Vote for the best verboticism.

'I think he's pretending that no one is home.'

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.

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Verboticisms

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You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.

Hiburbate

youmustvotenato

Created by: youmustvotenato

Pronunciation: high-burr-bate

Sentence: With his phone left in the car, Steve was able to enjoy the day strewn about on the grass in the park hiburbating in peace.

Etymology: Hibernate + ***********

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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)

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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

petaj that might be Holograndma (an elderly hermit), or Hollygram. - petaj, 2007-10-22: 03:37:00

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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

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Zoneduff

metrohumanx

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:

metrohumanx 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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Zombiehaviour

Created by: remistram

Pronunciation: zom-bee-heyv-yer

Sentence: Everyone knew when Matt didn't finish his portion of the project because at team meetings he'd switch into zombiehaviour mode.

Etymology: zombie (as in stunned) + behaviour

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Deafhere

Created by: scrabbelicious

Pronunciation: /Deh-ef-he-ear/

Sentence: Mrs. Soul patched the call through to her secretary. "I thought I told you I wasn't here?", she said, you just have to turn a deafhere.

Etymology: Deafhere n., hybrid of the nouns deaf and here, and inspired by the phrase "to turn a deaf ear", which is a common adult tactic and defense mechanism. Is the spell checker new to this site? I just noticed it now. Don't expect a reply of course, in the circumstances I mean.

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COMMENTS:

metrohumanx I have not encountered a spell checker...but definitely a double-point word, S ! - metrohumanx, 2008-09-17: 11:31:00

It must be my new browser....who thought that was a good idea? - scrabbelicious, 2008-09-18: 16:49:00

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Fauxvert

Created by: MadTripper

Pronunciation: foh-vurt

Sentence: My father would always become a fauxvert on Halloween night by shutting the lights off in the house and refusing to answer the door.

Etymology: Faux Avert

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Absentiments

Created by: abrakadeborah

Pronunciation: ab-sin-ti-ments

Sentence: Clay's absentiments in training class didn't fool anyone. He often zones out at work and turns off in life all together.

Etymology: Absent-Not existent; lacking. Sentiment-The expression of delicate and sensitive feeling. Putting parts of both words together making "Absentiments."

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COMMENTS:

Love it, but already spent my votes... - Nosila, 2011-07-02: 19:50:00

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Hiddentation

MrDave2176

Created by: MrDave2176

Pronunciation: hid-den-TA-shun

Sentence: Kyle was hiddentating in the third floor conference room. He was answering emails and doing his work but his hiddentat here prevented others from coming to see him in his office and interrupting his "flow".

Etymology: hidden + habitat

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COMMENTS:

MrDave2176 I used to have a supervisor who used to do this very thing. He'd only respond to email while he was hiddentating on a conference room on an unused floor so that he would not be interrupted doing his work. - MrDave2176, 2007-10-19: 09:54:00

Good word! - OZZIEBOB, 2007-10-20: 18:14:00

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-10-19: 00:01:00
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.

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-02-16: 00:17:00
Today's definition was suggested by MrDave2176. Thank you MrDave2176. ~ James