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.

Psycholdoggy

petaj

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

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

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

| Comments and Points

Humanitrainer

Created by: phoenix89

Pronunciation: hue - man- ee- trainer

Sentence: The one thing motivational speakers and animal trainers have in common is that they each teach their own audience how to become better.Some people can train their pets but need training themselves.Thats when you introduce the Humanitrainer. A session or few will have that human in shape in no time.

Etymology: human ( the one reading this paper) trainer ( someone who guides or educates another in a specific area)

| Comments and Points

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)

| 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

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:

...but we can still 'devolve' during football games, can't we? Excellent word! - Tigger, 2008-05-19: 02:51:00

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

| 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

Fetchnpay

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: fechnpā

Sentence: Jill is pleased with the progress with the training of her new boyfriend. He is doing well with sit (and be quiet), speak (when given permission) and stay (focused on your girlfriend only). Jill's proudest achievement is teaching him fetchnpay. All she has to do is mention she would like to have and release him to go get it. She still has to work on keeping him from getting distracted and buying too much for himself.

Etymology: fetch (go for and then bring back) n (and) pay (give someone money that is due for work done)

| 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

Pavlover

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: pav lov er

Sentence: In order to break her husband Ivan of his sock-dropping habits, Anna rewarded him with love in order to get him to respond. She was a pavlover and if he still didn't learn to pick up his socks, she had to become a pavtufflover. But enough about their socks life...

Etymology: Pavlov (Russian physiologist who observed conditioned salivary responses in dogs (1849-1936)) & Lover (a person who loves or is loved)

| Comments and Points

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)

| 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