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.
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")
Hijinxed
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: hi/jinxed
Sentence: I've been hijinxed several times trying to bolster dispirited colleagues.
Etymology: hijinks + jinxed
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
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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
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Paronody
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: per o no dee
Sentence: Shelley was always the life of the party, even at work. She could imitate anybody, but especially her boss, Fred. Unfortunately, Fred gave her lots of material to work with. Like many bosses, Fred was always too busy to answer his staff's concerns. If you wanted to get his attention, it was usually a challenge. Unfortunately for Shelley, Fred also had a knack for showing up when she least expected him. If you talked to him, he would not hear, but if you talked about him, he had omnipresent hearing. Fred could managerialize out of thin air. This happened on Shelley's last day of work, when she was doing her paronody of Fred dancing at the Christmas party. "Out, Shelley", he yelled..."you will be a slambossador no more"!
Etymology: Parody (humorous or satirical mimicry; a composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way) & Oh No! (Exclamation of regret, remorse, unpleassant surprise...like SNL's Mr.Bill who always said "OHHH NOOOOO!)
Comderiderie
Created by: bookowl
Pronunciation: calm/deride/eerie
Sentence: Comderiderie is an office past time.
Etymology: com (as in comedy) + deride (ridicule) + camaraderie
Steambuilding
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: steam-building
Sentence: Delia indulged in steambuilding one time too many. The boss finally erupted, snorting coffee out of his nose then bundling her down to the HR department.
Etymology: steam (coming out of the bosses ears) + team building
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COMMENTS:
funny - Jabberwocky, 2007-11-23: 14:50:00
excellent - franke, 2007-11-23: 22:18:00
Clever:good word! - OZZIEBOB, 2007-11-25: 23:06:00
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Springstern
Created by: porsche
Pronunciation: spring/sturn
Sentence: She invited serious sprinstern when she made fun of the boss' voice.
Etymology: Bruce Springsteen (the boss) + stern
Bossonono
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: bos so no no
Sentence: Carmen got up on her manager's desk to show off for her colleagues by grinding and gyrating in a frilly dress. It was Friday afternoon and he had gone for the day. Right? Wrong! He came back for his briefcase and to tell her that the white slip she had been flaunting would now be a pink slip.
Etymology: Boss (leader, manager) & Bossa Nova (Brazilian dance, related to the samba) & Oh No No (an utterance of regret)
Mockupation
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: mok u pay shun
Sentence: When the Boss left, Sally would entertain the troops by imitating him and playing the fool. Her mockupation went too far, when he returned early and caught her mid-act. Her mockupation lead to her walkupation right out of a job.
Etymology: Mock (make fun of;ape;mimicry) & Occupation (career, calling, work one is paid for)
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