Vote for the best verboticism.

'Honey, are you awake?'

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.

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.

Ideaobrilliantcreepy

Created by: wordgrrl

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

| Comments and Points

Premonstermare

Created by: Bulletchewer

Pronunciation: pre-mun-stir-mayr

Sentence: Dennis Skinner's premonstermare of a plot to quietly poison and thus kill the terrifying legacy of his beloved Mrs Thatcher caused the beast to stir more than a junkie's coffee.

Etymology: From "pre-" meaning "before", "premonition" meaning "inappropriate and patronizing", "monster" meaning "Mrs Thatcher" and "mare" meaning "Mrs Thatcher/old, barely-female horse".

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

petaj Huh? premonition - inappropriate and patronizing. Some subtlety there I just can't see - maybe a Dennis Skinner quote? - petaj, 2007-04-09: 07:18:00

A dream that occurs right before PMS. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 14:50:00

Premonition doesn't fit here, hence inappropriate. The fact I explain "pre-" is patronizing. Contrived as ever. No Skinner quote, just nods at "the Beast of Bolsover", as he is affectionately known. But if you're looking for references, did you get all/any of the Zeppelin refs for my word "gallowsbeaver"? - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-09: 15:44:00

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

| Comments and Points

Fortythinks

Created by: Stevenson0

Pronunciation: for/tee/th/inks

Sentence: Joe was restless, sleep deprived, in and out of consciousness and in the state of fortythinks, filled with the brilliant ideas on how he was going to become a partner in the firm at 29 years of age.

Etymology: FORTYTHINKS - noun - from FORTYWINKS (a short light sleep) + THINKS (as in thoughts, ideas)

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

excellent word - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-20: 13:05:00

Excelent. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:36:00

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

| Comments and Points

Drowsiphany

zrotv

Created by: zrotv

Pronunciation: drouz-ĭf'ə-nē

Sentence: My eyelids were weighted and thoughts diffused to nothingness as sleep was to take hold momentarily. Suddenly I had a drowsiphany. It was in that sedate state the the schematics for the flux-capacitor became clear as day.

Etymology: Drowse (To be half-asleep) + epiphany (A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.)

| Comments and Points

Presomnidea

Created by: WhiteRhino

Pronunciation: Pre-somb-nid-eya

Sentence: Morphine has been administered for acute Presomnidea and borderline Schizophrenia.

Etymology: Pre - before Somn - Sleep Idea - a thought or notion

| Comments and Points

Subcognitans

Created by: darkXshadow

Pronunciation: sub/kog/neet/ans

Sentence: one of my briliant subcognitans kept me up all night last night.

Etymology: sub coming from subito, meaning sudden. cogn coming from cognito, meaning knowledge. itans coming from suscitans, meaning awakening.

| Comments and Points

Reveilleation

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: reh/vell/ee/ay/shun

Sentence: I was just settling down for a long winter's nap when a reveilleation so earth shattering occurred to me that I couldn't get a wink of sleep. I was also convinced that something was stuck in our chimney.

Etymology: reveille (military wake-up signal)+ revelation

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Clever blend. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:34:00

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

| Comments and Points

Inspirwaketion

playdohheart

Created by: playdohheart

Pronunciation: in-sper-wake-shun

Sentence: I was just about to fall asleep when I had a sudden inspirwaketion that the meaning of life just might be 42.

Etymology: Inspiration + wake

| Comments and Points

Mullidget

Created by: pinwheel

Pronunciation: mull/id/jet

Sentence: When Jimmy worked out a way to avoid doing the washing up ever again, it was such a mullidget he was tossing and turning all night.

Etymology: mull + idea + fidget

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

playdohheart I love this word except for it makes me think that perhaps the reason for being awake is considering mullets. But it would have had my vote if I hadn't voted already. - playdohheart, 2007-04-09: 04:37:00

petaj Or considering midgets, or midget mullets. - petaj, 2007-04-09: 04:51:00

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

| Comments and Points

Wiseawake

Created by: rebelvin

Pronunciation: WISE+AWAKE

Sentence: After working all day, I finally thought of the solution so perfect it kept me wiseawake all night.

Etymology: WISE+AWAKE

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Now why didn't I think of that one! Perfect! - lumina, 2008-06-21: 10:25:00

Good word - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:36:00

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

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-09: 00:03:00
Thank you to Dan Pink for sponsoring this week's Right-Brain Verbotomy Contest and creativity prize. ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-09: 11:29:00
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.

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-10: 00:07:00
Thanks toadstool57. We're just trying to create some environmentally friendly ideas. ~ James

OZZIEBOB - 2008-06-21: 19:35:00
Excellent.

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-10-26: 02:14:00
Today's definition was suggested by wordmeister. Thank you wordmeister. ~ James