Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. An idea that pops into your head just before you fall asleep, which is so big and brilliant, or else so dark and scary, that it keeps you awake all night long. v. To lie awake in bed with a head full of big dreams.
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.
Sleepdeprivision
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: sleep-deh-preh-vih-zhun
Sentence: Last night I had a sleepdeprivision. Today, I am groggily wondering why I thought it was feasible to set up a full-scale hydroponic artichoke growing system in my basement.
Etymology: sleep deprivation, vision
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COMMENTS:
I can't decide if your artichoke cultivation is big and brilliant (like the lighting system required to run such a thing) or dark and scary (there's got to be a reason why basements figure so boldly in murder movies) - petaj, 2007-04-09: 04:58:00
Oh and nice work with sleep deprivation. I went down that path, but no lightbulb moment on fitting in the idea bit. - petaj, 2007-04-09: 05:00:00
The lighting system did throw me a curve, as did where I would relocate my washer, dryer, furnace, and resident spiders. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 05:59:00
knew right away it was your word - very clever - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-09: 12:59:00
Wow, I didn't realize I was that verbobvious. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 14:10:00
That has a nice ring to it. - jedijawa, 2007-04-09: 23:58:00
hydropon my word! - galwaywegian, 2007-04-10: 05:17:00
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Snoozeflash
Created by: Koekbroer
Pronunciation: snooz-flash
Sentence: Rachel was just about to drop off when she had a sudden snoozeflash which woke her up and sent her mind racing for the rest of the night.
Etymology: "snooze", as in sleep and "flash" from "newsflash"
Bedspiration
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: bed-spi-ray-shun
Sentence: Clair's bedspiration helped her to finally finish her second symphony. All she had to do was move the piano into the bedroom and move Gustav out of it since there wasn't room for both him and the piano.
Etymology: bed + bedspread + inspiration: sudden creative act or idea; stimulation of the mind or feelings to special activity or creativity
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COMMENTS:
Bedspiration can be hard on matressimony. - artr, 2009-10-26: 14:47:00
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Revigilation
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /ɹəˌvɪdʒəˈleɪʃən/̩
Sentence: Sometimes my revigilations seem truly deep, and sometimes I stay awake at nights wondering if "procrasticap" is funnier than "apathetes' heel".
Etymology: From revelation + vigil
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COMMENTS:
Sounds like supervising exam candidates over and over - that would keep one awake at night too. - petaj, 2007-04-09: 04:48:00
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Eyeswideopener
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: eyes/wyde/open/ur
Sentence: Just as I was falling asleep I was struck with an eyeswideopener, one of those ridiculous brainstorms that fade with the morning light, unlike my eyes which remain red all week
Etymology: eye opener (shocking revelation) + wide open
Branake
Created by: Tanik
Pronunciation: BrAn-Ak
Sentence: She was up all night with a serious case of branake. She just couldn't shake the thought of Bob with Sally.
Etymology: brain + awake
Nightbulb
Created by: wordmeister
Pronunciation: nite-bulb
Sentence: Roger had a nightbulb so dark and brilliant that he couldn't sleep for week. Finally, his wife pulled the plug on the idea, and he rested...
Etymology: night + lightbulb
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COMMENTS:
Good one! - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 09:49:00
Strangely enough, I couldn't sleep last night, so this one was easy. - wordmeister, 2007-04-09: 11:45:00
appropriate for spring planting - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-09: 12:19:00
This should win. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-09: 15:39:00
re: spring planting -- Yes, blooming deep shade tulips - wordmeister, 2007-04-09: 18:20:00
I like the mental image that goes with that one! - jedijawa, 2007-04-09: 23:51:00
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Pilloetic
Created by: CharlieB
Pronunciation: pill-oh-et-ik
Sentence: At night Roy’s haikus Keep him and his wife awake: He’s pilloetic.
Etymology: pillow (a cloth case used to support the head) + poetic (of or relating to poetry)
Thoughtywink
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: th-or-tee-wink
Sentence: Being a particularly creative type, Michelangelo was prone to thoughtywinks which allowed him only very light sleep for extremely short periods. He longed for a solid night of deep sleep.
Etymology: thought (mental process that generates ideas) + forty winks (a short light nap)
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COMMENTS:
Almost as good as "thoughtdiscount". Gets a vote. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-09: 05:27:00
Cute word! - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 06:00:00
Also sounds like "naughty winks" -- gets my vote. - wordmeister, 2007-04-09: 23:05:00
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Comments:
Thank you to Dan Pink for sponsoring this week's Right-Brain Verbotomy Contest and creativity prize. ~ James
What happened last week? Read Verbotoweek! A look back at last week's wickedest words and funniest comments... Edited by "Weeklink", one of our top players who from some reason, perhaps self-preservation, prefers to remain anonymous! See: Verbotoweek in the Verbotomy Blog.
Bulletchewer - 2007-04-09: 15:52:00
Wonder if this happened to Thomas Edison. Oh, and in a related piece of propaganda, vote for Wordmeister's "Nightbulb"! PS Great (if slightly embarrassing) blog!
wordmeister - 2007-04-09: 18:04:00
Hey Bulletchewer, Thanks for the vote of support! I guess I managed to skip through my own premonstermare without getting trampled...
Bulletchewer - 2007-04-09: 18:37:00
Just wondering if anyone else is ineligible for this week's contest. Who's up for a Sir Geoffrey?
toadstool57 - 2007-04-09: 21:34:00
James - cool that you spotlighted CFLs.
Thanks toadstool57. We're just trying to create some environmentally friendly ideas. ~ James
OZZIEBOB - 2008-06-21: 19:35:00
Excellent.
Today's definition was suggested by wordmeister. Thank you wordmeister. ~ James