Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To use animal training techniques to improve and direct the behavior of other people. n. A technique which uses the principles of animal training to solve a human behavioral riddle.
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.
Circusitous
Created by: bookowl
Pronunciation: sir/cus/i/tus
Sentence: I used a circusitous route but the leash worked wonders for keeping the kids in check.
Etymology: circus + circuitous (devious)
Henneagram
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: hen eee aaa gram
Sentence: Her use of the henneagram was richickulous, one fowl idea after another in her so called pursuit of eggselence.
Etymology: enneagram, hen
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COMMENTS:
Another eggselent word, no yolks about it. Did you pullet out of the air or is it poultry in motion? - Nosila, 2008-05-19: 17:00:00
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Reinforcemen
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: re-in-force-men
Sentence: Paula used both positive and negative reinforcemen to get whatever she wanted. Her technique included the rewards of steaks, sports, beer, and the occasional night out with the boys; however, she discovered that sex could be used both positively as a reward and negatively by withdrawing the reward when appropriate.
Etymology: reinforcement: technic whereby the delivery of a stimulus, good or bad, after a response increases the likelihood of the behavior repeating. + men: creatures that have been test subjects for women since the dawn of civilization
Poochnique
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: POOCH-neek
Sentence: "If you have something to say." Roxie barked, "shut up." She hoped that her poochniques would make Bob think that he had a dog for a wife, and he would forever remain her best friend.
Etymology: Blend of POOCH: slang for dog; etymology unknown, could be from German "Putzi" a name for a lap-dog?? & TECHNIQUE.
Shamu
Created by: Verbotomy
Pronunciation: Sham-moo
Sentence: Shamu the proper noun has become the all-purpose verb in our house. It's shorthand for using the principles of animal training to solve a behavioral riddle. We shamu friends, family, and neighbors. We shamu each other. "Did you just shamu me?" we will ask the other.
Etymology: Shamu is the stage name for the star Orcas (killer whales) at SeaWorld, that inspired the title of Amy Sutherland's book, "What Shamu Taught Me".
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COMMENTS:
The sentence is direct quote from Amy's book where she explains how she has adopted the word. ~ James - Verbotomy, 2008-05-19: 00:15:00
When this happens to me, I feel so Shamused. - Tigger, 2008-05-19: 02:54:00
Very shamutable! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-19: 06:38:00
Yes, if we apply shamu to creativity we get a shamutation. ~ James - Verbotomy, 2008-05-19: 15:46:00
I think it's time for as a serious stuff, what about the science, theory or study of shamu: "Shamulogy" - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-20: 22:26:00
Oops! I think it's time for the serious stuff, what about the science, theory or study of shamu: "Shamulogy" - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-20: 22:29:00
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Psycholdoggy
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: sigh-COL-dog-e
Sentence: Sue-Ellen soon wised up she could manage her children's own behaviour modification for the cost of an obedience training course for her pet. There was no reason to pay out megabucks on a professional, when she was an expert psycholdogist.
Etymology: psychology + dog
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COMMENTS:
nice and original - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-19: 14:19:00
I think that's happened to me. Good one! - Mustang, 2008-05-19: 23:52:00
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Pavlove
Created by: stache
Pronunciation: pāv'lŭv'
Sentence: Janelle would pavlove Bart every night when he came home without the smell of cigarettes and beer about him; eventually, Bart stopped going to Moe's for drinks after work.
Etymology: Pavlov, Ivan, Russian physiologist who is best known for discovering the conditioned response; love, to have or express affection for another; also, sexual passion or desire.
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COMMENTS:
nice! - galwaywegian, 2008-05-19: 14:06:00
Excellent word. Makes me salivate. lol - Mustang, 2008-05-19: 14:36:00
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Obediencesocool
Created by: splendiction
Pronunciation: rhymes with "obedience school"
Sentence: They had tried everything, it seemed, to eliminate their son’s thumbsucking: behaviour modification, ignoring, even praise. Nothing worked until obediencesocool! The idea of simply complying with their requests actually became the new cool thing to do! They hoped this new trend would last and spawn similar trends.
Etymology: A play on a dog "obedience school".
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COMMENTS:
Cool word...what you have to do with teens these days... - Nosila, 2009-06-30: 01:22:00
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Recwagnition
Created by: Rutilus
Pronunciation: rec-wag-nishun
Sentence: Phoebe loved Max. He was the human equivalent of a pet dog. He was loyal, forgiving and subservient. She could get him to do anything as long as she rewarded him, giving him treats and a little recwagnition for his trouble.
Etymology: recognition - noticing someone/something; wag - movement of dog's tail (associated with contentment)
Dougwhisperer
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: dəgwispərər
Sentence: Doug's girlfriend is great at getting him to do what she wants by applying the best pet training techniques. A treat here, a scratch behind the ear there. She keeps it all positive, no smack with a rolled-up newspaper here. She is so good at it that her friends call her the Dougwhisperer.
Etymology: Doug () + Dog Whisperer (The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, is a dog trainer who adopts a sympathetic view of the motives, needs, and desires of the dog, based on natural dog behavior and modern dog psychology)
Comments:
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's new book "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". where she reminds us that "People are animals too!", and that "Any interaction is training". Now Amy has invented her own word for this and it's "Shamu", so I have added it today's list of verboticisms! Thanks Amy! ~ James
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's book "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage", where she reminds us that "People are animals too!", and that "Any interaction is training". Of course, Amy has invented her own word for this -- "Shamu". Let's see what we come up with now... Thanks Amy! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by amysutherland. Thank you amysutherland. ~ James