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'Nothing clever to say?'

DEFINITION: n. A clever remark, especially a "comeback line" to an insult, which does not come to mind until it is too late to be delivered; often leads to the gnashing of teeth. v. To think of something clever after it's too late.

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Verboticisms

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Missdiss

Created by: Insatori

Pronunciation: Miss diss

Sentence: Your response to her insult was genious, but you hesitated and missdissed.

Etymology:

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Repartardy

mrskellyscl

Created by: mrskellyscl

Pronunciation: re-par-tar-dy

Sentence: Mike could only deliver brilliant repartardy to his mirror long after his guests had gone. He longed to be quick and witty; however, he was tongue-tied while he was being verbally filleted by his friends' good natured bantering. As the Japanese proverb says: "He had many knives -- none of them sharp."

Etymology: repartee: swift, witty reply; a conversation marked with the exchange of witty retorts + tardy: arrive or occur after the expected time

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COMMENTS:

:) - galwaywegian, 2009-10-20: 12:47:00

Cutting and pointed! - Nosila, 2009-10-21: 01:25:00

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Tardytort

Created by: PythianHabenero

Pronunciation: tar-dee-tort

Sentence: A half hour after being wittily insulted, Andrew came up with the best tardytort he'd ever heard.

Etymology: "tardy" as in late and "retort" as in comeback.

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Retorture

Created by: Erikv

Pronunciation: re tort chur

Sentence: He knew he thought of a gem with the "jerk store" line but she was gone and he was left with retorture.

Etymology: Combination of retort and torture

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Waiticism

Created by: urbanwookie

Pronunciation: way-tiss-ism

Sentence: As he smashed the last plate in the restaurant, Chris suddenly discovered the waiticism he had needed to parry the waiter's razor-sharp repartee...

Etymology: wait -> witticism

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COMMENTS:

nicely weighted! - galwaywegian, 2007-04-03: 05:18:00

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Lollyjesting

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: lälējesting

Sentence: Harry*s repartee could use some tuning. He can generally think of something witty to say in response to another*s comment but his timing is a little off. His sexual innuendo was far less effective and just a little creepy once the group*s conversation had shifted from girlfriends to in-laws. His lollyjesting will often garner a responce of **Huh?**.

Etymology: lollygag (spend time aimlessly; idle) + jesting (a thing said or done for amusement; a joke)

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Resputtal

Created by: mplsbohemian

Pronunciation: ree-SPUHT-uhl

Sentence: Alex choked on his resputtal of "Then I'll be sure to clear out my night schedule," a full hour after hearing, "I wouldn't give you the time of day."

Etymology: rebuttal + sputter

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Triptung

Created by: ebehler

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Retord

Created by: purpleartichokes

Pronunciation: ree-tord

Sentence: My clever retord about his ass being listed as a major source of global warming did not come to me until long after it could be effectively delivered.

Etymology: retort, retard

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COMMENTS:

I reckon this one is better than "retortoise" because the tortoise kicked the hair's major source of a problem the American government denies exists. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-03: 17:35:00

*hare Duh! - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-03: 17:35:00

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Retrotort

Created by: caroline73

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology: combines retro - after the event - and retort.

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COMMENTS:

Good word. I bet if you put in the time to include a sample sentence, you might get a few more votes. - ErWenn, 2007-04-04: 01:15:00

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-03: 00:01:00
Today's definition was suggested by mplsbohemian.
Thank you mplsbohemian! ~ James

mplsbohemian - 2007-04-03: 11:13:00
Thanks for using the definition! I specifically chose it because the French expression for this is notoriously difficult to succinctly translate into English. Perhaps you guys can help! Peace Clint

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-03: 11:45:00
Ah oui, "l'ésprit de l'escalier"... Merci pour la suggestion, mplsbohemian ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-10-20: 03:48:00
Today's definition was suggested by mplsbohemian. Thank you mplsbohemian. ~ James