Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v., To avoid unwanted interruptions (visits, calls, or emails) by pretending to be unavailable, unreachable or unconscious. n., A person who pretends they are not home in order to avoid talking to someone.
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.
Absentshun
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: ab-SENT-shun
Sentence: The absentshun living at number 15 had successfully kept his neighbours thinking that his house was vacant. No one had been able to attract his attention as he spent most of his time avoiding the windows and sneaking around on rubber-soled shoes.
Etymology: absent + shun + attention
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COMMENTS:
good one Petaj - Jabberwocky, 2007-10-19: 13:45:00
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Circumvenshun
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: sir kum ven shun
Sentence: Wally hated people bugging him at home. It did not matter whether it was on the phone, e-mail or at the door, he had the act of circumvenshun down to a fine art. People thought he was eccentric or occupied with some big hush-hush project. The reality was that Wally hated missing a moment of his daytime dramas. Yes, he watched every soap opera on the tube, every day. One could say that Wally was Young & Restless, he was living the Days of Our Lives to the fullest, his tv friends were like All My Children. He was not Bold & Beautiful, but if he had One Life to Live, As the World Turns, he was going to end up in General Hospital if he did not get some exercise!
Etymology: Circumvention (the act of evading) & Shun (avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of)
Zoneduff
Created by: metrohumanx
Pronunciation: ZZZZone-duh-FFF (alt. zoneduffer)
Sentence: BigBob was likeable enough, but he had an annoying habit of ZONEDUFFING while you were talking to him, and you never knew how long he had been incommunicado. We did extract a measure of revenge when the whole department took a subway ride to the trade show. We all got on the train, and just before the doors closed, everyone jumped off - leaving BigBob on the express to Harlem instead of going downtown. BigBob the ZONEDUFFER stared from the rear window of the subway car as it slowly vanished into the rat-infested subterranean dimness of the "Big Apple"...and forever into our memories.
Etymology: ZONED out+ DUFF = ZONEDUFF.....zoned out: late 1960-ish phrase meaning " to withdraw into a semi-pleasant introspective state of sensory withdrawl, induced by lack of sleep or excessive ingestion of contraband".....DUFF: disparaging regional term meaning "to leave (one's comrades) abruptly, secretively or without prior warning"....."Dude! Why did you DUFF on us last night?"
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COMMENTS:
No BigBobs were harmed in the writing of this FICTITOUS sentence.... - metrohumanx, 2008-09-17: 02:06:00
Sounds like he was zonedeaf, too! - Nosila, 2008-09-18: 01:30:00
Amidst the woes on Wall st - missed this one. Great word - OZZIEBOB, 2008-09-30: 17:49:00
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Confrontavert
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: kon-FRUNT-eh-vert
Sentence: When faced with unwanted visits, remarks, invitations etc, Larimer has several confrontavert techniques he employs wherein he pretends not to notice though everyone else realizes he is faking
Etymology: Blend of 'confront' (to meet face-to-fac) and 'avert' (v. to ward off; prevent)
Ostrichize
Created by: gobidesert
Pronunciation: awstritchize
Sentence: Uh oh, the boss is on the prowl. Perhaps I will just ostrichize in my cubicle for the next little bit.
Etymology: ostrich (head in sand) verbalized
Shamgaged
Created by: chippy
Pronunciation:
Sentence: I'm sorry Mr. Peterson can't come to the phone right now. He is shamgaged in an important project.
Etymology: sham engaged
Glistant
Created by: mayblossom
Pronunciation: glist-ant
Sentence: "oh look, Marks gone all Glistant again!
Etymology: glare+distant.
Fakecant
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: fake-cant
Sentence: You could tell by the fakecant look on Bob's face that he was either trying to avoid contact with the rest of us or he was called back to his home planet. Either way, he wasn't missed.
Etymology: fake: having a false or deceiving appearance + vacant: not occupied, empty
Holograham
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: hollow/gray/am
Sentence: Graham was a very shy person turning into a holograham when confronted with his insecurities.
Etymology: hologram (sometimes you see it- sometimes you don't) + graham + hollow
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COMMENTS:
Like the thought behind this one. Does Graham have a female counterpart! - OZZIEBOB, 2007-10-20: 18:16:00
that might be Holograndma (an elderly hermit), or Hollygram. - petaj, 2007-10-22: 03:37:00
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Zombivox
Created by: wordslikevenom
Pronunciation: Zom-bee-vox
Sentence: Jamie's claims that he suffered 'Moon fever' were never actually substantiated, mainly because no-one had ever heard of it. However, this didn't stop him from being persistent in his claims of suffering whereby suddenly and without notice he would turn zombivox if interrupted.
Etymology: Zombie - a person who appears not to notice what is happening around them Voice box (colloq.) - the organ in the neck of mammals involved in sound production
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by MrDave2176. Thank you MrDave2176! ~ James
Osmosis - 2007-10-21: 23:15:00
Perhaps "denysolation" would be better for this definition and sentence.
Today's definition was suggested by MrDave2176. Thank you MrDave2176. ~ James