hyper+snorgle+acity
Chewgrined
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: chew-grinned
Sentence: "Puppies will be puppies," Dan thought when Abbey, his new labrador retriever pup chewed up his shoes, gloves, daughter's homework, carpet, furniture and woodwork; however, he was really chewgrined when his neighbor came to inquire about his cat.
Etymology: chew + chagrined: feeling or caused to feel uneasy and self-conscious
Prehumptuous
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: /pri-HUHMP-choo-uhs/
Sentence: After his incarceration in 'the pen', and his subsequent release into society, Fido displayed behavior that could only be described as prehumptuous. Fido's owner, Owen, could scarcely have a date drop by his apartment, or even his own mother, without Fido first pawing and then birddogging them. Needless to say, that made for some quite embarrassing visits.
Etymology: Presumptuous - impertinently bold behavior; forwardness (from Latin, præsumere "to take beforehand") & Hump - [as in 'humping'] a bad pet habit often displayed by canines; and particularly Fido! (slang origin of the word is uncertain; first published use in 1785)
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COMMENTS:
Great words this week everyone. Been travelling a lot, so I know this is way late, but I couldn't help adding my complaints about that absolute hound, Fido. Sorry metro, but he really is a "Bad Dog!!" - Tigger, 2008-07-06: 03:46:00
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Nonmannerism
Created by: ekath
Pronunciation: non-man-er-ism
Sentence: My dog's most striking nonmannerism is her tendency to rub her butt on the stairs (for some obscure medical reason). My little brother, watching this, tried to imitate her and ended up getting carpet burn on his rear.
Etymology: from non + "man" + mannerism
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COMMENTS:
That story is so funny it must be true! - wordmeister, 2007-04-28: 22:49:00
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Discomfidoism
Created by: bountress
Pronunciation: dis-com-FI-do- ism
Sentence: Her dog's disomfidoism was out of line. My face was covered in slobber!
Etymology:
Geneticat
Created by: CharlieB
Pronunciation: jen-et-ee-cat
Sentence: Miss Smythe was rather embarrased when Felix spayed the furniture in front of her guests. But she accepted that it was part of her puss's geneticat.
Etymology: genetic (influenced by genes) + cat (a domesticated feline) + etiquette (a code for social behaviour)
Fidodidoes
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: Fye - doe - DYE - doze
Sentence: The overly friendly and boisterous fidodidoes of his dog, Charlie, when visitors came around, had caused great consternation for Worthington and had even gotten to the point where he was considering getting rid of Charlie or abandoning his desire to entertain friends and coworkers.
Etymology: Blend of Fido (generic dog name) and didoes (mischievous tricks; pranks; antics)
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COMMENTS:
FIDODIDOES is very creative. But why restrict ourselves to criticism of canine-americans? This smacks of rampant specieism.
Love the word, though.
Good work, MUSTANG! - metrohumanx, 2008-07-04: 07:43:00
fun to say - Jabberwocky, 2008-07-04: 10:34:00
Very interesting combination. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-07-05: 07:06:00
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Petifoul
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: pet/i/fowl
Sentence: Joe's dog, Fido, always sniffs excessively sticking his nose up every part of your body, licks every piece of bare skin, especially your lips, nose and eyes and slobbers saliva all over everywhere every time he meets you. Fido is a petifoul. Anybody who has been petifouled by a dog knows Fido's routine all too well. Most people hate petifoulers.
Etymology: PETIFOUL - noun - from PET (any domesticated, or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately) + FOUL (grossly offensive to the senses; disgustingly loathsome)
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COMMENTS:
PETIFOUL is very intuitive.
But here we go picking on poor FIDO again. FIDO's infamous behavior is well known and publicised, but he's paid his doggie debt to society. Let him get on with his limited life without the social stigma... - metrohumanx, 2008-07-04: 07:48:00
Yep, Fdo sure has had a dog of a day! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-07-05: 07:11:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by purpleartichokes.
Thank you purpleartichokes! ~ James
Yes the rumors are true. This week we are offering the The Verbotomy Cup as prize for the top player of the week. See details on the Verbotomy Blog ~ James
Jabberwocky - 2007-04-27: 12:54:00
Hi Verbotomy, Those cups (mugs)are really great. Would it be possible for any of us to purchase ones even if we don't win?
Hi Jabberwocky, Glad you like the Verbotomy Cup! It is our wampeter, and as such I don't think we would sell it, because that might turn it into a MacGuffin. ~ James
Is it our waxing or waning wampeter? What's the other one (since a karass always has exactly two wampeters)?
I believe it is still waxing. And think that Dan Pink's right brain is the other wampeter. ~ James
mana1066 - 2007-05-06: 23:04:00
some of that went right over my head. whine! i want a cup too!
Quit a tail from the punster extrordinaire! Poor FIDO is the Lee Harvey Oswald of doggie misbehavior.
Today's definition was suggested by purpleartichokes. Thank you purpleartichokes. ~ James