Vote for the best verboticism.

'Now be a good boy, and pick up your socks'

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.

Create | Read

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.

Beaubedience

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: bōbēdēəns

Sentence: Jill believes in beaubedience. Her boyfriend knows how to behave because she has taught him well. Just last week when he spilled milk on the kitchen counter, she rubbed his nose in it and barked at him. At least she has given up smacking him with rolled-up newspaper.

Etymology: beau (a boyfriend or male admirer) + obedience (compliance with someone\'s wishes or orders or acknowledgment of their authority)

| Comments and Points

Shamu

Verbotomy

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".

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Verbotomy 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

Verbotomy 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

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

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.

| Comments and Points

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

----------------------------
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

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Folklured

Created by: Tigger

Pronunciation: /fohk-loord/

Sentence: Sherry wasn't what you'd call 'book-smart' but she was very good at figuring out what people's motivations were, and which tactics would make them act the way she wanted. She had folklured her boyfriend into a marriage proposal, her parents into buying her another new car, and even her teachers into giving her good grades — now she was about to graduate college, thanks to another student, who was also her enamoured and very lonely tutor. She was definitely going to either work in sales, or in politics.

Etymology: from the word 'Folklore': Folk - people in general, or people of a distinct group (from German, volk "people") + Lured - tempted or enticed into a particular action; used a decoy for fishing or trapping (from Middle Low German, loder "bait")

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

She must have folklured her parents into buying her a new folkswagen! - Nosila, 2008-05-19: 16:56:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Reinforcemen

mrskellyscl

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

| Comments and Points

Dougwhisperer

artr

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 and Points

Schoolafool

Created by: shija

Pronunciation: school-laf-fool

Sentence: Have you tried schoolafooling?

Etymology: A blend of schooling and fooling.

| Comments and Points

Homesticate

Created by: Stevenson0

Pronunciation: hoh/mes/ti/kate

Sentence: In most relationships, the woman has to homesticate the male so he can function in modern society.

Etymology: homo sapiens (the modern species of humans) + domesticate (to tame an animal to live with humans); therefore, homesticate (to tame a human to live with humans)

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

good play on the human condition.... - mweinmann, 2009-06-30: 08:02:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Perpeturate

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: per-PET-yur-ayt

Sentence: Using a system of punishments and rewards as she did with her doberman, Lucille attempted to perpeturate the same kinds of desired automatic responses from her boyfriend, Wilbur.

Etymology: Blend of 'pet' (a pampered and usually spoiled child) 'perpetuate' ( to make perpetual or cause to last indefinitely) and 'saturate' ( to treat, furnish, or charge with something to the point where no more can be absorbed, dissolved, or retained)

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-05-19: 00:01:00
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

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-06-29: 00:01:00
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

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-07-19: 00:41:00
Today's definition was suggested by amysutherland. Thank you amysutherland. ~ James