Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n., The fear that your service representative will retaliate after you have complained. v., To be afraid of bad service because you complained about it.
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.
Retailiate
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: rēˌtālēˌāt
Sentence: Richard already felt like the bottom rung on the ladder, working as a clerk in a discount shoe store. When a customer snapped her fingers and demanding immediate attention and referring to him as "Hey you", he knew he had to retailiate. First he made sure that each shoe he brought out was a half size smaller or narrower than what she needed. The ones she really loved were always out of stock. When she finally found a pair that she could shove her hoof into, he took her purchase to the register and mis-entered her information so that the transaction was rejected and he could announce in a not-too-quiet voice, "Mam, your card has been declined, do you have another?" The look on her face made all the aggravation worth it.
Etymology: retail: the sale of goods to the public in relatively small quantities for use or consumption rather than for resale + retaliate: make an attack or assault in return for a similar attack
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
I know this clerk. What a jerk! - wayoffcenter, 2008-10-28: 07:00:00
you've obviously suffered through a retail job at some time - great word - Jabberwocky, 2008-10-28: 13:02:00
Diabolical! - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:39:00
----------------------------
Gaffatwaphobia
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: gaff at waff o bee a
Sentence: Her gaffatwaphobia was so intense that she called all of the teddy bears she gave as gifts to her nephews and nieces after herself, for fear of reprecussions.
Etymology: Gaff fatwa phobia
Venjitters
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /ˌvɛnˈdʒɪdɚz/
Sentence: After publishing a severe critique of the way government officials had arrested a reporter with dissenting views, the journalist got a severe case of the venjitters.
Etymology: from Anglo-French "venger", meaning "to avenge" (as in English "avenge", "revenge", and "vengeance") + "jitters" (unknown origin)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
I like the sound of it. - purpleartichokes, 2007-11-30: 12:20:00
----------------------------
Shitetipper
Created by: idavecook
Pronunciation: Shit-E-Tipper
Sentence: Karen suddenly had a bad case of shitetipper after seeing her server kick over a trash can, and throw hies hairnet on the floor.
Etymology: Shitty + Tipper= Asshole
Remorsel
Created by: swallowedbyafish
Pronunciation:
Sentence: He was instantly filled with remorsel after realizing the waiter was about to go do unspeakable things to his food.
Etymology: remorse + morsel
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
oops didn't mean to steal somebody else's idea...
sorry - swallowedbyafish, 2007-11-30: 22:53:00
----------------------------
Regretribution
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: ree gret trib you shun
Sentence: Rhett was already feeling regretribution for complaining to his Bank Manager, Chet, about the way he had been treated by the bank employees while doing a little banking. He did not realize that such a complaint might reflect badly on Chet's perfect career record and maybe hinder or halt any career aspirations he had to be Bank President. You could Abetribution that there would be Rhettribution from Chetribution which would cause Sweatribution, Upsetribution and Threatribution and Rhett could Getribution a big Debtribution. Yes, next time Rhett tried to rob a bank, he'd pick one with nicer tellers!
Etymology: Regret (sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment;feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about) & Retribution(the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Good grief! That sentence makes my head swim!.....but i like it. - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 02:25:00
That's called dizzytribution, but don't fretribution, if you were on a plane, it might be jetribution or on a boat it would be wetribution! - Nosila, 2008-10-28: 12:52:00
If the warden lets me use the computer, I'll make another contribution. - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:55:00
----------------------------
Spitaworry
Created by: LotusB
Pronunciation: SPIT-a-wor-ee
Sentence:
Etymology: Spit + Worry = Spitaworry
Forebodianskip
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: fore/bode/ian/skip
Sentence: I experienced a powerful forebodianskip when I asked the hairdresser to cut my hair a little shorter and he took out the buzz cutters.
Etymology: forebode + skip (as in skip a heartbeat) + freudian slip
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Excellent! - Mustang, 2007-12-01: 17:33:00
----------------------------
Assholesertiveness
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: ass hoel sert iv nehs
Sentence: It was incredible how much her life had changed since she had done the assholesertiveness course. Even her tastebuds were different
Etymology: assertiveness, asshole
Counterattack
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: counter attack
Sentence: No sooner had Nelly complained to the insurance officer across the service desk about the poor quality of the repairer's work on her storm-damaged roof, she felt that coil of fear in her stomach. Would this woman counterattack with quick thrust of her letter opener, or was she in for a year delay in getting the ruined carpet replaced.
Etymology: counter attack (retaliation) + counter (where one obtains service in a shop or service centre)
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by remistram. Thank you remistram~ James
remistram - 2007-11-30: 10:14:00
I admit - one of my paranoias....
purpleartichokes - 2007-11-30: 13:49:00
Thanks for all the great definitions Remi!
By the way, Remistram also gets a credit for yesterday's definition. She originally submitted her definition about compulsive sniffing in June, so I have added her name to the credits which she shares with kabloozie. Thanks! ~ James
silveryaspen - 2008-12-09: 01:06:00
Am I the only one confounded by the previous verbotomies being show as new ones, along with the re-run of the definition? When we go to vote for the new verbotomies, it's going to be confusing to vote for the new verbotomies instead of the old verbotomies.
logarithm - 2008-12-09: 04:24:00
A re-run, huh? I think it's ok to mix the old and new verbotomies together, and let people vote for their favourites. New verbotomies are great, but some of the old ones might still be the better ones. p/s Silveryaspen: I am back! ;-)
wayoffcenter - 2008-12-09: 05:31:00
But old games have already been decided and have major point advantages over any new entries. It stops regular contributors from playing. They already have a word entered for this contest.
logarithm - 2008-12-09: 07:02:00
It's a contest?
Hey Silvery et al, Oops! Double replay. I have now updated today's definition. See it here: Isn't it a bit early to be wearing Christmas decorations? Be creative, James
Yes, logarithm, it's a game. We have daily and weekly winners. The winning word of the day gets printed in the "b", Baltimore's free daily newspaper. See: b the paper. ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by remistram. Thank you remistram. ~ James