Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A misheard or misunderstood lyric, which gives the song a completely different meaning than originally intended. v. To misinterpret a song because you "hear" different words than the ones actually being sung.
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.
Adversapropism
Created by: emdeejay
Pronunciation: Add verse à propism
Sentence: Wayne was of those amateur guitarists who seemed to know only half the words of the songs in his repertoire. When he gave his son an impromptu rendition of what he *thought* was "Sonny Be Good", his wife gave him the nickname "Dog Berry"
Etymology: Verse: component of a song that isn't a chorus. Malapropism: misuse of words, often humorously. Adverse: That doesn't sound quite right does it?
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COMMENTS:
clever combo - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:13:00
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Leericks
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: lee rix
Sentence: As he aged and started losing his hearing, George found listening to songs on the oldies radio harder to do. The main reason was the strange leericks written for each tune. He could never figure out why Tammy sang, "Stan, bite your man" or why Johnny Rivers sang, "Secret Asian Man" or why Bon Jovi sang, "You give love a bandaid"or why Jimi Hendrix sang, "Scuse me while I kiss this guy". And every time he heard CCR's Bad Moon Rising, "there's a bathroom on the right"...he found he needed to use one.
Etymology: Leer (a suggestive or sneering look or grin;a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls) & Lyrics(the text or words of a popular song or musical-comedy number) & Icks (yucky things)
Misconsturpulate
Created by: hyperborean
Pronunciation: mis-con-sterp-you-layt
Sentence: History Lesson: Dylan didn't want people to misconsturpulate "Subterranean Homesick Blues," so he wrote key lyrics on flash cards and displayed them during the song ... and filmed the whole thing. The music video was born.
Etymology: misconstrue (to misinterpret) + extrapolate (to infer [unknown information] from known information) + my quirky spelling and pronunciation sound funnier
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COMMENTS:
flawless, once again, word, etymology, and as always the sentence - DrWebster111, 2009-05-06: 00:31:00
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Lieric
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: lie-rik
Sentence: it was only years later that he realised that singing 'Gold Blank Sign' on new years eve was a lieric embarrassment.
Etymology: lie, lyric
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COMMENTS:
terrific - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:17:00
Should Bald Acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind... - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:13:00
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Manglelyric
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: MANGL-ehr-ick
Sentence: Chatsworth fancied himeself quite the singer and loved to entertain at parties and reunions though he had no idea family and friends referred to his style as 'manglelyric' since he botched many of the words of songs, and though unintentionally so, he was at his comedic best when doing impressions of his favorite singer, the French crooner, Morris Chevrolet.
Etymology: Blend of mangle and lyric
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COMMENTS:
nice - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:19:00
Thank Heavens for Little Girls, they grow up in the most excitful way! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:20:00
LOL...yes they do and you've captured morris in a most exciteful way. - Mustang, 2009-05-05: 22:45:00
Succint. - dochanne, 2009-05-06: 01:06:00
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Melohdear
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: mel o deer
Sentence: Jackie Chan was motivated by a 1966 hit by Johnny Rivers. He said it inspired him to play the tough guys in all his many movies. While learning the English language, the melohdear which inspired his career was "Secret Asian Man"!
Etymology: Melody (tune;musical notes in sequence) & Oh Dear (worrying phrase when something goes wrong, like Oh, My;Oh, Drat, etc)
Inaudiblexic
Created by: DrWebsterIII
Pronunciation: in - od" e be - lek - sik
Sentence: Once again, Patrick's inaudiblexicness had him removed from yet another concert, as it was annoying to both the other patrons as well the performer.
Etymology: inaudible (inabillity to hear correctly) + dyslexic (impairment, from result of brain injury)
Wrongbird
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: rôngbərd
Sentence: Marsha is a regular wrongbird. She and her friends love to go out to the local karaoke bar and sing their hearts out. Often her vanity that prevents her from wearing her glasses combines with her active imagination to create a hysterical new set of lyrics. "Excuse me while I kiss this guy"
Etymology: wrong (not correct or true) + songbird (a bird with a musical song)
Songfusion
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: song - few - shun
Sentence: Leo, Saul and Carrie sang the 100 greatest rock ballads with great zeal and songfusion. Some of their favs' were Knockin' on Evan's Door, Only the Homely and Lady Hen Read. Although their harmonizing, music and enthusiasm was contageous, their lyrics were often quite different than the originals and often quite amusing. http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_balladsddd.html
Etymology: song, confusion, fuse (blend: mix together different elements)
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COMMENTS:
I have a friend who spent years singing "Robbin the cashbox" for Rockin the Casbah" - mrskellyscl, 2009-05-05: 09:39:00
I always thought it was f--- the Casbah - actually if you listen closely you'll probably agree with me - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:22:00
I always thought Johnny Rivers' sang "Secret Asian Man"...I mean really listen to those words and you would think the same! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:23:00
Hey, Secret Asian Man would be a great theme for a Jackie Chan movie! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:32:00
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Mystlyrical
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: mist/leer/i/cal
Sentence: One of the funniest mystlyricals I've heard was an interpretation of a line from the Eagles Hotel California 'On a dark desert highway, cool whip in my hair'
Etymology: mystical (secret)+ lyric + missed
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COMMENTS:
It's a lot like verbotomy...You can check out, but you can never leave! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:17:00
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Comments:
Verbotomy - 2009-05-04: 00:01:01
Today's definition was suggested by mrskellyscl (misinterpreted words) and by abrakadeborah (misinterpreted meanings). And of course, by Bob Dylan's classic song about doing the laundry -- Blowing in the Wind ~ James
abrakadeborah - 2009-05-05: 01:02:00
Thank you James~ Cartoon was great! & To mrskellyscl,Oh how I can relate to that one! I have an ex boyfriend that no matter what song he hears NONE of the words match as he tries to sing along! Too funny! :) LOL
Verbotomy - 2010-11-17: 00:36:00
Today's definition was suggested by mrskellyscl. Thank you mrskellyscl. ~ James