Verboticisms

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: sceem/may/neea/tik

Sentence: Being diagnosed with a chronic case of vertigo would have been enough to quash the hopes of most tightrope walkers but Tipsy was such a schemaniatic that she was determined to succeed.

Etymology: scheme (plan) + mania (obsession) + schematic + tic (behavioral quirk)

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Created by: Rutilus

Pronunciation: Port-fole-idi-oh-see

Sentence: Sally always took jobs she wasn't meant for. Her CV would show one portfolidiocy after another.

Etymology: Portfolio - selection of skills + idiocy - act of stupidity

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Created by: Tigger

Pronunciation: /aw-TOM-mohr-on/ (pronounced like the word 'automaton')

Sentence: Jill dreamed of attending Le Cordon Bleu, becoming a chef and, one day, opening her own restaurant. Yet, every day she would go into work like an automoron, hating most of those who worked at the law firm and the other senior partners because they seemed content with their occupations. Her parents had prepared her well for a career in law, but ultimately she felt that her job lacked fulfillment.

Etymology: Automaton - a self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot, performing routine tasks (from Greek, automatos "self-acting") + Moron - a person who is notably stupid or lacking in good judgment (from Greek, moros "foolish, dull")

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Created by: Stevenson0

Pronunciation: moh/duhs/op/uh/ran/dum

Sentence: A parent who pushes a child into an activity, or area where the child has no known ability, or confidence is performing an act of modusoperandumb.

Etymology: modus operandi (an unvarying, or unyielding act, method, or procedure) + dumb

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Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: dreem vo kay shun

Sentence: Stella's dreamvocation was not the one her folks had planned out for her. They saved for her to attend Harvard, get her MBA and then take over their family potato business when they retired. This was at odds with her lifelong goal of being head greeter at Walmart.

Etymology: Dream Vacation (holiday of a lifetime) & Vocation (career,intended job)

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Created by: TJayzz

Pronunciation: Vo-kay-ta-rer

Sentence: From a young age, Jane had always dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer. And now that she was 18 she was determined to get into ballet school, though all of her friends told her that, at 20 stone she would not be accepted. Even her own mum pointed out that she was being a vocaterror, but still she wouldn't listen.

Etymology: Vocation (a strong pull towards a path in life) + error (mistake) = vocaterror

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Created by: Stevenson0

Pronunciation: moh/duhs/op/uh/ran/dum

Sentence: A parent who pushes a child into an activity, or area where the child has no known ability, or confidence is performing an act of modusoperandumb.

Etymology: modus operandi (an unvarying, or unyielding act, method, or procedure) + dumb

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COMMENTS:

Welcome back, Stevenson0! - Nosila, 2009-06-08: 21:27:00

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Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: nok u pay shun

Sentence: Contrary to what her family and guidance counsellors decided, Rosa kept her nose to the grindstone to avoid her planned knockupation as a Nobel-prize-winning writer. Yes, instead she was going to hone her skills and become a sharp-nosed reporter for the Daily PlanIt.

Etymology: Knock (find fault with;point out flaws;express criticism of) & Occupation (career; way of earning income)

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COMMENTS:

I guess work isn't what it's knocked up to be. - mrskellyscl, 2009-06-08: 10:30:00

I guess work isn't what it's knocked up to be. - mrskellyscl, 2009-06-08: 15:49:00

Sounds like a relative of the school of hard knocks. Good word! - Mustang, 2009-06-08: 21:38:00

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Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: tra jik tor ee

Sentence: Lily stuck to her career plan, which was always to become a famous Opera singer...a real diva. She studied Italian, knew all the words to every aria and dreamed of debuting at La Scala or The Met. But her career plan was on a tragictory course. The one thing that she forgot was that she could not sing a note, never mind reach the high notes a soprano needs to achieve to become a star. Her frustration just made her become a demanding diva instead to her friends and family. Too bad, she never got a Handel on the old talent thing.

Etymology: Tragic (very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction) & Trajectory (path, orbit)

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Created by: scissorlips

Pronunciation: UN-der-term-MINE-ing

Sentence: The way our country clings to foreign policy which is so clearly flawed with such resolution can only be considered undertermining.

Etymology: From undermine: (to lessen or deplete the strength of) + determined: (no hesitation or wavering)

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