Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. The weird feelings that rise up when you notice that you are being followed by a police officer, or a cop car, or the Special Forces Anti-Terrorist Unit. v. To feel nervous, self-conscious and guilty whenever you see a police officer.
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.
Gulpable
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: gəlpəbəl
Sentence: Its not that he was all that bad a driver but every time he saw a police car in his rear view mirror he would have a gulpable moment. He would also fall into a state of dread when he came into contact with a doctor.
Etymology: gulp (make effortful breathing or swallowing movements, typically in response to strong emotion) + culpable (deserving blame)
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COMMENTS:
Captures the reaction and feeling so very well! - silveryaspen, 2009-01-12: 10:40:00
Gulpability is a serious crime...good word! - Nosila, 2009-01-12: 19:12:00
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Coughicer
Created by: simoneshin
Pronunciation: cough-icer
Sentence:
Etymology: a cough is a sudden and often repetitively occurring defence reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from excess secretions, irritants, foreign particles
Hangxiety
Created by: doseydotes
Pronunciation: ˈhaŋ-ˈzī-ə-tē
Sentence: Mildred tried to fight it, she really did, but she found herself sweaty with hangxiety every time she passed Ralph, Woolworth's security guard. It had been 55 years since she'd filched that tube of lipstick - she'd been too scared to ever use it, and she ended up throwing it in a drainage ditch - but she was certain that all Ralph had to do was look at her closely enough and he'd KNOW.
Etymology: From the British root, hang, meaning to stand about waiting for the trouble to start so one can get in on it early; and the Finnish (the Fins are such good finishers), xiety, meaning a group that collectively ducks its head in a guilty manner.
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COMMENTS:
Interesting etymology! When I think of hanging ... I think gallows! Your word is frighteningly good! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:45:00
One way to generate true hangziety would be to ask a cop "How's it haning?" - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:47:00
Such a clever pun ... and incorporating hang with all it's meanings was absolutely brilliant! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:48:00
Comprehensive and learned etymology. Saturday night's alright for fighting.... - stache, 2008-03-20: 16:53:00
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Themanarrhea
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: the/man/ar/rhe/a
Sentence: Whenever Bev noticed a squad car in her rear-view mirror, an extreme nervous fear and paranoia overtook her, giving her an immediate case of themanarrhea.
Etymology: the man + diarrhea
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COMMENTS:
I hope she was wearing Depends - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-20: 11:01:00
Much nicer way to say the cops scared one s***less! It took great wit and slyness to come up with this much nicer and more subtle creation! Well done! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 16:41:00
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Copranoia
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: cop - ruh - noyuh
Sentence: Whenever Hildegarde is driving and spots a patrol car or motorcycle she is convinced the officer has her under surveillance and she experiences severe bouts of copranoia.
Etymology: Blend of cop and paranoia
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COMMENTS:
sounds like a real word - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-20: 11:06:00
Fear of coppers ... especially if you don't have any cents! If she faints from the fear would you say she was copped out? What a fun creation! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:57:00
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Lawofthejangle
Created by: silveryaspen
Pronunciation: law - of - the - jan - gul
Sentence: As I wind my way through the jungle of city streets, a squad car sticks to my bumper like glue. Even though I am doing nothing wrong, it is making me very nervous and edgy! Don't you just hate it when you become a victim of the unwritten lawofthejangle? There ought to be a law against police stalking innocent people.!
Etymology: Law of the Jungle, Jangle. Law: police. Jangle: irritating a person's nerves.
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COMMENTS:
The law of the jangle and the jangled nerves brought on by the scrutiny of the law. Always running in circles...the rat race goes on....and on....and on. ;-) - Mustang, 2008-03-20: 07:05:00
and the heat goes on, la de dah de da - petaj, 2008-03-20: 09:31:00
very funny - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-20: 11:05:00
Very clever and funny. Thanks for info on copasetic. I think I first heard it used in the late 1960s by someone at Mission Control, Houston when speaking to Gene Cernan, saying "Everything is copasetic, Gene." I don't know it's etymology, I must try and find out about it . - OZZIEBOB, 2008-03-22: 00:49:00
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Authoriphobia
Created by: kateinkorea
Pronunciation: aw THOR i PHOE bee yah
Sentence: I was having another attack of authoriphobia as I pulled over to the side of the road, but the police car kept driving right past.
