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.

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

| 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

Atomniadea

Mrgoodtimes

Created by: Mrgoodtimes

Pronunciation: uh tom nee uh dee uh

Sentence: Boom!! The explosion of a fledgling thought seed hitting her lobes could be heard on the other side of the king size bed. She knew this atomniadea would not let her sleep tonight.

Etymology: Atomic - Insomnia - Idea

| Comments and Points

Entreprenopeneyed

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: on te pren owe pen eyed

Sentence: he lay entreprenopeneyed, replaying marketing pitches for his ear divot pillows.

Etymology: entrepreneur, open eyed.

| Comments and Points

Insomniaha

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: in som nee a ha

Sentence: It's like Wayne's brain was frozen all day, but when he did get brilliant ideas, it was just before he was getting ready to sleep. Then he would get his insomniaha moment. He finally learned to write these brain revolutions down, as inevitably he would be so tired the next day that he would forget his inspirations. That's when he would get amnesiaohnooooo!

Etymology: Insomnia (an inability to sleep) & Aha (expression used to describe triumph, surprise or "I get it!")

| Comments and Points

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

| Comments and Points

Ahawake

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: ähäwāk

Sentence: The revelation that Julia had just as she was about to doze off kept her ahawake all night. It only took her 18 years and a chance encounter on Facebook but she now was certain she knew who her real father was and why her mother kept it secret.

Etymology: aha (used to express satisfaction, triumph, or surprise) + awake (not asleep)

| Comments and Points

Snoozepiration

Created by: CanMon

Pronunciation:

Sentence: As I settled comfortably beneath my covers, snoozepiration hit and I found myself jumping out of bed to get back to work.

Etymology: Combination of Snooze and Inspiration.

| Comments and Points

Eurekathought

Created by: josje

Pronunciation: eureka thought

Sentence: i dont want to go to sleep i´ve just got an eurekathought.

Etymology: thinking and eureka.

| Comments and Points

Eurekawake

Created by: sarabeth20

Pronunciation: yur-ee-kah-way-k

Sentence:

Etymology:

| 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