Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n., A gallant gesture which does not produce the desired effect because of poor execution. v., To offer a small gesture of assistance, which backfires as you trip over your own kind intentions.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
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Jesture
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: jest chur
Sentence: While trying to impress Inga on their first date, Jeremy used all his polite charms to ensure she thought him a true gentleman. Allowing her to go first buit trying to stay with her, he got caught in the fast moving doorway. Although his intention was good, his attention was not and he got caught in the door. "Son of a gun", she thought. "His jesture proved to me that he does not know how to handle a revolver. I guess he is not quite of the calibre I thought he should be".
Etymology: Jest (act in a funny or teasing way;activity characterized by good humor)& Gesture ( something done as an indication of intention;show, express or direct through movement)
Oopdonk
Created by: wordslikevenom
Pronunciation: Oup-don-k
Sentence: In the parallel universe, Sir Walter wasn't so lucky. Having laid his cloak over a puddle for the Queen to step onto so that she wouldn't muddy her feet, little did he realise it was well over 3 metres deep ..."Oopdonk!" went the crowd.
Etymology: Oops - an expression of surprise or feeling sorry about a mistake or slight accident. Donk (onomatopoeia) - Comedic knocking noise.
Behalfgaffe
Created by: Wordfanne
Pronunciation:
Sentence: When Roland stood up to allow a pregnant, fellow-bus-rider his seat, his behalfgaffe of stepping on another woman's skirt hem, pulling its waist to her knees, rather nullified his desired "effect".
Etymology:
Jestugh
Created by: TJayzz
Pronunciation: Jess-t-ure
Sentence: Harry had fancied Suzie for ages, so when he saw that she was having troube starting her car he swiftly offered to help. He began push the car and soon got it going , unfortunately he pushed so hard that he fell over and landed headfirst in a muddy puddle. As he stood up all he could here was Suzie's hysterical laughter, it was a good thing that his face was covered in mud so that she could not see his embarrassment.
Etymology: Jest(Joke)+ Ugh(an exclamation of horror) = Jestugh (play on gesture)
Urbean
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: ur/bean
Sentence: John's attempt to be urbane, chivalrous, courteous, polite and just plain well-mannered became urbean when his head got jammed in the doorway helping a damsel in distress.
Etymology: URBEAN - noun - from URBANE (polite, refined and often elegant in manner) + MR. BEAN
Dorkalert
Created by: kimbo123
Pronunciation: Dork-Alert
Sentence: Once again, she fell victim of a Dorkalert.
Etymology:
Recomime
Created by: Kevcom
Pronunciation: rea-ko-meeme
Sentence: Danny shot a helpful recomime to the old lady waiting on the subway platform at Glencairn, Glencairn station, but was unfortunately left behind and delayed by the slowness of the old lady, and by the speed at which the doors open and close on the rocket.
Etymology: recoil + pantomime
Ineptsuavitis
Created by: mryder
Pronunciation: in-ept / swah-ve / itis
Sentence: Billy would have loved to open the door for the pretty girl; however his ineptsuavitis set in and he ended up getting himself trapped in the door.
Etymology: inept-ORIGIN originally in the sense unsuitable: from Latin ineptus, from in- ‘not’ + aptus ‘fitted. Suave-ORIGIN Latin suavis ‘agreeable’ itis (suffix)— ORIGIN from Greek -ites
Fewtility
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: fyoo til lit tee
Sentence: Fewbert's heroic gestures towards his fewture wife, Fewgenia, were often attempts in fewtility. Like when he placed his coat over a puddle in the street for her, only to discover that it actually covered an open manhole. Or when he chased her cat FewFew through hill & dale, caught it, was scratched to death and brought it home to her, only to find the real FewFew happily sitting in front of the hearth at home. Poor Fewbert, his fewtile efforts made Fewgenia think that a fewture with Fewbert might be fewtile, at least until after he passed fewberty.
Etymology: Few (an indefinite but relatively small number) & Futility (uselessness as a consequence of having no practical result)
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COMMENTS:
Beware the fewmious bandersnatch.... - Mustang, 2008-09-25: 00:02:00
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Clumsyhurl
Created by: vmalcolm
Pronunciation: /'klʌmzihɜ:rl/
Sentence: In an attempt to be a gentleman, poor Harry ended up committing an act of clumsyhurl...
Etymology: CLUMSYHURL. From Clumsy + Hurl
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn! ~ James
After you. No after you. No after you. No after yooooooeeeeouwwww!
Kevcom - 2007-10-26: 07:38:00
Awesome cartoon James! That is so funny - I was almost dyin' of laughter of the expression on the guys face...
Thanks to Kevcom and Petaj for your hurteous thoughts and magnanimistakian clobbergestures ~ James
Lidipop - 2007-10-26: 10:19:00
I actually printed this one out...it's so good, well done!!!
We must not forget to thank ErWenn again for his generous courteslip. ~ James
purpleartichokes - 2007-10-26: 18:57:00
Yes, thank you ErWenn and James. Fabulous contributions from you two!
yellowbird - 2008-09-24: 11:49:00
Haven't we seen this definition before?
petaj - 2008-09-26: 04:19:00
Yep - looking forward to some new ones
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn. ~ James