Etymology: AUTHORITY: people in power PHOBIA: irrational fear
Fuzzanoid
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: fəzənoid
Sentence: Jerry can be a real fuzzanoid. He flinches almost every time he leaves his apartment. This might be because is a career criminal who lives next to a police station.
Etymology: fuzz (police) + paranoid (unreasonably or obsessively anxious, suspicious, or mistrustful)
Copkarma
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: /kop-kar-muh/
Sentence: Driving on an unfamiliar and secluded highway, on his way to college, Javier noticed a police car suddenly pull out behind him. He started to get nervous and slowed down. Had he even been speeding? Was he now going too slow, arousing further suspicion?... Were the cops here overly suspicious of young Hispanic men driving through their area in a new car? Had he done anything wrong? He'd changed lanes a few miles back, but he didn't remember signalling the lane change — there had been no other cars in sight to signal to. Perhaps there had been a police car hidden back there and he'd simply radioed to his partner up the road. How many of them were there, closing in on his position right now? Or did this have something to do with the beer Javier had drank at his going-away party two nights ago? He wasn't of legal driking age yet. It must be copkarma — all of his recent minor trangressions catching up with him.
Etymology: Cop car - Informal; automobile used by police officers (abbreviation of 'copper' & Latin, carrus "chariot") + Karma - Hinduism/Buddhism; action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad (from Sandskrit, karman "action, fate")
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COMMENTS:
Very Resourcefull! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 16:22:00
I like it! - purpleartichokes, 2008-03-20: 17:06:00
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Copscientious
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: kop shee en shuss
Sentence: When Zelda looked in her rear view mirror, that old feeling of being copscientious swept over her when she saw the patrol car behind her with two of the city's finest inside. A drop of sweat started on her brow and the perspiration started flowing. No wonder they called cops The Heat, she thought. She continued driving down the street, hoping they would get called away soon. She was meticulous in her driving procedures, for all her anxiety. Would they pull me over for some minor infraction? Had she forgotten some teensy traffic law? Her hands grew clammy and she prayed that she could get through the next light and leave them behind. Of course, no such luck today. She continued driving and trying to suppress that panicky feeling, hoping that her nervousness would not translate into a foolish mistake. She tried to remember where she had her pink slip and registration papers...her purse or her glove compartment? Letting her eyes stray back to the rear view mirror, she was horrified to see that they had moved up closer behind her. Now, she thought, I'll make a right turn (legally, of course) and try to lose them. To her horror, they signalled to turn right as well. Now she was beyond being copscientious, she was spiralling into panic mode. In the next moment, she felt relief sweep over her, as the patrol car turned into a driveway. She drove on away as the police pulled up to the donut shop. Thank goodness they had never stopped her. It would have been hard to explain away her husband's lifeless body in the trunk!!
Etymology: cops (bad boys, bad boys, what you gonna do, what you gonna do when they come for you??) & Conscientious (characterized by extreme care and great effort )
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COMMENTS:
terrific story - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-20: 11:10:00
Agreed, great story — gave me chills. - Tigger, 2008-03-20: 11:46:00
Terrorific sentence and word! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:22:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Nosila. Thank you Nosila. ~ James
mokelmoney - 2009-01-12: 12:32:00
copetrinoia
mokelmoney - 2009-01-12: 12:38:00
copetrinoia: cop/ e/ tri/ noia- to be petrified of the cops to the point of paranoia. Also, not change the subject [no pun intended] ,however I have made numerous contributions. Why are they being disregarded? Please check again...thats Bea Helfy or mokelmoney. Thank you
Today's definition was suggested by Nosila. Thank you Nosila. ~ James
DiplomatUfimskmef - 2018-05-27: 19:30:00
Уважаемые пользователи, друзья! Хотелось бы поделиться несложной и оч
GeorgeSib - 2018-05-27: 19:51:00
Вашему вниманию: организация свадеб в киеве и многое другое от Компании АртМуз: организаци