Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v., To facilitate camaraderie among your colleagues by making fun at your boss's expense, only to discover that you-know-who is standing right behind you. n., A professional faux pas made with the best intentions.
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.
Gafforgaffer
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: gaff for gaf fer
Sentence: If they needed a lucid answer or wanted to make a request that would be remembered, it was wise to ask the boss in the mornings. That was because the boss,Sheldon Sober, had a liquid lunch every day. His lunches also ran overtime, so while this cat was away,the mice would play. Mimi the Mimic could do a hilarious impersonation of inebriated Sheldon, which would endear her to and entertain her co-workers. One day, the pub Sheldon normally frequented ran out of beer several hours after he got there, so he headed back to his office to get a "stiffener" from the "First Aid Kit" in his desk. He arrived in time to find Mimi taking the mick out of him and the staff roaring with laughter. They meekly slunk back to their desks and nothing was said for the rest of the day. In the morning Mimi timidly reported into work, wondering if she still had a job. Sheldon apparently had forgotten her gafforgaffer and commented to her that she did a great Dean Martin impression!
Etymology: Gaffe (a socially awkward or tactless act) & For(Because; by reason that) & Gaffer(a person who exercises control over workers)
Beraternize
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: bi/reyter/nahyz
Sentence: In our office, which has toxic management, beraternization of the boss is the only way we get through the day. It definitely builds team spirit with my colleagues when we beraternize about the evil one.
Etymology: berate + fraternize
Pinkslipup
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: Pink + slip + up
Sentence: By insulting the boss without knowing he was right behind her, Beatrice committed a disastrous pinkslipup.
Etymology: Pinkslip = to be fired. Slip up = faux pas
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
uh oh - Jabberwocky, 2007-11-23: 11:43:00
perfect - petaj, 2007-11-23: 21:59:00
very nice :) - badsnudge, 2007-11-24: 09:54:00
Thankyuh....thankyuh verruh mutch... - Mustang, 2007-11-24: 22:14:00
Superb! - OZZIEBOB, 2007-11-25: 23:05:00
Nice - c1mcgraw, 2007-11-26: 21:11:00
----------------------------
Administraightman
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: ad-min-i-straight-man
Sentence: The boss was the perfect administraightman for Carol until the day he discovered her in the middle of her routine. That was the day she was comic released. Now she's on comic relief because it's hard to find work as an officemocker.
Etymology: administrator: supervisor or boss + straightman: a performer who acts as a stooge for a comedian
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
comical word - Nosila, 2010-03-18: 17:48:00
----------------------------
Bigwigout
Created by: hendrixius
Pronunciation: /big-wig-owt/
Sentence: In the middle of her bigwigout, and despite their boss's presence, John couldn't help but chuckle a bit at the combined spectacle of his work environ.
Etymology: "bigwig" and "wigging out"
Aucado
Created by: rdococ
Pronunciation: ow-car-doh
Sentence:
Etymology: Based on "awkward".
Himpression
Created by: lumina
Pronunciation: him/presh/un
Sentence: Elaine was a hoot. No matter how bad the day was going, she could always uplift the mood in Purchasing. Unfortunately, having her back to the boss's office door turned her last afternoon "show" into nothing more than a horrifying himpression. Needless to say, Elaine doesn't work here anymore. :(
Etymology: Being caught by a male while doing an impression of him.
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Himpressive word! - Nosila, 2008-10-22: 01:15:00
----------------------------
Shenanigaffe
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: shə-nān'ĭ-gāf
Sentence: Marta usually got a laugh from her coworkers when she would imitate her boss, asking if they remembered to use a cover sheet on their TPS reports, but she eventually realized she'd made a shenanigaffe when their eyes went wide and they began making subtle motions with their hands, pointing behind her.
Etymology: shenanigan - a playful or mischievous act (Origin: 1850–55, Americanism; of obscure orig.) + gaffe - a clumsy social error; a faux pas (from Old French, "hook")
Comderiderie
Created by: bookowl
Pronunciation: calm/deride/eerie
Sentence: Comderiderie is an office past time.
Etymology: com (as in comedy) + deride (ridicule) + camaraderie
Bossted
Created by: suzanne
Pronunciation: Boss + Ted
Sentence: When he heard her perfectly produce his drawling accent he walked in and bossted her.
Etymology: Boss - person who orders you around, and whom you obey in return for money. busted- to be caught very emphatically.
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
sin a bhfuil - suzanne, 2007-11-24: 20:19:00
----------------------------
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Mustang. Thank you Mustang! ~ James
Mustang - 2007-11-23: 02:38:00
What a pleasant surprise to find one of my submissions on display! It's inspiring. :-)
Congratulations Mustang! I am sure your Boss is also quite thrilled. ~ James
Mustang - 2007-11-23: 08:17:00
When I retired 20+ yrs ago I WAS the boss. :-)
Well, you're the still big boss here! ~ James
Jabberwocky - 2007-11-23: 12:12:00
nice save James - I think you just got caught making fun of the boss
Are you trying to fundermine my steambuilding efforts? ~ James
The warm-up act must have been the bossanova.
galwaywegian - 2008-10-21: 08:47:00
extempoorise
galwaywegian - 2008-10-21: 08:47:00
oops
Today's definition was suggested by Mustang. Thank you Mustang. ~ James