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.
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
Catatalkic
Created by: Lolagrrl
Pronunciation: cat-a-talk-ick
Sentence: Nancy's constant catatalkic state had the entire office avoiding her. This ploy worked well for Nancy because it meant that she could actually get some work done for a change.
Etymology: catatonic + talk
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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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
Hollowgraham
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: hawl/oh/gram
Sentence: Graham was a very shy person who could turn into a hollowgraham when confronted with his insecurities.
Etymology: hologram (three dimensional photographic image - sometimes visible, sometimes not) + graham + hollow
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COMMENTS:
heh! - galwaywegian, 2008-09-17: 07:31:00
Good one! - TJayzz, 2008-09-18: 10:15:00
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Stonify
Created by: Windyo
Pronunciation: stone-i-fy
Sentence: Everytime i see this guy, i stonify. I just don't want him to speak to me.
Etymology: to act like stone
Attendshungetter
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: at tend shun get ter
Sentence: Alan was always an attendshungetter, whether at work in the office or at home. He could zone out and retreat into his own little fantasy world to avoid other people such as meetings,classes, door-to-door sales people, his mother-in-law, his wife and anything or anyone else he chose to. In his mind, he travelled far away, usually on a spaceship or he replayed his favourite movie scenes. Some people thought he could astral-project himself, because he could recall no details when he "came back". On Halloween night he hid in the house in the dark, with the porchlight on, watching from behind the drapes to avoid the trick or treaters. His mind was like his home. Like his Mother had always said... the lights were on but there was no one home.
Etymology: Attend (give heed (to);be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.) & Shun (avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of) & Getter (a person who acquires as a result of some effort or action)
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COMMENTS:
ANOTHER Nosila classic! - metrohumanx, 2008-09-17: 01:29:00
AHA! Zone out ! I KNEW it wasn't just us. - metrohumanx, 2008-09-17: 11:32:00
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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:
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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Homeevashun
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: hohmi-vey-shun
Sentence: Whenever a topic comes up at a staff meeting that he knows little about and can't talk about for four hours, Bob goes into his homeevadshun mode shutting out everything and everyone.
Etymology: HOMEEVADSHUN - play on HOME INVASION
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)
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