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.

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.

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?"

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

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

| Comments and Points

Hermitate

Created by: bebaibo

Pronunciation:

Sentence: Why does Bob always have that blank stare at our meetings? I think he's hermitating, so the boss won't ask him any questions.

Etymology: From hermit (a person living in solitude as a religous discipline...OED)

| Comments and Points

Interworldism

Created by: deaninc

Pronunciation: int-r-werld-ism

Sentence: It looks like someone has interworldism

Etymology: A person who is physically present yet allows ones mind to unfocus the optical characteristic of the eye as facial definitions relax.

| Comments and Points

Amstilloutside

Created by: oxinlingo

Pronunciation: am-still-out-side

Sentence:

Etymology:

| Comments and Points

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

| Comments and Points

Stuporvision

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: stoōpərvizhən

Sentence: Denise*s supervisor is a super hero. He has powers far beyond those of mortals. The sound of his voice can crack glass. The mere clearing of his throat can disburse a gathering at the water cooler. His laser-like stare can cause workers to leave their Facebook status updates and get back on task. When the **Big Boss** is on the prowl with productivity questions he employs his greatest power of all. He uses his stuporvision to look like he is deep, deep in thought. He is so good at it that **Mr. Bigpants** might even apologize for interrupting and return to the ivory tower.

Etymology: stupor (a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility) + supervision (to observe and direct the work of others)

| Comments and Points

Astersole

Created by: NeuroGlyph

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

| Comments and Points

Comavoid

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: koh-ma-void

Sentence: Randy is quite skilled at dodging interactions with his co-workers. He can comavoid just about any effort to elicit a response. The only known method to break this trance-like concentration is to drop a box of Krispy Kreme donuts on his desk.

Etymology: coma (a state of prolonged unconsciousness, including a lack of response to stimuli) + avoid (to keep away from; keep clear of; shun)

| Comments and Points

Recladude

Created by: svnfsvn

Pronunciation:

Sentence: the recladude hid in the mens room till the meeting was over

Etymology: reclusive dude

| Comments and Points

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

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

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